Facts

The Australian Government called for all swimming pools to close by midnight 25th March 2020. This includes all public swimming pools, spa pools, school pools, water spray parks and swim schools. The Federal, State and Territory and Local Governments urged owners to take steps to ensure that every pool that was open on 1st March be ready to be operational when given the ‘green light’ to go ahead and re-open. Pools left to fall into disrepair are difficult and costly to re-instate, prone to damage and failure. Some states have announced dates for when pools may re-open, other States are still closed. Please check with your local state authorities or current updates.

Problems

Risk and Compliance. In these times, particularly, do not leave your business open to risk or public health issues. Provide adequate signage regarding the pool’s operation and even without bathers, keep your pool maintained to reduce the risk from a chemical imbalance or algae growing in the pool. Ensure pool infrastructure, including fencing, is well maintained.
Breeding Insects. If your pool is not maintained, and you may build a mosquito farm in your closed swimming pool!
Bacteria. The water in your closed pool may contain a range of microbiological organisms, including bacteria, viruses and protozoa.

Tips for Pool Maintenance during shut-down & re-opening

Smell. Stagnant pool water may end up smelling, which can cause further complaints from your neighbours. The Queensland Government Environmental Protection Act 1994 regulates air and odour pollution from both domestic and commercial properties. Commercial operators also need to be aware of their responsibilities under the Brisbane City Plan 2014. (Refer to the website.)
Cost of Maintenance. It is safe to say that the lack of income that was there to support the operation of the pool could be severely compromised in these current circumstances. With some planning and thought, savings can be made on the operation of the pool, while ensuring the pool is maintained. Don’t make the mistake of ‘saving’ money by doing no maintenance and spending significant expenses later on trying to salvage the pool from disrepair.
Permanent Damage. No matter which types of pools you have (fiberglass or concrete), surface infrastructure can be damaged from stagnant water.
Empty Pools. Most pools are designed based on operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year, with constant water temperature and water loading, or a specific sequence of events to have a winter closure, for example. If you choose to empty the pool, it may:

• Crack the pool’s shell
• Damage the interior lining or surface
• Damage the pool’s coating and surrounding paving
• Damage pool lights
• Cause a safety hazard for people, pets and local wildlife.

Click the button below to view the whole document

For specific advice for your pool, please contact us Call 1800 620 690.