OJAI : Tests Continuing on Contaminated Tubs

The manager of the Wheeler Hot Springs resort near Ojai, where a problem with contaminated water has forced officials to shut down the hot tubs, said Friday that the resort will refinish its tubs, alter its water-introduction system, and add a new chlorination system in an effort to correct the problem.

The tubs have been closed all week due to high levels of bacterial contamination.

Tom Marshall said he took new water samples Friday and sent them for testing to a state certified laboratory in Santa Paula. The third round of tests on water in Wheeler’s hot tubs came back Thursday, still showing high levels of bacteria.

Marshall said he is not sure what type of bacteria is in the water, or what the source is. But he said the bacteria is not fecal coliform, because recent coliform tests have all come back negative.

County health officials were not available for comment Friday.

The Ventura County Environmental Health Division ordered the tubs shut down on June 22, after getting the results of tests taken after a bather reported becoming ill after using one of the tubs.

More samples will be taken on Sunday.

Marshall said he would not reopen the resort until he changes the water introduction system so that greater quantities of fresh water enter the tubs on a continual basis. The wooden tubs will also be refinished and a system will be installed to add a continual flow of chlorine--a bacteria killing agent--into the water, he said.

“That will assure an absence of bacteria on a continual basis,” Marshall said.