Coronavirus / COVID-19 Swimming Pool News

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We aren’t here to pretend we are a news outlet, but we are as concerned as any about the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), specifically how that may affect those with swimming pool or spa facilities. That said, if you are looking for legit media coverage, it should be obvious that this isn’t the place to be. Here, our focus is to provide a resource for those who operate pools or spas.

Our thoughts are absolutely with any who have been affected by this outbreak and wish a speedy recovery and quick resolution to this outbreak.

We are monitoring any industry-specific news related to pools & spas. As we find them, we will endeavor to post any pertinent information here. In turn, we will link to the people or sites that we consider to have information that will assist pool or spa facility operators and residential pool owners make wise decisions as it pertains to any aquatic activities.

Should I Shut Down Pool Use At My Facility?

Currently (as of March 13, 2020) the CDC has found no evidence that suggests this virus can be spread through water that contains proper chlorine or bromine residuals, according to already established industry standards. There should be no reason to close facilities, even those where large groups or multiple families reside. This report titled Water Transmission and COVID-19 from the CDC covers a lot of ground, including; Drinking Water, Recreational Water, and Wastewater. Our focus is, of course, recreational water.

“There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.”

There is still a measure of care to be taken. Certain jurisdictions like California are actively recommending curtailing large gatherings and even smaller gatherings where social distancing cannot be maintained. It may be worth considering if social distancing OUTSIDE the water can be maintained. Based on the reports, this is where the concern would reside for pool & spa operators.

Do Private Pool Owners Need To Be Concerned With the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Residential pool owners should be in the clear, as of now. Pool owners should actively confirm pools are maintained properly. Doing so with the right chemical balance to ensure the safety of any who enters the water. This is true of coronavirus, or any number of “Recreational Water Illnesses” (RWI). DIY Pool users may benefit from some of our articles on basic swimming pool maintenance here.

That said, the same social distancing guidelines should be considered. Of course, most pool owners only need to be concerned in cases of ‘parties’ or ‘gatherings’ they are hosting.

What Are the Recommended Water Chemistry Parameters?

In order to actively maintain proper chemistry parameters, operators need to know what they are. Industry recommendations are as follows;

Free(available) Chlorine	1 – 3 ppm
pH	7.2 – 7.8
Total Alkalinity	80 – 130 ppm
Cyanuric Acid	30 – 50 ppm

Trouble Free Pool has a great online calculator that you can use as a free resource to help you make the right decisions for additions to your pool’s chemistry. Tools like this limit the guesswork needed to keep a pool’s chemistry in line so diseases and viruses like coronavirus / COVID-19 do not become an issue in your swimming pool or spa.

If you, or your staff, aren’t trained or equipped to check and maintain these parameters every 2-4 hours, you really should consider hiring a professional. A good place to start is the Independent Pool & Spa Service Association, inc. (IPSSA). These are independent service contractors across the country that are water chemistry certified. Many hold multiple certificates for both residential and commercial applications.

Since pools and spas are relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things, please do your best to keep you and your family, and your communities safe from coronavirus / COVID-19 by taking the necessary precautions. Our industry may suffer minor setbacks, but we are all in this together. Focus on what’s important and everything will settle out as is should.

Swimming Pool Industry Resources

Here’s a brief list of links to some of the main companies and organizations that drive the swimming pool industry to see how they are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak;

Do you have a specific concern or question about pool maintenance? Leave a comment below, and we’ll try to get to it in a future article.

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