A Fife swimming pool has closed to the public on 15 occasions this year because of people defecating in it.
The pool at the Beacon Leisure Centre in Burntisland, pictured, has been closed off to the public for a total of almost two weeks this year, with staff being forced to disinfect the pool following each incident.
Regular swimmers at the pool are said to have become increasingly frustrated by the closures and its operators have urged the public to play their part by taking basic hygiene measures.
A spokesperson for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, which runs the Beacon, asked parents to ensure that babies and toddlers were suitably dressed while in the water.
She said: “Due to pool contamination incidents, the Beacon Leisure Centre has been closed 15 times since January 2013.
“Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is taking every effort to inform pool users of simple hygiene procedures to minimise the incidents of pool contamination these include public notices around the centre, communication with local community council and local advertising.
“Staff at the Beacon actively encourage the use of swimming nappies, however their use is not enforceable. Swimming nappies are made readily available for a discounted rate in all sizes.
“The trust would like to remind all users of its pools to adhere to simple hygiene procedures, this includes the use of swim nappies for three-year-olds and under, not to swim if you have diarrhoea, or have had it in the past two weeks, do not swim if you have a tummy upset and ensure children are taken to the toilet before entering the water.
“If customers are in any doubt about the pool hygiene procedures, we would encourage them to speak to centre staff who will be happy to advise.”
Although the number of closures at the Beacon is unusually high, faeces in public swimming pools is not uncommon.
More rigorous cleaning procedures in the aftermath of such incidents means that it can often be two days before a pool can reopen to the public.
The spokesperson for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust added: “The number of pool closures is highly regrettable for both the trust and customers and is something it would prefer to avoid if at all possible.
“However, the trust is also committed to public health safety and cannot allow users to swim in water that is contaminated and must, therefore, take appropriate back washing and disinfection procedures before opening the pool for public use.
“The decision to close the pool during a contamination incident is done within the recognised national health and safety guidelines for treating contamination and minimising risk to the public.”
The matter has been discussed between Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and the local community council chairman Alex MacDonald.
He said: “What has happened is that over the past few years the method of dealing with such contamination of all swimming pools has become much more rigorous and the trust now works with the NHS, which issues advice on ensuring that the water is top quality.
“This now means that when an incident occurs the water must go through six full cycle changes to ensure it is completely clean. I sympathise with the trust as it is costly if a pool has to close.
“It is not just children who cause this and all the trust can do is offer advice to parents and other pool users.”