SALT SYSTEM WILL KEEP THIRSTY BEES AWAY

Bees need water, too, especially during the summer months when natural sources have gone dry.

This is a perfect breeding ground for a bee’s vs. human’s conflict that may not turn out well for anyone. Exterminate the bees and run the risk of losing the pollination services that bees so eagerly provide. Let them be and run the risk of being stung, possibly multiple times.

Stan Rulapaugh of Phoenix says bees started visiting his swimming pool about a month ago. “We now have 50 to 60 in the afternoons,” he says.

The hive does not seem to be on his property, and he is worried that they might be Africanized honeybees, known for their aggressive nature.

He says friends stopped using the pool after a daughter was stung. The child will not go near the water anymore, he says.

He has tried rubbing a chlorine tablet along the water line and using wasp spray on the bees. The chlorine was ineffective, and the wasp spray took care of only those that were blasted and left an oil slick on the water.

“I’m tempted to try painting Sevin along the water line,” he says. “Perhaps a good rain will keep the bees closer to the hive.”

Sevin is a broad-spectrum insecticide which probably will not work and may poison the pool water and those using it. Besides, bees will land directly on the water.

Rulapaugh may be onto something with the rain suggestion. Bees begin harvesting water from swimming pools, fountains and birdbaths when the weather is dry. A good rain should result in enough pockets of water for the bees.

Bob Pinnick of Foothills Pest Control in Ahwatukee says the problem is especially pronounced in neighborhoods near open desert and mountain preserves, where water supplies are sparse until a monsoon storm gives those areas a good soaking.

A saltwater sanitation system, which is an alternative to the traditional chlorine system, is the only surefire solution to bees in the swimming pool, Pinnick says. Bees, he points out, hate salt, making it one product that is OK for swimmers but discouraging to bees.

Cleaning Your Pool Filter

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (D.E.) FILTERS - Your D.E. filter should be disassembled and cleaned at least once a year, but under most circumstances it should be cleaned twice a year. The elements inside consist of a series of plastic grids covered with a cheesecloth-like fabric. This fabric will collect impurities, oils, and excess D.E., which may cause your grids to clog or break, impeding the flow of the water through the filter.
After cleaning, it is advised pool water enzymes and phosphate removal liquids be added to the pool, which will help stop phosphate build-up, waterline ring, clogged filters, chemical odors, and eye irritation.
NOTE: D.E. Filter clean up is a very messy job. It is common to have a muddy grayish puddle and residue left over. A water hose can be used to spray off each grid individually. This gray residue will dissipate over time or can be sprayed down with water hose occasionally to speed up process.

SAND FILTERS - Your sand filter should be cleaned at least once a year. The sand collects impurities, oils, and excess dirt, which may cause your filter to clog or clump, impeding the flow of the water through the filter. The sand clean is done by opening the top of the filter and removing any visible clumps (most filters), and then soaking the sand separately with acid, enzymes, and filter cleaner. The cleaning solutions are backwashed out of the filter and the enzymes will stay and circulate through the pool.

CARTRIDGE FILTERS - Your cartridge filter should be cleaned at least twice per year. The paper/fiber elements collect impurities, oils, and excess dirt, which may cause your filter to clog and crush or impede the flow of the water through the filter. The filter clean is done by soaking/dipping the cartridge separately in acid, enzymes, and filter cleaner. The cleaning solutions are rinsed off with a water hose and the enzymes will stay and circulate through the pool.

Facts about Cyanuric Acid and Stabilized Chlorine Products

What is cyanuric acid? – Cyanuric acid is marketed as a chlorine stabilizer for swimming pools.

What does cyanuric acid do? – Cyanuric acid forms a weak bond with free chlorine in the pool

water, protecting it from the sun’s ultraviolet rays to reduce chlorine loss. Properly managed,

cyanuric acid has been shown to reduce the amount of chlorine needed to maintain the minimum

chlorine residual in an outdoor pool. In a small pool with a moderate bather load, cyanuric acid

can significantly reduce the cost for chemical disinfection.

What are dichlor and trichlor? – Dichlor and trichlor, also known as chlorinated isocyanurates,

are two solid chlorine compounds that are widely used in Lincoln outdoor and indoor swimming

pools. Dichlor and trichlor contain both chlorine and cyanuric acid so it is not necessary to add

cyanuric acid to the pool water. Dichlor usually comes in a granular form and is marketed for the

residential swimming pool market. Trichlor is often sold in a tablet or stick form for use in an

erosion feeder for small commercial pools, such as those at hotels and motels.

What is the downside to cyanuric acid? – By forming temporary bonds with the free chlorine,

cyanuric acid will reduce the overall effectiveness of chlorine. The amount of time it takes to kill

bacteria lengthens as the concentration of cyanuric acid increases. For this reason, the Lincoln-

Maricopa County Health Department recommends that all outdoor pools using cyanuric acid as a

stabilizer maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of at least 2 parts per million (ppm).

I have an indoor pool. Should I use cyanuric acid? – No. Remember that cyanuric acid is

intended to reduce the loss of free chlorine caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Indoor pools are

not exposed to direct sunlight and therefore, there is no benefit in adding cyanuric acid to the

pool water or using products containing cyanuric acid such as trichlor or dichlor.

How much cyanuric acid should be used in a swimming pool? – Chemical suppliers

recommend that the optimal range for cyanuric acid is 30-50 ppm, although a study published by

the University at California at Davis1, indicates that there is still significant savings in chemical

costs in levels as low as 2 or 3 ppm. Other authorities recommend about 20 ppm for a good costto-

benefit ratio2. At levels above 50 ppm, pools reach the point of diminishing returns where the

reduction in chlorine effectiveness and cost of buying cyanuric acid outweighs the benefits.

Dichlor by weight contains 57% cyanuric acid. Trichlor contains 54% cyanuric acid.

How much is too much cyanuric acid? – The Nebraska Swimming Pool Act has set the

maximum level at 100 ppm. A 2007 study3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) revealed that cyanuric acid significantly diminishes chlorine’s ability to inactivate the

chlorine-resistant protozoan, cryptosporidium. Based on the findings of the CDC study, the

Lincoln-Maricopa County Health Department recommends that cyanuric acid levels not exceed

30 ppm.

What are the effects of higher levels of cyanuric acid? – As the level of cyanuric acid rises,

free chlorine’s ability to act as a disinfectant is weakened. At above 50 ppm of cyanuric acid, the

time it takes to kill bacteria in the water is longer compared to swimming pool water without

cyanuric acid. Also, as the level of cyanuric acid builds up, the chlorine will become

increasingly less effective in keeping the water clean and problems such as increased cloudiness

and exceeding combined chlorine limits can occur.

Should cyanuric acid be used in hot tubs or spas? – At even moderate levels of cyanuric acid,

the amount of time it takes chlorine to kill pseudomonas aeruginosa (the bacteria that causes

“hot tub itch”) can be as much as a hundred times as long as in a hot tub or spa without cyanuric

acid. For this reason, the Lincoln-Maricopa County Health Department does not recommend the

use of cyanuric acid or stabilized chlorine in hot tubs or spas.

How does one test for cyanuric acid? – Any pool operator who uses cyanuric acid or stabilized

chlorine should purchase a test kit capable of measuring cyanuric acid and understand how to use

it properly. The best way to manage the problems that come with too much cyanuric acid is to

avoid them. Cyanuric acid level should be tested at least once a week.

My pool has cyanuric acid levels above 30 ppm. How can I reduce them? – Unlike chlorine,

cyanuric acid is never used up and accumulates in the pool water as a waste product. Once you

have added it to the pool water, it will remain in the water. The best way to reduce cyanuric acid

is to partially drain the pool and add fresh water. Note that some cyanuric acid will cling to the

pool tub, plumbing and filtration system, so even after completely draining and refilling the pool,

there will probably be detectable to moderate levels of cyanuric acid in the newly added water.

How Safe is Your Pool?

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 260 children under five

years of age drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. The commission estimates

that another 3,000 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms following

submersion accidents each year. Some of these accidents result in permanent brain damage.

Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death to children under five. In some states, such

as California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death to children under five. We care about your family’s safety. The information in this document has been compiled to increase pool owner awareness.

