The Law
“All pool and spa products (chemicals and devices) used to control micro-organisms and algae must be registered or scheduled under the Pest Control Products Act,” says Andrea Sawatzky, a pesticide compliance officer with Health Canada Alberta region. “Health Canada officials then review registration applications for possible risks to human health and the environment, as well as testing how well the product works.”
According to the Pest Control Products Act, registered or scheduled products need to have labels with directions and information on how to use them properly. Registered products are easy to spot as the label should have a five-digit registration number on the front of the package, in one of the following formats:
- Registration No. 00000 Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), or
- Reg. No. 00000 PCPA
Scheduled product labels will say “Scheduled under The Pest Control Products Act.” As many in the industry know, there are four types of devices used to sanitize pools and spas.
- Chlorine and bromine generators, which use electrical energy to produce acid from salt to clean the water. Note: Chlorine and bromine generator devices must be registered by Health Canada.
- Chemical dispensing devices that automatically release acid from chlorine or bromine chemicals into pools. The user’s manual should be carefully followed. Chemical dispensing devices for pool use do not have to be registered.
- Ionizers, which produce metal ions to control algae. Pools and/or spas equipped with an ionizer must still use chlorine- or bromine-based products to sanitize the water. Ion and disinfectant levels should be checked often and electrodes replaced as needed. Note: Ionizers must be registered by Health Canada.
- Ozone-generating devices can be used to reduce organic matter in pool and spa water. Although these devices can be used with chlorine- or bromine-based products, they do not replace them. The main purpose of ozone-generating devices is to oxidize organic matter. Ozone-generating devices do not have to be registered, unless the product claims to control micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses, or algae.
Other pool and spa products (e.g. pH adjusters, shock treatment, chlorine neutralizers, and devices used only to dispense pool and spa chemicals) do not have to be registered. This is because they do not control disease-causing micro-organisms or algae. When using ionizers or ozone-generating devices, chlorine- or bromine-based products are still required as the proper level of sanitizer must be maintained to prevent the spread of disease-causing micro-organisms.
“We always encourage pool and spa retailers and owners to avoid products that are not clearly labelled. We strongly advise pool and spa owners to only use registered or scheduled products. Lastly, we like to emphasize how important it is to follow all label directions,” explains Sawatzky.
Safety first: gloves, foot wear key to staying safe
Pesticide labels contain specific instructions on how the product is intended to be used, and what steps to take to protect bathers from exposure. Carefully reading labels and following directions are important when cleaning and sanitizing pools and spas. Labels may include stickers, tags, seals, leaflets, brochures and/or wrappers applied to, or attached to, the product package.
Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is often required when handling commercial or restricted class pool/spa sanitation products—basically any special clothing or equipment worn to minimize pesticide exposure and protect one’s health. These PPE items include: chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, footwear, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, and sometimes a respirator.
“Studies have shown wearing chemical-resistant gloves and footwear can significantly reduce exposure,” says Sawatzky. “It’s especially important to be mindful of what kind of PPE to use when mixing, loading, cleaning, or repairing pools and spas.”
Other instances where personal protection equipment is required include: handling an item treated with pesticides or equipment used to apply a pesticide, and re-entering an area that has been treated with pesticides.
As pesticides have specific uses, the label instructions will indicate the specific PPE that needs to be used.
