HOUSTON – On Sunday afternoon, an 8-year-old girl was found in the drain pipes of a northwest Houston pool.
Now, the pool, located at the Double Tree Hotel on Northwest Freeway and Pinemont Drive, is closed until further notice while the Houston Health Department continues to inspect and investigate.
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The Houston Health Department inspected the Double Tree pool in June of 2023 and gave them a passing reinspection grade. The pool had three code violations they had to fix, which included:
- Door -- two doors did not self-latch (corrected on site)
- Safety features for pools and spas (corrected on 6/20/2023)
- Safety features - emergency phone would not dial out (corrected on site)
Now, in a report conducted on Monday, a day after the deadly drowning, the Houston Health Department cited several violations at the pool and shut it down.
“Pool shall remain closed until all violations are corrected and pool passes reinspection,” the report reads, saying the reinspection can happen on or before April 22.
Violations included:
- Missing treads on some of the ladders
- 32-inch channel drains on the walls of the small pool did not include a document verifying the function of the drains
- Two openings on each side of the main gate leading from the hotel lobby are greater than the 4-inches allowed
- One gate and two doors open INTO the pool area and they’re supposed to open outward or away from pools and spas
- One gate was taken apart during the “drowning incident” and needs to be fixed
- No “safety features” signs posted in the pool yard and those are mandatory and have to be visible
As summer approaches, community pools will open. For parents, here’s how you can check if the public pool near you is up to date on its inspection reports.
How to check inspection reports on a public pool
When visiting the Houston Health Department website, you will find a link to houstonconsumer.org, which will give you the option to search public swimming pool inspection reports by name, zip code and first letter.
To know whether, and how often, your favorite public or semi-public pool is inspected, check with your city hall or county health department.
Also, it’s good to note that commercial pools, which include hotels, motels and apartment buildings are inspected annually by pool safety investigators. Residential pools are inspected when asked by owners.
What is a public or semi-public pool?
Pools operated by apartments, condos or townhome communities, hotels and motels, water parks, community associations or homeowners associations, schools and daycares, fitness clubs and nursing homes, as well as churches, parks and camps.
In other words, just about everything that isn’t a backyard pool is considered public or semi-public.
How to submit a complaint about a pool
To file a complaint about a public or commercial pool, fill out this form with the Houston Health Department.
You will need basic information, the establishment name, address, your name and a quick description surrounding your complaint.