The water polo pool at the Rio de Janeiro aquatics center "will be drained completely" after it was revealed that an unauthorized dump of 80 liters of hydrogen peroxide was responsible for turning the two pools a murky green color in what has been described by organizers as "embarrassing," according to Jack de Menezes of the London INDEPENDENT. Organizers confirmed that "the water was still safe to enter," although a number of water polo players -- competing in the pool alongside the diving one -- "reported to be suffering from itchy eyes." Rio 2016 Dir of Venue Management Gustavo Nascimento said, "This is a way of cleaning swimming pools but you're not supposed to combine it with chlorine. We were not consulted, our contractor's failure is our failure." Organizers "have decided to drain the water polo pool only, due to the fact that the synchronised swimming event is due to begin today and that a full 10 hours is needed to drain and refill the pool." The diving pool, which did not cause as many problems for divers this week, "will remain as it is with organisers continuing to treat the water in the hope for it to return to normal later in the week" (INDEPENDENT, 8/14).
