Palm Jumeirah residents fall sick after swimming in dirty pools

Dubai: Dozens of adults and children have fallen ill at the Palm Jumeirah after swimming in unkempt pools.

Many residents living on the Nakheel development project have been diagnosed with ear and eye infections, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and high fever after swimming in facilities located on the project's Shoreline Apartments.

The high volume of cases has prompted many residents to contact Nakheel as rumours circulate among the island community that the pools are not being cleaned regularly due to an alleged pay dispute between maintenance workers and the property developer.

Gulf News spoke to several Palm residents, who all wished to remain anonymous, about their experiences. G.H, a 39-year-old housewife from New Zealand, said: "My daughter has been suffering from diarrhoea, an upset stomach and a high temperature. I've also been feeling very sick after swimming in our pool. My husband had to take two days off [from] work to look after us both.

"The condition of the pools on the Palm at the moment is bad. The water is really murky and the tiles need [to be] scrubbed. I've spoken to [several] residents who have been suffering from stomach bugs and ear and eye infections. My daughter was unable to eat any solids for a week."

It costs between Dh600 and Dh700 per month to maintain a 100 cubic metre (100,000 litres) pool in a villa. It costs approximately Dh1,500 for maintaining a public pool or a pool in a school, as it requires more chemicals and daily cleaning.

E.P, a 27-year-old housewife from the United States, said: "My six-month-old baby girl got sick after swimming in the pool... We usually go swimming everyday but lately I've noticed the pools don't seem to be getting cleaned. The sides of the pool were grimy and the water itself was cloudy. I stopped taking my child swimming once the water changed colour and I believe that is the reason my daughter only got a mild case of the virus.

"I know of many other children who got sick as well as a few adults."

Nakheel declined to comment on the matter.

I was at the Palm Jumeirah last week at the pool was fine. It seems as if not all apartments are affected.
Al Za'abi
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 17:13

Nath..... great words... If u see the pool is dirty..why do you jump? I agree with you..
Nash
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 15:25

It is a shame to see increase development of annual maintenance costs of own house compare to the decreasing service given by the home office administration
Dirk Maiwald
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 15:24

I have been swimming in our pool every day for nearly 18 months and have never had any of these symptoms.Our pool is as clear as a bell and the pool cleaners are there every morning beofre 8 o'clock to do their job!
Wilma
Palm Jumierah, Al Nabat,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 15:17

i agree with all even my grandson fell sick from that swimming pool .he had fever eye and throat infection pl. do something
Mona
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 14:57

I swam as a guest in the Shoreline Apartments last Saturday and the water seemed clean and the pool well maintained. By Monday afternoon I could not leave my apartment and suffered from headaches, fevers and severe stomach issues. Until I read this article I had assumed it was food poisoning. Unbelievable.
Liam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 14:46

...If u see the pool is dirty..why do you jump? By the way..r we talking about palm jumeirah..is it the same development in the sea? Why not jump in to the sea and have a nice time than to on a shallow swimming pool...No complaints acknowledged for this time.
Nath
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 12:34

I live in the Shoreline apartments and pay 53000 AED in Service Charges every year. Where is my money going? The whole of the Shoreline beach is in a mess, unkempt unclean please can relevant authorities take action.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 12:19

There has to be a professional company and professional people involved in treating pool water. Most of the time we find that people who are handling the chemical treatment for the pools are not qualified enough to handle this job. It is a serious issue and Dubai Municipality has to look into this matter seriously. Still there are many pools which dont have an automatic dosing system for pH and Chlorine though it is required.
Suhail Bandarkar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 12:10

Water is supposed to be clear.If it's not, don't swim.Simple.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 11:57

Never trust anyone to mainteinance anything if expecially for sharing facilities such as public pool. If at the hotel is OK but residence - be careful.
Hassan Al Jabri
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 11:54

whats new? Have you seen international city? please go for a visit there and take photos the grass is as high as a south american forest.
Wosim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 10:27

i guess nakeel should look into this ,but I do not think they will do that. From my experience they never have time
Masher
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 10:05

I live on the Palm and have swum everyday there besides the days it has been closed for maintenance work. I am healthy and not been sick. I suggest you all check your diets or consult a doctor as there may be another reason why you are ill.
Casius Cay Mohadali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 09:52

Good Day, i guess, this is not only a problem of the Nakheel properties in the Palm Island, i saw the problem as well in another Tower in Dubai Marina, where the water wasn't clear anymore, an I have never seen, that anyone cleans the pool!
Thies
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 09:29

The Safa Park has always been one of my favs since childhood. This being the reason that I prompted a picnic with my hubby and family just 3-4 months back. I was dismayed by the general negligence to its upkeep. Especially shocking was the condition of the water fountain with its lake...infested with mosquitos!! and piles of plastic wastage. We literally fled the place.I would suggest in the interest of the public health, esp. the park neighbourhood that a clean-up campaign is the need of the hour to forestall any possible epidemic that may break of such unhygienice surrounding. This campaign may be extended to other public parks which are probably neglected similarly. These parks retain an old town charm which I hope the authorities will not disregard.
Nripa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 09:25

I own an apartment in the Discovery Gardens,also a project by NAKHEEL.The swimming pools here still havent been completed although we are being charged huge service and mantainance fees.Nakheel has stated that the pools will start this August, after a delay of one year.But after reading this article on the poor mantainance of pools at the Palm, I am wondering whether we at Discovery Gardens, should really be fighting to get the pools started??Maybe its better if there are no pools and we can just get a refund on our money!!
Ashrafi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 09:20

Parents, WHY would you let your kids swim in a dirty pool? I mean, why would you let your kids get into a pool that you can SEE is dirty, hu?!? That doesnâ??t make any sense.. Isnâ??t the whole reason of living on an Island so that you can be by the ocean â?? so why donâ??t you just swim in it then?
Are you for real?
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 08:46

Strange thing to happen on the most luxurious place on the world!
Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 08:45

this is a serious matter. Palm jumeirah is one of poshest area to live in, I shouldnt be hearing that there is any problem, well not a nuclear war but a swimming pool being dirty? thats unexceptable! people pay enough to have many pool to be cleaned. didnt the tragedy of the poisonous food at the lotus hotel say enough?
Nikita
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 02, 2009, 00:37