Cleaning Up Flooded Pools and Spas

21120 1117 Feat

Along with death and widespread destruction, this fall's hurricanes in Florida and Texas left tens of thousands of pools and spas contaminated with floodwaters and debris. The problem is not limited to hurricane zones, as flooding occurs on a large and small scale in low-lying areas across North America.

Restoring pools and spas to a condition fit for use is not as simple as some might think. Homeowners must assume that floodwaters are contaminated with chemicals, fertilizers, oils, gasoline, sewage, bacteria, germs, silt, and debris. This contamination persists long after the floodwaters have receded.

In addition, flooding leaves behind water-damaged electrical equipment in homes, swimming pools and other outdoor living spaces. After the storm, the primary concern is always for the safety of those affected. Always exercise special care to protect yourself, your family (including pets) and other people during the cleanup and recovery period.

This edition of Tech Notes discusses both safety precautions for those performing the post-flood cleanup and general procedures for making pools and spas safe again for use by swimmers and bathers.

Precautions

a) Electrical Safety

Electrocution is a real and present danger and frequently accounts for many deaths after a major storm. Prior to beginning any cleanup efforts, make certain the power to all pool and spa equipment, heaters, outdoor lighting fixtures, outlets and appliances is turned off at the main circuit breaker or fuse box. Do not touch a circuit breaker or fuse with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface or in standing water. Reset breakers using a dry plastic- or rubber-insulated tool using only a single hand. If the main circuit breaker or fuse box is inaccessible or damaged, or you have any questions, immediately contact a licensed electrician to repair the damage prior to beginning any cleanup activities.

b) Personal Safety

Do not use the pool or spa. Contaminated water will contain sewage, hazardous chemicals and/or disease causing germs. Additionally, the pool water may become murky with algae, other microbial growth and miscellaneous particulate contaminants, making the pool water turbid and dangerous.

Check the pool for wildlife. Often, when floodwaters recede, snakes and various types of wildlife can be found in swimming pools and other standing bodies of water. In the Southeastern United States, alligators displaced by the floodwaters often take up residence in backyard swimming pools. If dangerous wildlife is present, immediately contact your local animal control or wildlife management department.

c) Chemical Safety

Pool chemicals in storage areas compromised by floods pose a danger and should be properly disposed of. If chemicals were moistened, contaminated or mixed in an uncontrolled manner during or after a flooding event, violent reactions (explosions, fire and/or release of toxic fumes) may occur. Contact your local fire department or CHEMTREC at (800) 262-8200. Be prepared to provide the names and amounts of chemicals involved. Never touch any compromised containers of chemicals without wearing gloves, eye goggles and other protective equipment.

General Procedure for Cleanup

a) Delayed Repair of Flooded Swimming Pool or Spa

If you are unable to begin the repair immediately, you should treat the pool or spa as if it is abandoned. Untreated and unfiltered pool and spa water can pose health risks from injuries, illnesses, wildlife and insects such as mosquitos. At a minimum, the following steps are recommended:

1. Drowning is a real danger. Use a temporary safety fence or other approved barrier to block entry to the pool area. This prevents small children from wandering into the pool area. Additionally, as there will likely be trip hazards around the pool area from fallen trees and other debris. Installing a safety fence around the pool area may prevent someone from unintentionally falling into the pool.

Check with your county or local municipality for existing laws and regulations regarding minimum standards for barrier construction. Pool covers are not universally accepted as effective barriers. Generally, bolted or otherwise secured ASTM F1346-91 compliant covers are recommended to prevent additional debris from entering the pool. Loose covers (such as floating or solar covers) or damaged covers are not recommended as they tend to collapse and retain water and create a drowning hazard.

2. Take measures to prevent insects from breeding in the swimming pool or spa water. Water that is not being actively treated with sanitizer can serve as an ideal habitat for disease-carrying mosquitos. Serious diseases, such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya can be transmitted through infected mosquitos. Addition of a larvicide or pesticide to the water may help reduce or prevent mosquito infestation.

Many jurisdictions require by law that pools with no covering or insufficient covering that are not being disinfected and filtered be drained and filled with clean dirt, treated with a larvicide or stocked with native fish species approved by the state or local municipality. Check with your local officials to determine specific requirements.

RELATED: Pool Cleanup After a Hurricane

Repairing a Flooded Swimming Pool or Spa

During the cleanup process, protect yourself and your family by following these steps:

a) Wear Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Slip-resistant rubber boots, chemically resistant rubber gloves and safety glasses with side shields at a minimum.

b) Wash Hands Thoroughly With Soap and Water Before Eating or Drinking

Use water that has been boiled for at least one minute and allowed to cool. Alternatively, water disinfected for personal hygiene use may be used. (For hand washing, add to ¼ teaspoon household bleach per gallon of water and allow to stand for 30 minutes before using. If treated water is still cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat treatment with household bleach and allow to stand until clear). Hand sanitizers are not effective when hands are visibly dirty. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information on food and water safety after a storm. (emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/floods).

c) Wash Contaminated Clothing in Hot Water, Detergent and Bleach. Clean PPE Before Reuse

