Faulty valve likely culprit in bad reactions to Stonington pool
Stonington — A “stem to stern” evaluation of the pool at Seaport RV Resort and Campground revealed that a burst of excess chemicals caused by a faulty valve likely is what sent six children to the hospital with vomiting and other symptoms Tuesday, fire officials said Friday.
Old Mystic Fire Chief Ken Richards said that when tests by his department and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection didn’t detect any obvious issues with the pool, the RV campground brought in a service team to conduct the “stem to stern” evaluation.
Members of the team were able to pinpoint a single valve they said had let too many chemicals out, according to Richards.
Richards said when the pool’s pump system came on, the excess chemicals, which had been trapped in a pipe, all were pushed into the pool where the kids were swimming.
The large size of the pool meant the water already had equalized by the time fire and DEEP officials tested it, Richards said.
In total, the malfunction affected 9 people.
Crews took six children, ages 3 to 13, to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital after they experienced vomiting, difficulty breathing, scratchy throats and severe abdominal pain.
They were treated and released that day, Richards said.
First responders also evaluated three others on scene who refused treatment and whose vitals were fine. Their ages were not available.
The valve has since been fixed and the pool reopened, Richards said.
Seaport RV Resort and Campground is located at 45 Campground Road.
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