Class action complaint following contamination of the Mas des Vignes swimming pool in Calvisson

La piscine extérieure de la résidence a été fermée le 20 août suite à une détection de staphylocoques dans l'eau.

Staphylococci in the water, sick children, the Le Mas des Vignes holiday residence in Calvisson is at the heart of a health controversy after the closure of its swimming pools.

The indoor swimming pool at the Le Mas des Vignes residence in Calvisson was closed on 14 August after an overdose of chlorine and the first complaints of pain among children. The situation worsened on 20 August, when the outdoor swimming pool was also closed after the detection of golden staphylococci at an alarming level, i.e. two staphylococci per 100 ml of water.
The swimming pool contractor of the company H2O, responsible for the maintenance of the swimming pools, Odalys, and the condominium association of the residence responsible for the swimming pool, are at the heart of the criticism.
The Calvisson gendarmes have confirmed that a collective complaint is underway for involuntary endangerment of the lives of others, concealment of health information and non-compliance of seasonal accommodation. A WhatsApp group of over sixty people is helping each other with legal procedures, denouncing Odalys' inaction and lack of communication.

“A simple word of apology would have limited my anger, but we got nothing”

Christelle Clément, who has been attending the residence for nearly ten years, describes a disastrous stay marked by her son's illness, fragile due to a genetic anomaly. On August 3, two days after their arrival, he began to suffer from nausea and digestive problems, without Christelle immediately making the connection with the swimming pool. It was only after the municipal decree was posted that she understood the origin of the problem. ” The swimming pool was not clean. It was closed several times without explanation. What I deplore most is the silence of Odalys. We had to deal with this situation on our own. « We hope you're doing well » we didn't even get that, we weren't told anything.“His 13-year-old daughter also suffered pain. A simple word of apology would have limited my anger, but we got nothing. This is our last year in Calvisson. "

Véronique Fontaine has been diagnosed with erysipelas, a severe bacterial infection.
Véronique Fontaine, present at the residence from August 10 to 24, also saw her vacation turn into a nightmare. “ On the night of August 15-16, I had a high fever, with chills and a temperature of around 40°C. My right shin was red and inflamed, my foot had tripled in size. She was diagnosed with erysipelas, a severe bacterial infection. " I spent 48 hours in bed, exhausted. Three days of my vacation were wasted and I am still on antibiotics. My foot is still deformed. "
Mélanie, originally from Lille, decides to return to the residence for the second year in a row. She stayed there from August 10 to 24 with her family. “When we arrived, while visiting the outdoor pool, I immediately noticed that it was in a deplorable state.”
On the evening of August 15, Mélanie discovered a suspicious pimple on her stomach, while her 10-year-old son developed red patches. “We immediately stopped going to the pool, I was diagnosed with staph. Fortunately, I was able to treat it quickly."

The footbath of the outdoor pool.

A controversial crisis management

The Odalys management claims to be a victim of the situation. " Our customers have booked with us, so we are their first point of contact. " In collaboration with the town hall, Odalys has set up free vouchers for access to the Calvisson municipal swimming pool.
Faced with the increase in complaints, the group offered to rehouse the tenants concerned in other residences of the group, notably in Paradou at Mas des Alpilles. But this offer only concerned holidaymakers who had booked until 31 August, leaving a large number of residents without a solution.
V.N., a member of the union council and responsible for evacuating the swimming pool, defends himself: ” I reacted at the right time, and I am at peace with that. I did what was necessary."
Recent water samples taken by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) on August 22 revealed that the pool water did not comply with physicochemical standards, although bacteriological compliance was deemed acceptable.
For many, this stay will have been their last. The residence, once popular for its facilities and pleasant setting, has lost the trust of many customers. « They played with our health », concludes Christelle Clément.

The coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether the legal actions will be successful, but for the holidaymakers concerned, the damage is already done.

Everyone is impacted!

The closure of the swimming pools at Mas des Vignes has repercussions far beyond the direct residents. A Breton family, who had travelled miles to enjoy their holidays, find themselves disappointed and angry. “Imagine how many children were enjoying the pool! It's terrible, but at the same time, it wasn't maintained,”, laments a parent. Forced to go to Grau-du-Roi to swim, they are now demanding compensation for a service that was not provided. “I won't set foot here again!”, concludes the father, bitterly.

The discontent is also spreading among local shopkeepers. Bruno, who runs a bar-restaurant on the estate, has noticed a drastic drop in his clientele. “No swimming pool, so we have no one. We have six times fewer customers! Our business is badly impacted, and at the worst time of the season.” The health crisis is taking an economic turn, threatening to ruin the summer season for people other than vacationers.

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