Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Best Practices Process for Assessing a Pool Determining whether a pool can operate as expected can be accomplished by: 1. Evaluating for damage of the pool and any storage areas. 2. Determining whether the pool can operate as expected by answering the following questions: Is there contamination of the pool water and recirculation system? Is there debris in the pool? Is any equipment broken or inoperable? Is a clean water source available for refill if you need to drain the pool? Should pools be a priority right after a storm if source water is available? If not, when? If a pool is suspected of being contaminated with sewage or floodwaters, the following measures are recommended: Recommended Steps for Hyperchlorination When Chlorine Stabilizer is in the Water 1. Close the aquatic venue to swimmers. If multiple venues use the same filtration system, all affected venues must be closed to swimmers. Do not allow anyone to enter the venue(s) until the hyperchlorination process is completed. 2. Use unstabilized chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) to raise the water’s free chlorine concentration (see bullets below) and maintain water at pH 7.5 or less. 3. Hyperchlorinate. Chlorine stabilizer slows the rate at which free chlorine inactivates or kills Crypto, and the more stabilizer there is in the water, the longer it takes to kill Crypto. Use unstabilized chlorine if the cyanuric acid concentration is 1–15 parts per million (ppm). Raise the free chlorine concentration to 20 ppm and maintain it for 28 hours; or Raise the free chlorine concentration to 30 ppm and maintain it for 18 hours; or Raise the free chlorine concentration to 40 ppm and maintain it for 8.5 hours. If the cyanuric acid concentration is more than 15 ppm, lower the concentration to 1–15 ppm by draining partially and adding fresh water without chlorine stabilizer before attempting to hyperchlorinate. 4. Ensure that the filtration system operates while the water reaches and is maintained at the proper free chlorine concentration and pH for hyperchlorination. 5. After hyperchlorination is complete, backwash the filter thoroughly. Be sure to discharge directly to waste according to state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) regulations. Do not return the backwash through the filter. Where appropriate, replace the filter media. 6. Swimmers can be allowed back into the water only after hyperchlorination is completed and the free chlorine concentration and pH are within the operating range allowed by the STLT regulatory authority. 1. Drain it 2. Clean it 3. Flush it 4. Hyperchlorinate it 5. Test it
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