Contamination Closes Hot Tubs

Results of tests for bacteria levels in the hot tubs at the Wheeler Hot Springs resort near Ojai showed a continued high level of contamination Thursday, prompting Ventura County health officials to order the tubs to remain closed for at least part of the Fourth of July weekend.

County officials made the decision Thursday after a third testing of the water used in the tubs showed high bacteria levels, said Bob Gallagher, a manager with the county’s Environmental Health Division.

Gallagher said a fourth sample would probably be taken from the hot tub waters today. But results of the tests for fecal coliform would not be available before Sunday.

Tom Marshall, general manager of the resort, said he met Thursday with county officials to discuss the tests, but he declined further comment.

Gallagher said the resort is trying to disinfect its hot tub waters through “superchlorination,” which entails dumping about 100 times the normal level of chlorine into the waters.

He said resort officials planned to superchlorinate the water Thursday night and take new water samples today.

Gallagher said his agency began investigating the level of bacteria in the water June 14 after a bather reported that he became ill after using one of the tubs.

After results came back showing bacteria levels in the tubs were too high, he ordered the tubs closed June 22. That first test, he said, showed levels of bacteria in hot tubs ranging from “less than 1 to greater than 6,500” colonies per milliliters. The acceptable level is 200 bacterial colonies per milliliter.

After that, Gallagher said, new water samples were taken June 23, and the initial results seemed acceptable, so tubs were allowed to reopen June 24 for the weekend’s business. But, he said, long-term results from those tests came in Monday, again showing unacceptable bacteria levels.

The hot tubs have remained closed since Monday.

Gallagher said bathers who used the hot tubs last weekend are “likely safe,” but added: “It’s difficult for me to say because the samples did exceed the state standard.”