Download Pool Tip #12: Undertow Myth (PDF format, 19KB)

There is no such thing as undertow! Regardless of the fact that the country of Bali has an undertow god, and that frequent TV drowning scenes begin with a statement that the “undertow is really strong today” (the Thorn Birds sequence was the worst), there simply is no such thing. What is often thought of as undertow is usually a misunderstanding of wave motion, longshore currents or rip currents.

Ocean waves are wind generated, with the exception of tsunami which are a result of seismic activity such as earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Wave height is equal to 1/20 wave length. Waves exists as energy as the swell moves through the water. Water doesn’t move in open oceans and lakes, although the opposite is true in rivers. Wave motion is circular, with the circles getting progressively smaller as you go deeper in the water. The pattern changes as the wave approaches shore. The ocean bottom crowds the energy upward, motion becomes oval rather than circular, and actually flats on the ocean bottom, moving forward and back. When water depth equals one half of the wave length, the bottom friction begins to slow the advancing wave. The back of the wave crowds the front of the wave and water piles up. The bottom of the wave is moving slower than the top of the wave, so the top begins to curl. When wave height reaches three quarters of the water depth, the wave breaks.

Instead of water piling up on the beach, it flows along the beach in long shore currents, picking up velocity and power, and is held against shore by wave action. Anyone who has ever gone to the beach, deposited their towels and paraphernalia on the sand, gone out to play in the surf, and within minutes found themselves drifting down the beach from their initial point of entry, is familiar with the effects of long shore currents. Regardless of how strong, they do not pull you down or out.

At some point of weakness, sandbar, physical obstruction, or man made barrier, long shore currents turn outward and form rips. Although rip currents often do pull swimmers out away from the beach, swimmers need not panic, they’re not on their way to “Gilligan’s Island” and they won’t be pulled under. Just relax, don’t try to swim directly against the current, you’ll only exhaust yourself; and just “go with the flow” until the rip dissipates at its head (usually 100 to 200 feet off shore). Then swim out away from the current parallel and then diagonally back in to shore.

Download Pool Tip #11: Metal Stains & Water Discoloration (PDF format, 22KB)

Metals that cause pool stains, leave deposits on pool surfaces, or result in water discoloration are often introduced as components of the source water used to fill the pool. Depending on where you live, dissolved mineral concentrations in your source water may be very high. In addition, metals can be added to pools by ionizers, or metal based algaecides or sanitizers; from maintaining aggressive water conditions that eat away at metal pool components, by incorrectly adding too much acid to pool water, or from adding acidic products prior to the pump, filter or heater; and by running water through pipes at too high a velocity and stripping metals from the pipes.

Correcting design errors, rigorously following proper chemical maintenance procedures, and use of negatively charged polymers, or sequestering and chelating agents such as EDTA (ethylenediamine–tetracetic acid), or HEDP (hydroxyethylidene) may be useful in preventing stains.

Sequestering agents are used as a preventative treatment to increase the ability of water to hold metals in solution. This keeps metals from precipitating or coming out of solution, discoloring or clouding the water, oxidizing and staining, attaching to and discoloring swimmers’ hair, or from depositing and building up on pool surfaces.

Chelating agents (pronounced “key–la–ting”), bond and react with metal ions to keep them from combining with other substances and precipitating, help prevent crystal formation, and may actually aid in removing metals from the water.

Once metals have been allowed to stain and deposits have built–up on pool surfaces, it may be necessary to acid wash using drain or non–drain procedures, mechanically grind away the stains using pumice stones or sandpaper, or in some cases, resurface the pool.

Download Pool Tip #10: Pool Chemical Accidents/Poisoning (PDF format, 26KB)

First aid procedures for all situations include providing immediate and temporary aid to someone who has been injured, and preventing any further injury from occurring. Don’t panic. Remain calm and in control of the situation. Make sure the injured person is out of immediate danger, and that you are not endangering yourself, then call 9–1–1 for assistance if warranted.

