Swimming Pool Chemical Safety
In nature, sparkling and crystal clear water is pretty rare. To achieve that magical feeling of fresh, clean water in your own backyard actually takes a fair amount of assistance.
No One Wants a Green Pool!
Swimming pool waters can quickly become a green soup of nastiness without proper care and cleaning. That is why it is important to hire a professional to manage your pool care or become familiar with chemical safety yourself.
Annually, accidents in the Unite States involving pool chemicals lead to thousands of emergency room visits. Most pool chemical accidents are preventable, however and prevention is a simple task of taking the time to learn to use your pool cleaning tools safely.
Pool chemicals include disinfectants, algaecides and pH adjusters.
In today’s chemical conscious families, the use of pool cleaners can be a controversial topic.
There are, of course, alternatives to using traditional pool cleaning products, and there is always the option of building a salt water pool, however, these topics will be addressed in future posts. Today, we are talking basic pool chemical safety.
Safe, Dry and Cool!
As any parent knows, the proper storage of cleaning supplies is part of Child-proofing 101.
Pool cleaners need a storage space that keeps little ones safe. Children should not be able to access the storage area without adult supervision.
To avoid possible reactions that can lead to other safety hazards such as odors or spills,, pool chemical storage should be located in a cool, dry space as well. If, for instance, chlorine tablets in storage become wet, the resulting odor can be detrimental to your health.
It is important to store pool chemicals in a location where they will not be exposed to rain, water play or flooding. It is also a good idea to store them in such a manner that other chemicals are not stored beneath them, in case of accidental spills which can cause a chemical reaction.
A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
Another safety tip for chemical storage is to ensure that each cleaning chemical has a designated container. Keep the container closed and with the original labeling. Read the entire label or safety data sheet before using the chemicals and follow the instructions for use, storage and disposal.
While recycling is usually a good idea, it is important to ensure that you do not store different chemicals in the same containers over time as the residual chemicals from previous storage may interact with the new ones. In the case of pool chemicals, it is a better idea to simply not reuse containers for new purposes.
Do Not Play Chemist
Mixing chemicals can create toxic fumes or worse.
Handle all pool chemicals in a well-ventilated area and only have one open product container at a time. You should not mix chlorine products with acid. Keep food and drinks away from pool chemicals for obvious reasons, but also, surprisingly, even carbonated drinks are acidic enough to react with chlorine products and can create toxic gases.
Resist any urge to play chemist and do not combine different types of chlorine products or chemicals with each other or any other substances.
Safe Pool Chemical Disposal in Brevard County
To protect the natural environment that makes life on the Space Coast so fantastic, it is important to prevent improper disposal of household chemical products. The Brevard County Government Solid Waste Management Department operates three permanent facilities where such materials can be delivered at no charge to residents.
For more information, visit http://www.brevardcounty.us/solidwaste/householdhazardouswaste
Hazardous Waste Collection Center Locations
Central Disposal Facility
2250 Adamson Road, Cocoa
Monday - Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Mockingbird Mulching Facility
3600 South Street, Titusville
Monday - Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Sarno Landfill
3379 Sarno Road, Melbourne
Tuesday - Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm