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3 pools at Julington Creek Plantation reopen Wednesday after health department closure

Three neighborhood pools shut down by the state Health Department reopened Wednesday.

They were closed for more than a week.

Since our story aired Tuesday night, there's been a lot of controversy.

An email even went out to residents saying parts of our story were inaccurate, even though all our facts came from the Health Department’s website.

A viewer sent Action News Jax a copy of the email that was sent to residents Wednesday morning in Julington Creek Plantation regarding our story on closed pools.

In the email, the aquatics program director told residents that no pools were closed Tuesday by the Health Department.

Action News Jax reached out to the state Health Department since its website still lists six pools as closed in the subdivision.

Action News Jax was sent an email from the department that states three of the pools were just opened Wednesday; two of them had violations of improper chlorine and PH levels.

Audio from last month’s meeting with the community development district was sent to us after our story aired.

The condition of the pools was a heated topic for board members after learning about the chlorine problems and even an algae problem was mentioned.

"We are getting chlorine levels at zero. That's a health issue. We can be shut down with those things by the Health Department," assistant secretary Tom Chambers said.

Getting a pool manager was also addressed.

"In the amount that we are paying Elite for products it has the rights for a pool maintenance manager and I just wonder if that's being utilized by anyone," assistant secretary Patricia Jacob said.

Action News Jax contacted the Health Department to see when it will update with the new information, but we haven’t heard back.

The next district meeting is Thursday at 6 p.m.

Just after Action News Jax's 10 p.m. report aired, an email was sent out to residents saying that the pools would be shut down for 72 hours for maintenance at the recommendation of the district's pool company, although the health department gave the pools satisfactory ratings.

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Here is a summary of recent activities from the Health Department:

1) Julington Creek Plantation & Sports Complex - This facility has 4 Pools

Family Pool: Reason for closure: Missing ropes on life rings (8/16/16 )
Status: Re-opened - Management corrected to attach rope on life rings (8/22/16)

Competition Pool: Closed by Pool Management for routine repairs (8/16/16 )
Status: Re-opened – Management completed repairs (8/24/16) 

Wading Pool: Reason for closure: Improper chemical balance (Chlorine concentration too low, pH too low) (8/16/16 )
Status: Re-opened - Inspection originally scheduled for 8/19; however, this was rescheduled and determined to be back in compliance today (8/24/16) 

Water Activity Pool: Reason for closure: Improper chemical balance (Chlorine concentration too low, pH too low) (8/16/16)
Status: Re-opened – Inspection originally scheduled for 8/19; however, this was rescheduled and determined to be back in compliance today (8/24/16)

2) Julington Creek Plantation Family Pool Center - This facility has 3 Pools

Family Pool: Reason for closure: Improper chemical balance (Chlorine concentration too high) and life hooks not secure (8/16/16 )
Status: Re-opened -  Chemicals were balanced on site and life hooks were secured (8/22/16)

Competition Pool: Satisfactory Inspection

Wading Pool: Reason for closure - Improper chemical balance (Chlorine concentration too low (8/16/16 )
Status: Closed due to a burst pipe, currently being repaired (maintenance/equipment replacement). DOH- St. Johns Environmental Health Specialists will coordinate inspection once the pool operator has completed the repair.