Treatment depends on whether the chemical accident was as a result of the injured person having gotten chemicals on his skin or in his eyes, or whether he inhaled or swallowed the chemical.

Pool Chemicals on the Skin

Symptoms include itching, swelling, or pain. Chemical exposure may result in serious burns or tissue damage. Treat by rinsing the affected skin with fresh water for at least 15 minutes. If chemicals were spilled on the person’s clothes, remove the contaminated clothing to prevent further injury.

Pool Chemicals in the Eyes

Symptoms may include pain, a burning sensation, tearing eyes, and inability to see clearly. Treat by rinsing the eyes with fresh water for at least 15 minutes. Put a patch over both eyes, and transport the injured person, lying down, to the emergency room.

Pool Chemicals Inhaled

Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and respiratory distress. The person may stop breathing. Get the person away from the chemicals and to a place where they can immediately breathe fresh air. Provide rescue breathing if necessary.

Pool Chemicals Swallowed

A person who swallows pool chemicals will probably be nauseated, vomiting, have abdominal pain, and diarrhea. They may have dilated or constricted pupils and a distinctive breath odor. There may be tissue damage or burns especially around the mouth. Convulsions may occur and the person may lose consciousness. Treat for poisoning. Call your local Poison Control Center. Read the warning label on the chemical container and follow the directions provided by the manufacturer. Give the injured person plenty of water to drink, but only if directed to do so, and only if the person is conscious. Do not induce vomiting.

To prevent pool chemical accidents from occurring in the first place, know what you’re handling. Read the warning labels and MSDS sheets provided by the manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for handling, storing, transporting, and applying pool chemicals. Limit access to only those persons trained to properly and safely handle the chemicals. Keep pool chemicals away from children. Wear appropriate personal protective gear when handling chemicals. Keep chemicals in their properly labeled, original containers. Don’t smoke when you’re around pool chemicals. And, know what to do if an emergency does occur.

Download Pool Tip #9: Paper Boats (PDF format, 30KB)

Like many adults, you probably remember the children’s picture book story of Curious George*, the good little monkey who lived with his friend –– the man with the yellow hat. Curious George learned a valuable lesson when he decided to make boats out of the newspapers instead of delivering the papers to his neighbors who were waiting to read the evening news. George should have delivered the newspapers and made the boats out of regular 20 pound, 8.5 inch by 11 inch, photocopy paper instead.

To make paper boats, first fold a piece of paper in half. Fold down both corners of the paper till they almost meet. Fold up the bottom edges of the paper so the paper now looks like a pointed hat. Bring the ends together so the paper forms a square. Fold up each edge so the paper takes the shape of an isosceles triangle. Bring the two equal angles of the triangle together to form another square and flatten the paper. Open the square by pulling the two points away from each other. Smooth the edges of the paper with your fingers to form the gunwales and give the boat enough freeboard to float without taking on water. Make a small fleet of boats and launch them on the surface of your pool.

* [Rey, H. A. (1952). Curious George Rides a Bike. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.]

If you want to have boat races, try making balloon and paper plate boats instead. Gather plastic flexible straws, Styrofoam or plasticized paper plates, tape, scissors, and latex balloons.

Use the scissors to cut off the lip of the balloon. Insert the plastic straw part way into the balloon, and tape the balloon securely to the straw. Poke a hole in the center of the plate with a pencil. Insert the straw through the hole in the plate, and bend the straw at the joint. Inflate the balloon by blowing through the straw. Remember to put your finger over the end of the straw to trap in the air.

Launch the boats at the starter’s signal by letting go of the straw and allowing the air to escape. Make sure the straw is under water when the boat is launched. The boat that travels the greatest distance before running out of air is declared the winner.

Download Pool Tip #8: Watering Lawns and Plants with Pool Water (PDF format, 18KB)

Water drained from a pool or spa is safe to use for watering lawns or plants, or for any purpose “gray water” uses would be appropriate. It is environmentally correct to recycle water especially when drought restrictions are in effect.

