An explosion in the cleaning machinery of a home pool in Chautauqua County has hazmat officials warning residents about the chemicals they use to keep their water clean.
New pools installed skyrocketed across the country last year as people invested in home improvements during pandemic lockdowns. Combined with a fire at a Louisiana chlorine plant – one of the main suppliers for the country – the result is more scarce and more expensive pool cleaning products.
In some markets, the price for chlorine tablets has gone up as much as 50%.
That’s leading some pool owners to mix the cleaning chemicals that are available. But doing so can be a problem.
“We actually got a phone call from one of our residents in [Chautauqua] county expressing concern because their pool filter blew up, and right after they had mixed two different types of chlorinated tablets in their pool, two different brands,” said Chautauqua County Deputy Fire Coordinator for Hazardous Materials Christopher Wichlacz.
Dan Imfield, the county’s Deputy Fire Coordinator for Emergency Medical Service said pool supply stores are posting warning signs for customers to read pool cleaner container labels and make sure they don’t mix incompatible chemicals.
“We're not trying to create fear,” Imfield explained. “We're just trying to educate and make sure that people are safe when they're doing this.”
Firefighters in the county are also starting to be trained on the issue, and how to deal with incidents.
