New info released on Palm Desert pool inspection following shocking injuries
There are new developments into an I-Team Investigation involving a recent incident at a Palm Desert resort.
Nine minors had to be taken to the hospital after being exposed to a chemical vapor near the swimming pool at the Marriott Shadow Ridge Resort. News Channel 3’s I-Team Investigator Zak Dahlheimer has been digging through documents we obtained from pool inspectors regarding the most recent investigation.
Read: Newer safety concerns you should watch out for at the pool
A closer look of the report released by VivoAquatics — a water management company out of L.A. County — states no chemical odor was detected by staff or First Responders. But their best speculation of the cause is that a chemical feed followed by what’s called a “backwash” was done while the pool was open to guests.
Officials said the staff is now trained on new rules and won’t backwash when guests are in the area moving forward.
Check out more KESQ I-Team Investigative Reports
The report also states pumps were missing vacuum and discharge gages, filters were missing gages and the flow meter wasn’t working. All of those parts have been ordered. A repair has also been scheduled to fix a plumbing leak.
You may recall in May, two months before the most recent pool scare at the Palm Desert resort, KESQ News Channel 3 was on scene when four people were shocked and taken to the hospital after a similar incident at the very same resort.
These two incidents spawned an I-Team Investigation into looking at Coachella Valley pools and water parks, and how they’re inspected. You can watch Zak’s special I-Team Investigative report, ‘Pool Patrols’ on Thursday at 6 p.m. on KESQ News Channel 3.