If the pool or spa water has a high chlorine content, uncover it and allow the chlorine to dissipate before using the water for irrigating the landscape. Or, chemically remove the chlorine by adding sodium thiosulfate or sodium sulfite to the water.

By the way, draining pool or spa water down a storm sewer without a permit, may be a violation of local regulations. You can be fined for contributing to the pollution of natural waters or for illicitly discharging chlorinated pool water or highly acidic water into the storm sewer system. Check local regulations with your sewer or pollution control department before disposing of pool or spa water by draining it down the sewer in front of your house.

Download Pool Tip #7: Calcium Scale (PDF format, 19KB)

The unsightly white stains visible on your pool waterline tile are probably calcium stains. Excess calcium deposits out on the pool walls, damages pool equipment –– especially heater elements, and restricts water flow though the recirculation lines. The stains can be removed by scrubbing with tri sodium phosphate (TSP), or with a non abrasive chlorine bleach based liquid cleanser, or with a fine grit sandpaper. Don’t use muriatic acid to scrub off the stains –– the acid will damage the grout and may etch the ceramic tile. If you ignore the calcium build–up for long, you may wind up needing to power grind it off.

To prevent the calcium stains from forming in the first place, pay close attention to the mineral saturation or water balance. Since water is the universal solvent, all things will inevitably dissolve in water until the water becomes saturated. Eventually, water will become unbalanced or oversaturated, and excess products will precipitate. If the water is oversaturated, calcium carbonate will begin to settle out of the water. Water may become cloudy. Scale will build up on solid surfaces, making the surfaces rough, and discoloring dark surfaces like colored tiles or black bottom pools. Calcium carbonate scale will also build up on the interior surfaces of the pool recirculation pipes causing a condition similar to “hardening of the arteries”. Water flow will be restricted and pressure will increase. Sanitizer effectiveness will be reduced, and algae growth may increase.

If the saturation index formula indicates that the pool water is not balanced, make the appropriate chemical corrections, starting with total alkalinity, then followed by pH, temperature, calcium hardness, and TDS. Well balanced water will increase bather comfort and will dramatically extend the life expectancy of the pool and its components.

Download Pool Tip #6: Good Poolside Plants (PDF format, 18KB)

Plants which shed or create litter, or have large fruit or fronds should be avoided when selecting poolside plants. Small debris, like pine needles, that constantly fall into the pool will clog the recirculation system. Heavy debris may fall on and injure swimmers. Plants that attract insects, particularly bees, should not be planted at poolside. Plants which are prickly or have sharp thorns which might injure bathers should not be used inside the pool area. Trees which develop very deep or extensive root systems which might eventually break up and destroy a pool or pool deck should not be used. For safety reasons, remember to keep plants away from edges of the pool or from areas where they might obstruct the vision of the pool from the house.

Trees, shrubs, perennials and vines which act as windbreaks, are adaptable to containers, have large oval or broad rounded leaves, and which can withstand splashing are ideal for poolside landscaping. Most evergreen vines; trees such as palms, ficus, and tree ferns; Korean grass and other zoysia’s; and shrubs like camellias, junipers and succulent jade plants are good choices. A large variety of perennials thrive around pools, including aloe and agave succulents; lilies — especially agapanthus (Lily–of–the–Nile), torch lilies, ginger lilies, and daylilies; ornamental vegetables like artichokes; evergreen perennials like African iris and yuccas; tuberous rootstocks like canna, taro, elephant ears, and amaryllis; bird of paradise; philodendrons, and bog plants like papyrus.

Download Pool Tip #5: Effects of Pool Water on Teeth (PDF format, 19KB)

Normal pool water does not harm the teeth of swimmers. But, swimming in extremely acidic pool water will cause erosion of dental enamel, especially in young children. Symptoms include gritty, rough, yellow, transparent looking teeth; and pain while chewing.

