Pool Contamination Procedures

We have so much to do when it comes to operating our commercial bodies of water. We have to maintain the equipment, ensure proper circulation, maintain safety signs and apparatus, balance water chemistry, and remove dirt and debris from the water. Sometimes we are required to do extra work. For example in the event of vomit or an Accidental Fecal Release (AFR). Do you know what steps to take to get the water back to safety? Pool Shark H2O is here to help! 

Testing the water often is your best friend. Pool Shark H2O has paired with the LaMotte Spin Lab to offer you seamless testing results. All you do is take a small syringe of water, inject it into a spin disc and place it in the spin lab. Viola! In just 60 seconds, the water test results are sent directly to any device(s) that you have the Pool Shark H2O App installed on. Not ready to take the plunge with the spin lab? That’s quite all right! You can manually enter your water test results into the Pool Shark App and get perfect, tailored dosing instructions every time. Did you know the Pool Shark H2O App offers oh-so-much more? One of the many benefits include instructions on what to do in the case of an accidental fecal release or other contaminated water.

Here are the Pool Contamination Steps per the Model Aquatic Health Code:

1. Get everyone out of the water. This should be your first step regardless of whether it is vomit, blood, a solid stool or diarrhea. Remember, our main priority is helping to prevent anyone from getting sick.
2. Remove as much of the contaminating material as possible by using a scoop, bucket or net. Dispose of waste accordingly and either also dispose of whatever you used to remove it or put it in the pool for treatment.
3. Ensure that the water’s pH is 7.5 ppm or lower. Adjust if necessary.
4. Make sure the water’s temperature is 77 degrees fahrenheit (25 degrees celsius ) or higher.
5. Operate the pool’s filtration/Recirculation system while the pool reaches and maintains the proper free chlorine concentration during the entire remediation process.
6. Test the free chlorine residual at multiple sampling points to ensure the proper free chlorine concentration is achieved throughout the pool for the entire disinfection time
7. Use only non-stabilized chlorine products (Such as liquid chlorine or cal hypo) to raise the free chlorine during the remediation.
8. If vomit or a solid stool, contaminated water shall have the free chlorine residual raised to 2.0 ppm and maintained for at least 25 minutes. (or an equivalent time and concentration to reach the CT INACTIVATION VALUE) before reopening the venue.

If you do use a stabilized product, you’ll need to double the inactivation time. Keep in mind, non-stabilized chlorine is recommended. Time starts once the chlorine level reaches 2.0 ppm.

1. If diarrheal-stool contaminated contaminated water, check the free chlorine residual and then raise the free chlorine residual to 20 ppm and maintain for at least 12.75 hours. (or an equivalent time and concentration to reach the CT INACTIVATION VALUE) or circulate the water through a secondary disinfection system to theoretically reduce the number of cryptosporidium oocysts in the aquatic venue below one oocyst/100ml.
2. Pools containing chlorine stabilizers shall be treated by Hyperchlorination. Lower the CYA concentration to less than 15 ppm by draining, if necessary. Raise the free chlorine to 20 ppm for at least 28 hours; 30 ppm for at least 18 hours; 40 ppm for at least 8.5 hours, which is needed to reach the CT INACTIVATION VALUE.  Start the inactivation time clock once the free chlorine reaches the desired range.
3. You may also choose to drain the aquatic venue completely.
4. Reopen the venue once the proper time has lapsed and the free chlorine level is 5 ppm or less (This number may vary by region).

Wow! That’s a lot to remember. Thank goodness Pool Shark H2O is there to help. With step-by-step instructions and accurate test results along the way, you can be sure to get your venue reopened as quickly and as safely as possible. The Pool Shark H20 App also keeps digital logs for you. Gone are the old-fashioned paper log books which can get misplaced, go unused or get wet. Not to mention all of the storage space they take up. Pool Shark H2O App works hard so you don’t have to. Pool Shark H2O to the rescue, once again! See you poolside!