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How pool service techs should respond after a wildfire

April 18, 2018

Pool cleanup

As mentioned earlier, pools in regions affected by wildfires will contain many things. Therefore, when allowable, it is best to drain and re-fill the pool. Service technicians should also inspect the integrity of pool walls, plaster, pipefittings, decking, and the surrounding landscape. The components of smoke from fire can cause severe lasting damage to equipment and structures, not to mention its adverse effects on water chemistry.

Smoke is corrosive and oxidative and can cause severe damage wherever it settles. If equipment and decking are covered in ash and smoke, service technicians should continue to use caution by wearing personal protective equipment (including gloves), as well as a breathing apparatus. There are many toxins in smoke and ash residue that can cause sickness. The best case is to allow professionals to deal with excessive cleanup situations.

The contents of ash

In the case of wildfires, a lot of ash will end up in pools. Ash from fires that burn lower than 449 C (840 F) is mostly organic carbon. At a higher temperature, the carbon is burned away leaving inorganic compounds. These include calcium, magnesium, and sodium. The fires in northern and southern California, for example, not only burned forest, but also homes and other structures.

Since the combustion rate is much higher for buildings, the makeup of the ash is quite different. At extreme combustion rates, ash can contain potassium and calcium oxides, which create quicklime (i.e. calcium oxide). If enough of this ash gets into the pool and into the filter, it can create a limestone cement coating on the filtration media.

Ash from homes and structures can also contain toxins such as lead, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium. Most of the ash that falls into a pool is also hydrophobic and repels water. This explains why the ash floats and is difficult to remove by skimming. Changing the charge of the ash by using a chitosan clarifier or an enzyme can help in the removal process.

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Maintenance tips for pools along the outer perimeter of a wildfire
The pool surface should be brushed thoroughly for those pools that were not damaged, but within the vicinity of a wildfire.
The pool surface should be brushed thoroughly for those pools that were not damaged, but within the vicinity of a wildfire.

In cases where homes were not damaged, but were in vicinity to a wildfire, pool service technicians can take the following steps:

  • Remove all large debris as soon as is possible.
  • Brush all surfaces thoroughly.
  • Skim smaller material with a pool net.
  • Make sure the filter is clean and operates properly.
  • Inspect all equipment.
  • Super-chlorinate the pool to 20 parts per million (ppm) or use a quality chlorine-free oxidizer.
  • Follow immediately with a clarifier to help remove small ash material to the filter.
  • Use an enzyme to help breakdown some of the non-living organic material that cannot be filtered.
  • After the chlorine level has fallen below 5 ppm, test and treat the water for phosphates.
  • Add a good broad-spectrum algaecide.
  • The filter should be cleaned throughout this process, as necessary.
Tech tips for servicing pools during a wildfire
Water in pools can contain toxins from smoke, ash, and firefighting chemicals; therefore, it is best to drain when possible.
Water in pools can contain toxins from smoke, ash, and firefighting chemicals; therefore, it is best to drain when possible.
  • Use extreme caution in areas where wildfires are active.
  • Always check ahead of time with emergency management personnel before attempting to enter neighbourhoods where fires have been.
  • Wear smoke protection when necessary (e.g. breathing mask and goggles).
  • Water in pools can contain toxins from smoke, ash, and firefighting chemicals; therefore, it is best to drain when possible. No one should ever swim in a pool in the immediate aftermath of a wildfire.
  • Keep in mind, wildfires can move fast and change course in seconds. Have more than one escape route planned ahead of time. It is best to stay out of the area.
  • Shock, floc, enzyme, phosphate removal, and algae prevention are all good remedial treatments once the wildfires are gone.
  • Check and inspect all equipment thoroughly during the cleanup process. Filters may need to be backwashed and cleaned frequently during this period.
  • Ensure pools equipped with firehose pumps also have hydrostatic relief valves to prevent them from lifting out of the ground due to being rapidly drained.
  • Be aware of erosion and flooding problems that may occur from damaged soil. Any vulnerable areas should be sand bagged in advance to ensure water flows to drains and/or culverts to prevent flooding.
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