Transcript You Found WHAT in Your Pool!?

Or…
Dead Frogs Tell No Tales
Matt Giovanisci Swim University
&
Terry Arko SeaKlear
A list of possible suspects
(or things found in pools)
• Leaves
• Grass
• Insects
• Snakes
• Dogs
• Ducks
• Frogs
• Birds
• Bats
• Rats
• Bears
What About
Bears?
Bears in Pools
What to do if a bear has been swimming in a pool
Chemical treatment:
• Check chlorine levels and raise to at least 3 ppm
• Super-chlorinate if necessary keeping bears away from
pools
• Clean up after BBQs and parties do not leave food out
around the pool!
• No dog or cat food left outside.
• No bird feeders
• Never approach a bear
• Turn on radios or TVs. Talk loudly or bang pots and pans
together
What About
Birds?
Birds in Pools
Birds or pigeons will leave droppings around, or in the pool,
that can contaminate the water with:
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E.coli
Salmonella
Campylobacter
Cryptosporidium
Most of these germs can inactivated with chlorine with the exception of Crypto
Chemical Treatment:
• Raise the free chlorine concentration to, or maintain it at, 2 parts
per million (ppm)
• Maintain the pH level at 7.5 or less;
• Keep the temperature at 77°F (25°C) or higher.
• The free chlorine and pH should remain at these levels for 30
minutes.
• If Crypto is suspected then chlorine should be kept at 20 ppm, pH
of 7.5 or less, temp 77 for 16 hours.
Keeping Birds Away
From Pools
• Remove plants that produce edible nuts, fruits, and berries.
• Remove bird feeders.
• Trim or remove trees and shrubs to limit branches hanging
around or over the pool that can be used by roosting birds.
Source: CDC.Gov Healthy Swimming and Recreational Water
Keeping Ducks and
Geese Away From Pools
• Do not feed ducks or geese
• Many types of ducks and geese eat grass, so reducing the
area of grass lawns around the swimming pool.
• Put up barriers that prohibit movement between swimming
pools and grass lawns, such as fences and hedges.
• Removing domestic ducks and geese from the pool area can
also help decrease the likelihood that wild ducks and geese
will be attracted to the area.
Source: CDC.Gov Healthy Swimming and Recreational Water
What About
Raccoons?
Raccoons in a Pool
(They’re not so cute)
Raccoon feces can sometimes contain the eggs of a worm
called Baylisascaris procyonis, which can infect humans,
particularly children, and cause severe neurologic illness.
(cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/animals/raccoons-and-pools)
Many Raccoons throughout the country can carry a pathogenic
parasite in the feces (poop).
If Raccoons are swimming in the pools they are probably pooping
in the pool.
Swallowing the eggs of this parasite in the water can lead to
serious neurological illness
Treating a Pool That
Raccoons Have Used
If there is evidence that the Raccoons have defecated in the pool
the CDC recommends two options:
1. Keep swimmers out of the pool and run the pool filter for 24 hours.
Backwash the filter and clean the filter. Change out the filter media if
possible. Dispose of filter media by double bagging in garbage bags.
Wear disposable rubber gloves when handling material and dispose
of gloves in garbage bag when done. WASH YOUR HANDS with hot
water and soap when done.
2. Backwash the filter. Drain and rinse down the pool. Clean and
dispose of filter material if possible. Double bag material in garbage
bags. Use disposable rubber gloves and dispose of after use in
garbage bag. Wash hands in hot water and soap.
Another option if draining is not possible would be to raise the chlorine
level to 20 ppm, pH 7.5 or less, temp of 77 degrees and maintain Cl
level and pH for 13 hours. Run filter 24 hours and backwash when done.
What About
Bats?
Bats in the Pool
Info on Bats being trapped and drowning from Aqua Magazine
http://batsandpools.wordpress.com
Bats should be treated the same as with birds. Bats carry rabies and
other forms of bacteria.
Care should be taken if bats are alive or trapped in the pool. Many
bats are now protected. Contact an animal control official.
What About
Snakes?
• Snakes are attracted to pools especially in dry seasons
• Many times snakes will coil up inside the skimmer (Rattle snakes
have been found in skimmers)
• Never handle attempt to remove or handle a snake with your
hands
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/gettingalong.htm
• There are snake repellents available as well as do it yourself
formulas that you can find searching the web
When Dead Animals Are
Found
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Close the pool to swimmers.
Put on disposable gloves.
Use a net or bucket to remove the dead animal from the pool.
Double bag the animal in plastic garbage bags.
Clean off any debris or dirt from the item used to remove the dead animal.
Remove gloves and place them in the garbage bags.
Close the garbage bags and place them in a sealed trash can to help
keep wild animals away from the dead animal.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately.
Raise the free chlorine concentration to, or maintain it at, 2 parts per
million (ppm); maintain the pH levels at 7.5 or less; keep the temperature
at 77°F (25°C) or higher. The free chlorine and pH should remain at these
levels for 30 minutes.
Confirm that the filtration system is operating properly during this time.
Disinfect the item used to remove the dead animal by immersing it in the
pool during the 30 minute disinfection time.
(www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/animals/dead-animals-andpools.html)
What About
Cars?
Gasoline and Oil
• The best option drain the pool if possible.
• If draining isn’t an option set pool to skimmer to skim most of
the floating oil or gasoline.
• Use an enzyme at high strength.
• Chlorine shock and natural based clarifier.
• Clean filter media with a good filter cleaner.
Tell us your stories and
what you did
Questions and other
discussion