The Utah County Health Department is gearing up for another possible crypto outbreak this summer.

In a staged demonstration, county health officials dumped a half-cup of methyl blue into the Springville Community Pool on Wednesday afternoon to show just how long even the most advanced filtration systems can take to disinfect contaminated water.

"With a UV system, when there's an accident in the pool, it takes anywhere from 12 to 18 hours to be able to say 98 percent of what was there is now gone," said Ron Tobler, county environmental health program manager.

Crypto (cryptosporidiosis) is a microscopic parasite that causes weeks of diarrhea. Its outer shell allows it to survive for long periods of time and protects it from regular pool chlorine levels.

Last year, the county found traces of crypto in almost all public swimming pools, public fountains and Utah Lake. Crypto infections reached epidemic proportions, so this summer most county public pools have installed UV (ultra-violet) systems that kill the parasite more effectively than chlorine.

"It's basically a sunburn in a can," Tobler said. "The water cycles through ultra-violet light, which kills everything in it. They work great, but it still takes a long time for the water to cycle through, and hopefully that's what we demonstrated today with the dye."

The county health department hopes the demonstration will encourage swimmers to take proper precautions this summer to protect others and themselves. According to Tobler, people infected with crypto can still spread the disease up to two weeks after they feel better.

"If people are sick, we want them to stay home," Tobler said. "Don't get in the water for even a few weeks after symptoms subside."

All public pools should post signs this summer reminding patrons to wear appropriate swimwear and to clean up properly before entering the pool. Swimmers should also avoid swallowing water, take frequent bathroom breaks while swimming and avoid changing diapers close to the water.

Springville Facilities Manager Shaun Orton anticipates the installation of a UV system in his pool by Memorial Day. Ninety percent of the county's large public pools have already installed similar systems.

In the meantime, Orton said disinfecting the pool after an accident would require closing the pool for two days in order to raise chlorine levels enough to kill the virus.

"The health department told us there's a 98 percent chance there'd be another outbreak this year," Orton said. "That's what we're trying to prevent."