| The importance of testing and treating the water for phosphates |
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| Phosphate testing and using phosphate removers are recommended for pools to keep resistant algae strains from flourishing in the absence of a chlorine sanitizer or an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered algaecide. Phosphate removal has become an industry standard, as it is a prime nutrient, which algae can use to resist typical chlorine and algaecide treatments. In fact, it has been proven quite successful in these circumstances.
Phosphates can lead to algae resistant problems, as well as reduce the ability of salt chlorine generators from producing free available chlorine (FAC). To prevent this, phosphate removers should be used as they turn the byproduct into a solid precipitate that can be removed from the water by the filter. The recommended water parameter levels for phosphates is 200 parts per billion (ppb) or below. |
The ingredients of fire-fighting suppressants
Most of the dry suppressants dropped on wildfires are made primarily of di-ammonium phosphate. The result of this is an increase in ortho-phosphate ending up in waterways and pools.
Phosphate in pools leads to many water quality issues and can combine with calcium to form calcium phosphate scale on heat exchangers. In 2003, the Cedar Fire in San Diego, Calif., was one of the biggest wildfires in the state’s history. After this fire, service technicians reported a very high spike in phosphate levels in pools, which was likely due to the large amounts of phosphate-based suppressants that were dropped in the area.
Further cautions
The extreme heat from wildfires can cause the ground to bake, forming a solid layer of soil, which repels water and prevents absorption. This is a condition known as hydrophobicity. When it rains, the hydrophobic condition of the soil increases the rate of water run-off and, as a result, it can concentrate in these areas and cause erosion. Excessive erosion can come from firefighting efforts and lead to flooding when it rains.
In these circumstances, service technicians need to protect pool areas with sand bags or other water diversion methods to prevent an influx of floodwater in the pool. As mentioned earlier, pools drained during the fire will need to be inspected for damage and, in most cases, will likely need to be re-surfaced before regular use can commence.
Terry Arko has more than 40 years of experience in the pool, spa and hot tub industry, working in service, repair, retail sales, chemical manufacturing, and product development. He is a certified pool operator (CPO) instructor through the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF). He also serves as instructor for the Pool Chemistry Training Institute (PCTI) to certify residential pool techs. Arko is an active member on the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) Recreational Water Quality Committee (RWQC). He is a member of Pool & Spa Marketing‘s Editorial Advisory Committee and currently serves as a water specialist for NC Brands, parent company of SeaKlear, Natural Chemistry and Coral Seas. He can be reached via e-mail at tarko@ncbrands.com.
