Don’t Drink the Water: Some Vegas Pools Have Guests Sharing More than a Good Time
It's bad news for Vegas pool venue lovers the world over: some pools are sharing more between guests than a
CELEB Magazine
It's bad news for Vegas pool venue lovers the world over: some pools are sharing more between guests than a fun time.
A recent study by Inside Edition has found a lot of concerning material floating around in that cool refreshing water. But don't fear – not all pools are cleaned the same, and some are still perfectly safe for your summer vacation. Here's what you need to know about what's in the water at some Vegas venues.
Have a Drink and a Splash of Fecal Matter
When you're taking a plunge in a pool, you want to think refreshing, cool, fresh and clean. Unfortunately, that's not what's being delivered at several Vegas venues according to a recent water quality study conducted by Inside Edition.
Producers from the show went to three popular pool club venues around Vegas and scooped up some pool water, including surface contaminants, to see what's really in the water.
The results were shocking – and not a little bit gross for two of the venues: Marquee and Daylight Beach Club. Those investigating shipped the samples to IEH Laboratories in Seattle, Washington. When clinical microbiologist Dr Susan Whittier called them with results, it wasn't good news.
Inside Edition reports, "'Wow, we found a lot of fecal bacteria in some of these pools,' Whittier said. 'The potential for an infection occurring seems inevitable.'
At the Marquee Day Club, the lab found a total bacteria count of 15 million. Whittier says that can be potentially harmful to your health.
That nasty foam floating throughout the pool tested positive for E. coli.
Whittier says if this were a public pool or the beach, it would be shut down.
Over at MGM’s Mandalay Bay Resort, if you want to beat the heat, the place to be is the Daylight Beach Club. General admission will cost you $30.
But Whittier says their pool had a whopping bacteria count of 100 million and tested positive for E. coli.
'It's kind of similar to swimming in a toilet,' Whittier said."
By all means, if that sounds like your desired vacation destination – go for it, just keep the Imodium handy. But it's not supposed to be that bad, not by a long shot.
Not All Venues Are Created Equally – Some Pools are Poo-Free
And some pools show how it can be done properly. Tao Beach Dayclub, for instance, came back with glowing results. The test results showed no evidence of E.coli, which means if you get a little in your mouth you aren't ingesting someone's leftover fecal bacteria. That's a good thing.
Tao Group prides itself on its quality service to customers, and it's clear that that quality assurance extends to the pool water. So if you're headed to a strip pool club, Tao is a pretty safe bet.
All is not lost for Marquee and Daylight, however. MGM Resorts, which owns The Cosmopolitan and Mandalay Bay, told Inside Edition in a statement: “The health and safety of our guests is our top priority. Our pool operations adhere to all health regulations set by the Southern Nevada Health District and we test them multiple times a day to ensure proper levels of disinfectant. We constantly evaluate our policies and make adjustments whenever necessary. We are examining our pool procedures and will continue working to ensure they are as effective as possible.”
Which means that if their independent testing shows the same results, they'll fix it quickly – after all, no one wants sick customers, and MGM Resorts is a trustworthy brand with a commitment to excellence and improvement.
Should the Findings Steer You Away From Your Summer Night Plans?
The question then remains: if you had plans to hit the strip pool clubs, should you rethink it?
Since the hotels are on top of it, it's probably safe to keep your plans. After all, this sort of bacteria imbalance isn't uncommon.
In May 2021 alone, one Pennsylvania pool sickened 15 after E.coli was found in the water. In that case, it would seem that there was a malfunction in pool equipment which is a common culprit for these bacteria imbalances.
Luckily, it's a quick fix: up the chemicals and bring the water back into balance.
It's not the best news for those already on the Strip and heading to clubs tonight, but a problem identified is a solvable problem – so don't give up on your Vegas pool plans. Just keep a weather eye out, and don't drink the water.