SWIMMING POOL

Swimming pools can provide recreational fun and exercise and increase your enjoyment of your home, but there are associated hazards that can harm our health and environment.

For example, the chemicals used to kill bacteria and other microbes in swimming pools release chlorine, a toxic gas. Even breathing in small amounts of chlorine over a short time can irritate the respiratory system, especially if it hasn't been diluted in water. Draining pools and discharging backwash can threaten nearby waterways if it isn't done safely.

Heating your swimming pool, and lighting the area around it, increases the use of energy from sources that create air pollution, harm our health and use up non-renewable resources.

Storing swimming pool chemicals

We must be especially careful with the chemicals we use to treat pools. These concentrated and potent substances can react violently with each other, as well as with many common household chemicals.

Here are a few useful pointers:

• Keep pool and spa chemicals in cool, dry and locked areas.
• Don't allow these chemicals to come into contact with petroleum products such as grease, oil, petrol or liquid detergents.
• Store swimming pool chemicals away from acids, alcohol, cleaners, soap powders or small quantities of water.
• Store liquid chemicals within an isolation bund that can contain any leaks and prevent chemicals from mixing in the event of a spill.

Handling swimming pool chemicals

Always handle swimming pool chemicals with care:

• Buy chemicals in quantities that you can use within the use by dates on the containers.
• Read instructions carefully and follow them. (If you don't understand something, don't be shy - ask the retailer or a pool chemical specialist.)
• Use clean, dry, non-combustible measuring scoops made from porcelain, recommended plastics or metal, and use separate scoops for each chemical.

Conserving Electricity

Lighting the area around your pool - not to mention heating 50,000 litres of water - uses up a lot of electricity:

• Keep the pool cool to save energy.
• Don't leave the pool lights on when you're not using it and when no one is around.

Discharging water from swimming pools

We must always bear the environmental consequences in mind when emptying swimming pools or discharging filter backwash.

Here are some tips for emptying your pool:

• Pool owners must discharge pool water onto their own properties or into storm sewers.
• Pool water may also be released into sanitary sewers via temporary or permanent connections.   Permits for permanent connections must be obtained from local municipalities.
• Do not discharge pool water onto neighbouring properties or other adjacent land.
• If the discharge is directed over the ground, the rate should be slow enough that it does not cause erosion of the soil.
• If the discharge is direct to a stream or storm drain it should be slow enough not to scour the stream bottom and stir up sediments.
• Make sure discharges don't contain harmful chemicals. Do not add chlorine to the pool for seven days before emptying the pool.   Use a pool test kit to ensure water meets municipal requirements.
• Filter out suspended solids before discharging water to nearby waterways.

We also have to discharge filter backwash on occasion. Since the volumes are usually low, this can often be done on-property.  Soil will act as a filter and the water will replenish the groundwater supply.  Do not discharge backwash onto neighbouring properties.