Keeping Commercial Pools Safe in COVID

Posted on: September 2nd, 2020 by Allen Pool Company

If you are a property manager of a facility that has a swimming pool, we are sure you have been preoccupied with keeping your pool safe during COVID. We are taking a look at some safety measures you can implement to help in keeping your commercial pool safe in COVID.

Can COVID Spread in Water?

This is a common question we get. And, as commercial pool renovation professionals, we simply point people to the CDC. According to them, there is no evidence that the virus can be spread to people through pool water. This includes hot tubs, spas, or water play areas.

However, this requires proper commercial pool maintenance and operation. This maintenance includes keeping up on disinfection with chlorine and bromine, which should make the virus inactive in the water.

CDC Pool Guidelines in COVID

While the virus may not spread in the pool water itself, you still need to take measures to keep your patrons safe. The best way to ensure keeping your commercial pool safe is to adhere to the CDC guidelines for pool safety. These safety protocols include:

• Limiting Numbers in Pool Area – If possible, control the number of people using the pool area to allow them to remain socially distanced. This means moving lounge chairs further apart. Post signs that indicate that you are limiting pool capacity to X number of people at a time.
• Masks – While you do not want to have patrons wear a mask in the pool, but when they get out, encourage them to wear them, especially when social distancing could be difficult.
• Symptom-Free – Make sure people using the pool are symptom-free. Have a staff member ask people if they have been exposed in recent weeks (or around someone who was exposed), have any symptoms such as cough, fever, loss of taste, etc. If they have any symptoms, do not allow them to use the pool.
• Sanitizing Stations – Provide in the pool area dispensers or bottles of hand sanitizer or access to wash hands. If using hand sanitizer, ensure it is 60 percent alcohol as that is the lowest percentage that is effective against the virus.
• Frequently Disinfect Areas – Keep up on frequent daily cleaning. This cleaning includes chairs, pool handrails, and even entry and exit gate knobs. If your pool has a communal area, you will need to clean that area as well, including restrooms.
• Clean Towels – if you provide communal towels, make sure you thoroughly clean them using the warmest water temperature.
• Ventilation – If your pool is indoors, make sure your ventilation systems are working correctly. If possible, open external windows and doors to increase fresh air circulation into your pool area.

These are some of the main items to help increase pool safety. For a complete list of COVID pool safety measures, please visit the CDC website.

We hope these tips will keep your patrons safe while using your pool facilities. If you need help with any pool maintenance and repairs, or even pool renovations and remodeling, please give us a call at 770-451-1621 or request a free estimate.