[civil_engineer]

CNN story that documents a positive test for naegleria fowleri in splash pad water at Lake Jackson civic center where the six-year-old victim visited: https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/26/us/brain-eating-amoeba-found-...

It is unlikely that the splash pad infestation emanated from the public drinking water supply.

[sjg007]

Eh? Splash pad water is from the public drinking supply, that's how it works. Same with pools, your bath etc...

[sokoloff]

I think GP's point is that there are many other sources of contamination after the water is placed in the splash pool.

[sjg007]

I am not sure you know how splash pads work. There is no pool. If there is a pool then it's regulated like a swimming pool.

[sokoloff]

If you think that there is no possibility for environmentally-sourced contamination in something like this, then we simply disagree.

https://hulafrog.com/brazoria-county-south-tx/lake-jackson-c...

[sjg007]

The amoeba did not come from a kid. It came from the water supply.

[civil_engineer]

Amoebas most certainly live in the environment; this particular strain is found in warm fresh water throughout the United States.

Here is a report from a local newspaper:

https://thefacts.com/free_share/article_d044115f-7e55-5153-8...

It mentions positive tests for n. fowleri genetic material from the splash pad storage tank, from a nearby fire hydrant and from the hose storage bin at the deceased's home. Understand that this is not the same as discovering viable organisms in the water supply. It would be difficult, though not impossible, for these organisms to survive the water treatment processes, including the final disinfection step. It is possible, if disinfection malfunctioned at the water plant. If the treatment processes were working properly, one could still expect positive tests for genetic material for a variety of bacteria and viruses, but that would only indicate that they were present in the raw water source, not that they were viable organisms in the water supply.

A child died. It is important to try to discover the source of this tragedy. The people in this community are scared and suspicious of their drinking water. I hope the investigation uncovers the probable cause quickly.