Pools reopen after electric shock scare

5th December 2008

AAP

PUBLIC pools shut down because of the risk of electric shocks have been cleared of danger and will reopen in time for the summer holidays.

All seven public swimming pools on the Gold Coast which averages a top of 28 degrees Celsius but can get close to 40 over summer were closed last month after a routine check detected elevated electrical readings in the water.

The scare sparked concerns about safety standards in pools around the country.

The elevated readings were caused by deterioration in the pools' electrical earthing systems, which have since been fixed, Gold Coast City Council's Drena Parrington said.

The first pool will reopen on Saturday, just in time for the summer holidays, with the remainder following suit the week after.

Ms Parrington said there was never a serious risk to the public.

"The potential for harm was just so infinitesimal, there had to have been additional electrical faults for anyone to be injured," she told AAP.

"But because it's about public safety, we had to take firm action."

The council has issued the first of several compensation packages to pool managers, who have lost thousands of dollars in lost earnings over the peak period.

Ms Parrington said council had no intention of making its own compensation claims against the company which made or installed the earthing systems.