Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon organizers unveil new water station plan

A year after hundreds of Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half-Marathon runners reported symptoms of stomach illness, organizers on Monday promised changes that include strict sanitation rules and the hiring of a contractor to supply water to runners.

Revisions for Sunday's event will include the use of closed 125-gallon tanks with spigot hoses at water stations along the courses, officials said. Water will be trucked in, instead of drawn from fire hydrants.

"Water will not be exposed like it was previously. We're going to take the extra step," Adam Zocks, event director for San Diego-based Competitor Group, told The Associated Press.

The Southern Nevada Health District never conclusively identified the source of 528 cases of Sapovirus gastroenteritis. After a couple of days of discomfort, everyone recovered.

Those who reported diarrhea and vomiting common to the illness were most likely exposed at a health and fitness expo where race numbers were distributed, district epidemiologist Brian Labus concluded in a March report.

"Exposure during the race was not the cause," Labus said in the 19-page report.