 

RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT

PERSONAL ALARMS

These are small devices the child wears like a wristwatch. When the transmitter is fully immersed in water it sends a signal to the monitor which the parent wears much like a beeper on their belt. As soon as the signal is received, the monitor goes off, providing the parent with a warning that the child has fallen in the water. It will also produce a different tone with the child goes out of range.

LIFE HOOK

This is a 16ft. pole with a large hook on the end that can pull an unconscious victim from the water without the rescuer having to enter the pool. This is a mush have item if the supervisor is weak or a non-swimmer.

LIFE RINGS

These are Coast Guard approved rings that can be thrown to the victim if they are conscious. Never use non-Coast Guard approved rings as they can break in half or not provide enough buoyancy to rescue the victim.

SAFEY ROPE FLOATS

These rope floats are designed to be stretched across the middle of the pool and define the shallow end and the deep end of the pool.

POOL SIGNS

Post pool rules and a CPR sign in the pool area. These sings are weather proof and can be left up year-round.

LIGHTNING DETECTOR

This device can detect lightning strikes up to 40 miles away. It sounds like an alarm and indicates how far away the storm is when I lightning strike is detected.

LASER PERIMETER ALARMS

These can be used either outside or inside the safety barrier fence. However no electronic device should be used to replace the physical barrier of a fence. These alarms cover a large area and are invisible to the naked eye. Placed between the safety fence and the pool, they can provide an early warning before the child reaches the water.

MAGNETIC LATCHES AND SELF-CLOSING HINGES

These are an absolute must for your safety fence gate. They provide a positive lock every time the gate opened and closed.

GATE ALARMSInstall this type of alarm if you are not using a self latching, self closing system or even if you are, to provide yet another layer of protection.

AUDIO VISUAL MONITOR

This relatively new concept in pool safety, extends the range of the parents ability to supervise the children. The monitor should have a remote camera that transmits both sound and video. These monitors are battery operated and use radio waves instead of cables, so are portable and can also be used to listen for an absence of sound.

   

SAFETY COVERS

These extremely strong covers are anchored into the deck so a child can literally walk across the cover without falling in. The drawback is they do require some time and effort to put on and take off.

SAFETY SPA COVERS

These rigid covers have the ability to be locked down on top of your spa or hot tub. Remember, both children and pets can drown in a spa.

ABOVE GROUND POOL FENCING

Free standing above ground pool walls generally serves as their own barrier. If the pool wall is less than 4 feet of if there is a possibility a child could defeat the wall, additional above ground fencing should be attached to the top of the pool.

SAFETY FLIP UP LADDERS FOR ABOVE GROUND POOLS

A-frame ladders allow access into a freestanding above ground pool. The outside steps can flip up and lock so entry into the pool by small children is difficult or impossible.

POOL SAFETY RULES & PRECAUTIONS

• Instruct babysitters about potential pool hazards to young children and about the use of protective devices, such as door alarms and latches.  Let the babysitter hear each type of alarm so that when it goes off they know exactly where to go.  Emphasize the need for constant supervision.
• Do not allow young children in or around the pool without an adult.
• During social gatherings near a pool, appoint a "designated watcher”  to protect young children from pool accidents.
• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision
• Never use a pool or spa with its pool cover partially in place since children may become trapped under it.
• Have a telephone poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended near the pool.
• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).  Babysitters and other caretakers, such as grandparents and older siblings, should also know CPR.
• Post pool rules in the pool area.  Go over rules with family and guests then make sure they are enforced.
• Never dive into above-ground pools, as they are too shallow.
• Dive with your hands in front of you and only from the end of the diving board and not from the sides.
• Never swim alone or dive if you have been using alcohol or drugs
• Never slide down pool slides headfirst, slide down feet first only.
• Steps and ladders leading from the ground to the pool should be secured and locked, or removed when the pool is not in use.
• If a child is missing, check the pool first.  Seconds count in preventing death or disability.  Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.
• Keep rescue equipment by the pool
• Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use.  Toys can attract young children to the pool.
• Never prop open the gate to a pool barrier.
• Check and test all electronic devices that protect your pool at least weekly.  Make sure that you have the proper battery sized and voltage on hand if you need them.