JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Over the weekend, thousands of children and families flocked to EverBank Field for the 7th Annual First Coast Kids Triathlon.
Action News found out that two days before the event was supposed to happen, the pool failed a city inspection.
Even though it failed, leaders said it was safe enough to continue.
For two days, EverBank Field was turned into a kids triathlon oasis from running, to biking even swimming.
Event director Tom Gildersleeve said the event is designed to keep children healthy and active.
"Between the weekend there will be over 2,000 kids. It's a ton of work, it's a great partnership," Gildersleeve said.
Just to put on the event is a huge undertaking. Crews had to install the portable pool. According to the city's building permit website, it failed inspection two days before the meet.
For example, the inspector reported the pool didn't have a ladder to get in or out. An Action News viewer caught kids on camera being pulled out by lifeguards after finishing their swim.
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But the city said there was miscommunication between the health department and the city inspector.
According to the city, the structure didn't need a permit because it's not considered public pool by the state's Department of Health. When the inspector failed it, he was going off guidelines for public swimming pools.
"They actually don't have guidelines to monitor portable pools, so we actually work with them to set up a structure that allows us to circulate the water and make sure that it's safe," Gildersleeve said.
There were lifeguards in and outside of the pool monitoring the event at all times.
While there are no city guidelines for this type of structure, Gildersleeve said the pool goes through much stricter rules before the event can even happen.
"Our events are all sanctioned by USA Triathlon, which is the governing board underneath the U.S. Olympic Committee so there's a safety protocol we follow," Gildersleeve said.
The same type of pool was used just weeks earlier at the kids triathlon in Houston. They also have to pass medical protocols set by the USA Triathlon governing body.
According to the Department of Health, portable pools don’t fall under its jurisdiction because of the way water is circulated. In this case it was pumped in and then pumped right back out.
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