A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China, in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019. COVID-19 Pool Water transmission.
It’s tough to figure out where to start on this one because no one knows what’s going on 100%. New information is added daily, and people make ? up. Besides sorting through the news blasts each day, we have to weed out the Tomfuckery.
COVID-19
I sent out an eNewsletter earlier this week, I guess that is as good a place as any. ? The Centers for Disease Control update states, “There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.”
What Ratio of Bleach to Water?
Chlorine is the best thing to use both in and out of the pool. The American Chemistry Council’s Chlorine Division has put together a series of posters specifically for Health Departments. 1/3 of a cup of bleach added to a gallon of water and let sit for sixty seconds before wiping off. You can print these posters for use at your facility as well on their Water Quality & Health Council website.
Get Your Poster Here ?? COVID-19 Surface Cleaning and Disinfection
“Although there is no indication that COVID-19 can be spread to humans by using pools and hot tubs, proper operation, maintenance and disinfection, such as using chlorine and bromine, of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19,” said John Norwood, CPSA’s Director of Government Relations.
We Are An Essential Service!
I think we are but are we? Things have started to get a little buck-nutty on social media since the state lockdowns have begun. The city of San Francisco was first, and people were told they have to stay home and not go to work “except for essential services.” Several individuals had created posts citing CISA Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response Version 1.0 (March 19, 2020). Specifically, page 9, Public Works: Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.
The problem here is the section cited does not explicitly state Swimming Pool Service. The folks who made the posts (like the one above) are not wrong by any means. We are an essential service and should be exempt. But it gets tricky anytime any room is left for interpretation in anything. To make matters worse, the city of San Francisco and the states of California, Illinois, and New York have included a more detailed listing. These including the specific types of services that would meet this essential service exemption. Again, swimming pool service would be omitted from the list. But, we’re included, right?
With that, I decided to make a couple of frames for your Facebook profile pictures to support the cause and help educate the public. ?? Facebook Profile Picture Frame
Why don’t we just give ’em a call
Okay, so I’m not the only one to notice this. Actually, quite a few folks had, including the PHTA (Pool & Hot Tub Alliance). The PHTA sends an email yesterday morning encouraging Pool Service Companies, Pool Retailers, Swimming Pool Supply Distribution, and Builders to be proactive. The email (I hope everyone’s cool with me sharing it) instructed PHTA members to contact their legislator and convey that we are indeed an “essential service.”
You can find your legislator here ?? https://openstates.org/
The Florida Swimming Pool Association
The Northeast Spa & Pool Association
NESPA has been distributing a series of video updates with information
The California Pool & Spa Association
Cloudy water is one of the leading contributors to death by drowning. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4, the second leading cause if we extend the age to fourteen. With all of the schools closed and all of the kids home, the risk of this threat has increased exponentially. We prevent that. We prevent cloudy water conditions and if a potential customer calls, we can resolve cloudy water issues quickly as well.
The Texas Pool & Spa Coalition
Share This Video to Educate The Public
So are we, or are we not considered essential?
Aren’t we? I mean, we may not be what comes to mind for most when they hear the term “Essential Service,” but pool companies prevent disease outbreaks daily. It’s not like recreational water illnesses are gonna say “oh sh*t man, my areas on lockdown. I guess we need to self-quarantine too. Hey, do you got any ??” Not at all. If anything, these waterborne zoonoses we battle on the day to day are gonna be like, “This pool is ours now, Bitch!”.
similar article How Can a Homeowner Tell if a Pool Person Has Had Any Training? ??
Unfortunately, without the CISA document naming pool service directly as part of the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, it is likely to be subject to interpretation by the governing body of that geographical location. Even then we will need to hope that the lawmakers have communicated this message appropriately to their enforcement departments out in the field. ??
Help us to help you
If you are a homeowner and you are reading this, please spread the word on social media. Share your thoughts, share this article. No one wants to live in a state with thousands of swamp vomit green pools that serve as a mosquitos nursery. Poorly maintained swimming pools present an extremely elevated drowning risk and a home to recreational water illnesses.
Illnesses your pool service companies prevent: Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, E.coli, Adenovirus, Hepatitis A, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella, Leptospirosis, Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Otitis externa, Naegleria fowleri, etc.
The Best thing we can do is educate. We are essential. Please feel free to share.
It is our duty to ensure that we do not end up with an epic Cryptosporidium Outbreak while everyone else is fighting another battle.
| Join our group | |||||||
|
|||||||
