By Cecilia Nasmith

The Town of Cobourg's Environmental Services Department reminds residents of proper pool etiquette and cleaning guidelines that will help keep the municipal storm-sewer system clean, safe and free of harsh chemicals.

Environmental Technician Jennifer Leno acknowledges that residential pools require regular maintenance that includes chemical treatments, backwashing and winterizing in the fall.
“Each of these activities has a potential impact on the air, soil, vegetation and watercourse in the surrounding area, and we are asking residents to ensure that these maintenance activities are done with care,” Leno said in the press release.

The discharge of pool or hot tub water into waterways can have disastrous effects on the natural environment, since they contain such chemicals as chlorine, bromine, chloride salts, copper-based algaecides, nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates – all of which are designed to kill and prevent the growth of algae and bacteria. If discharged to local creeks and rivers, they can be lethal to trout and salmon.

The town offers some safety tips for pool owners this summer.

• Pool water (in the case of chlorine pools only) can be discharged on to your lawn to allow grass and soil to act as a natural filter, if it does not cause erosion or any damaging impact to any neighbouring properties. On the other hand, water from saltwater pools will burn or kill your grass and plants.

• Avoid adding chemicals to your pool water for seven days prior to draining.

Residents are asked to follow all rules and guidelines.

• Do not dispose of pool water into any waterway – rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes – at any time.

• Do not dispose of pool water before allowing the chemicals to dissipate.

• Do not drain saltwater pools or chlorine pools onto any roadway or municipal storm-sewer catch basin (see Sewer Use Bylaw 22-2008).

  For additional questions or concerns, contact the Environmental Services Department at 905-372-7332.