CEO of Whitewater Center Speaks Publicly

CHARLOTTE, NC — The CEO of the U.S. National Whitewater Center spoke publicly for the first time four months after a brain eating amoeba in the rapids killed an Ohio teenager.

“We had very, very, very clean water,” said CEO Jeff Wise. “The simple fact is, we had a very, very good system. What we are doing now is adding to the disinfection components to that system.”

Wise faced Mecklenburg County Commissioners Monday night. The voted unanimously to take power away from the private business and put the county health department in charge of regulating the water.

“I don’t believe the filtration system was inadequate,” said Wise.

However, Wise did admit that system did not take into account the brain eating amoeba.

“I did not know, nor did anyone at the whitewater center know, that that amoeba existed,” said Wise.

The health department will now do unannounced inspections four times a year.

The whitewater center will test its water twice a day. Those tests will take place when the center opens and four to six hours after guests have arrived.

The center will use chlorine, ozone and UV systems to treat the water.

The facility will face up to $500 fine if water quality is inadequate.

To see a complete list of rules, click here.

“We expect to exceed what those regulations provide, and we think in a lot of ways there are ways we can exceed what’s already there,” said Wise.

When asked how the facility can exceed what’s already there he said, “A number of different ways.”

WCCB Charlotte asked Wise how he responds to multiple employee accusations that he cut water quality corners to save money.

“I really cant speak to what employees may have said on a hearsay basis,” said Wise.

Commissioners commented on his lack of dialogue and disregard to reporters’ requests for comment after the tragedy.

“I kept asking where is this man?” said Commissioner Vilma Leake. “I just want the people in the county to understand how taxpayers money is going to be spent.”

Wise pointed to the center’s written statements online.

“I think we made ourselves very available,” said Wise.