Cleanup Chart 1117 Sm

 

Hard Surface Cleanup

Thoroughly clean and sanitize all hard surfaces that were in contact with floodwater. Pool decking, concrete, coping, pool ladders and railings, pool equipment and other hard surfaces should first be cleaned using hot water and laundry or dish detergent. After cleaning, sanitize hard surfaces using a solution of chlorine bleach (see table below). Never mix chlorine products with ammonia. Make new bleach solutions daily as they weaken over time.

a) Electrical Components

Floodwaters and their contaminants can create serious fire hazards for previously submerged electrical wires and equipment. These hazards persist after the wires and equipment have dried out. Even with professional cleaning and drying, sediments and damaging chemicals are difficult to remove and often remain. Corrosion and damage to insulation can occur when water, chemicals, and sediments get inside electrical devices and components. Floodwaters and their chemical contaminants can also damage the motors of pool and spa pumps.

CAUTION: Remediating electrical equipment is not a do-it-yourself project. Secure the services of a professional licensed by your state or local municipality to perform electrical repair work. Pool owners should be prepared to have electric components replaced. These components could include circuit breakers, circuit boards, wiring harnesses, electrical switches, valve motors, pump and other blower motors, relays, wiring, sheathed cable and electronic control equipment. All replacement of electrical components should only be recommended and performed by a licensed professional.

During the cleanup process, regarding electrical equipment:

  • Do not use a plug or switch or turn on an appliance until an electrician indicates it is safe to do so.
  • Do not use indoor extension cords outdoors.
  • Never remove or bypass the ground pin of a three-prong plug.
  • Do not allow outdoor power cord connections to become wet.
  • Use portable ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) devices whenever possible to help prevent electric shocks and electrocutions.
  • Do not use wet-dry vacuum cleaners or electric pressure washers that have been submerged, as damaged electrical parts can pose an electric shock hazard or can overheat and cause a fire.
  • If using a portable generator, follow manufacturer's use instructions.

b) Remediating the Pool and Spa Water

As flooding and other environmental conditions vary considerably, there is not one procedure that can be universally applied to every pool or spa under all circumstances. In general, the following steps should be performed:

1. Visually inspect pool/spa and assess damage. Remove debris from the pool/spa and make sure the main drain covers are attached, intact, and satisfy applicable pool safety requirements. If unable to visually inspect the main drain cover due to the presence of colored or turbid water, postpone drain cover inspection until it is clearly visible while standing on the pool deck. Assess damage to the pool surface, shell, bonding wires, decking or other pool or spa component.

2. Following a catastrophic flooding event (such as hurricane rainfall or storm surge), it is not practical or cost effective to determine the type and/or amount of toxic contaminants in the water. Therefore, the recommendation is to drain the pool water, purge all plumbing lines and replace filter media.

WARNING: When draining a pool, be aware that high ground water can cause the pool to "pop" out of the ground, resulting in severe structural damage. Make sure that a hydrostatic release valve is installed and functioning properly. If you are uncertain of the ground water level in your area, do not drain the pool. To determine if ground water will be a concern, contact a pool/spa professional who can assist you to determine the best course of action. Additionally, check with local water and sewer authorities to determine proper disposal requirements for the contaminated pool water. While draining the pool water, repeatedly brush and rinse to clean the sides of the pool.

3. Once drained, remove debris, organic matter and silt. In some cases, power washing may be required to clean the pool or spa surface. Use a surface cleaner designed for recreational water to remove any stains or discolorations. Typical surface cleaners include 10 percent muriatic acid (prepared by slowly adding one part muriatic acid to ten parts of water) or liquid bleach (see table above).

WARNING: NEVER MIX CHLORINE AND ACID SOLUTIONS TOGETHER! Rinse surfaces thoroughly and remove any rinse water from the pool. If performing both an acid and chlorine wash, always acid wash first before a chlorine wash. Rinse thoroughly between the two washes.

4. Make sure all filtration equipment is in proper working order.

5. Add fresh potable water to the pool. Do not fill the pool with untreated well water, as it is likely to be contaminated. If necessary, truck in water from a reliable source. Balance and sanitize the pool water, making sure the chemical parameters are within industry standards (See ANSI/APSP/ICC-11). Once pool chemical parameters remain within recommended ranges and sanitizer residuals are maintained, normal use of the pool/spa can resume. 

 

References

The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, "American National Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Spas," ANSI/APSP-11 (PA). Alexandria, VA. 2009

After the Storm: Floodwater Safety, Underwrites Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, IL Copyright 2009.

The Disaster Handbook – National Edition, Chapter 7: Hurricanes, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Publication Number DPR-0716, August 2005.

I.K. Moise, et al., Graphic Assessment of Unattended Swimming Pools in Post-Katrina New Orleans, 2006-2008. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 2012, DOI:10.1080/00045608.2012.740362

K.A. Caillouet, et al., Colonization of Abandoned Swimming Pools by Larval Mosquitos and Their Predators Following Hurricane Katrina. J. Vector Ecol., 33(1):166-172, 2008.

 

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