Hydrochloric acid formed in the chlorination process, acidic source water, acid rain, bather wastes, and acidic pool chemicals must be neutralized. It’s important for dental health that a slightly alkaline pH in the range of 7.2 – 7.8, and balanced water conditions be maintained.

The Journal of the American Dental Association reported that in a study of young swimmers, 58% who swam more than 6 hours per week developed “swimmer’s calculus” or brown stains on their teeth. The staining is caused by pool chemicals combining with saliva. There are no oral health problems associated with the stains, they’re simply cosmetic. Stains can be removed by having your teeth cleaned by a dental professional. More frequent cleanings for swimmers or aquatic professionals who spend a lot of time in pool water are recommended.

Download Pool Tip #4: Spa Safety Tips (PDF format, 18KB)

There are many psychological, physiological, and therapeutic benefits associated with soaking in warm water spas, however some individuals should be discouraged from using spa facilities.

Pregnant women, particularly in the first tri–mester of a pregnancy; persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol, especially those taking prescription or non prescription drugs that cause drowsiness; persons suffering from heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure or circulatory problems, or taking medication to control those problems; individuals with Multiple Sclerosis; and small children should only use spas in certain circumstances with the consent of their medical doctor, and for a limited amount of time.

Individuals who fall into the above mentioned categories should be warned of the dangers of prolonged immersion at elevated temperatures. Drowsiness, elevated blood pressure, dehydration, hyperthermia, and failure to heed warnings or take appropriate precautionary measures while using a spa, can lead to drowning, fetal brain damage, slips-and-falls, suction entrapment, accidental electrocution, and disease transmission.

Unsupervised small children should never be permitted to use a spa. Health codes in some locations and some organizations, prohibit public spa use by young children entirely, and some restrict spa usage to children over 14 years of age unless accompanied by a responsible parent. Enthusiastic, curious and normally active children are more at risk of being injured while in a spa than are members of the more sedentary general adult population. In their playful enthusiasm, many children have been injured from falls, from pulling heavy objects or electrical appliances into the water, and from suction entrapment accidents while in spas. Because of their relatively small size and skin surface area, a child may overheat very rapidly and suffer damaging effects from hyperthermia.

Download Pool Tip #3: Home Pool Safety (PDF format, 28KB)

Many residential pool owners with young children or grandchildren have justifiable concerns about pool safety issues. Homeowners can help thwart pediatric submersion accidents and most serious pool related injuries by closely supervising children when they are in the pool, and by preventing young children from gaining access to the pool when they, or other adults are not present. A few common sense safety tips can help alleviate your fears.

• Supervise children at all times when they’re around the water. Never leave children unattended in the pool for even just a few minutes. Never!
• Designate a specific person to be the pool supervisor. Don’t just assume someone is watching the kids.
• Keep a portable telephone by the pool to call for help in emergencies.
• Do not leave children unattended in or around the pool for even just a few minutes to answer the door or the phone. Let the doorbell or phone ring. If it’s important they’ll call back.
• Install and properly maintain a multiple barrier system. Barriers include: fences, gates, pool safety covers, pool and deck alarms, and resettable alarms which can be installed on sliding doors and windows which open to the pool area.
• Make sure that children cannot climb your fence and that there are no holes or spaces in the fence where children could slip through.
• Make sure gates open away from the pool, and self-close and positively self-latch from any open position. Gates should be locked when the pool is not in use.
• Teach your children to swim, and to enjoy, but respect the water.
• Don’t rely on flotation devices or toys to keep a child afloat.
• Purchase rescue equipment and have it available for immediate use near the pool. Learn basic rescue skills.
• Teach your children good water safety habits. Post and enforce your pool rules.
• Don’t allow the pool to be used if: water clarity is poor, electrical storms are in the area, main drain grates are broken or missing, or the pool cover has not been completely removed from the surface of the pool.
• Keep toys, tricycles and other items attractive to children away from the pool when it’s not in use.
• Learn what to do in an emergency. Enroll in a first aid and CPR course.