COVID-19 Update from Pool Industry

Sweetwater Pools, Inc. is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our clients and employees. We are carefully monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping up to date with all communications from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), government agencies, local health officials, and our internal health and safety team to keep tabs on this ever-changing situation.

At a news conference Monday March 16th, President Trump presented new guidelines from the federal government regarding what individuals should do to slow the spread of COVID-19. “My administration is recommending that all Americans, including the young and healthy, work to engage in schooling from home when possible, avoid gathering in groups more than 10 people, avoid discretionary travel, and avoid eating and drinking at bars, restaurants, and public food courts,” Trump said. According to top health officials, Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx, these new guidelines will be reevaluated after 15 days or approximately April 1st.

This new guideline is a stringent update to the guidance provided Sunday March 15th from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

With the closing of all schools through at least April 10th and requirements for social distancing, we must cancel all preseason lifeguard training for seasonal staff and American Red Cross instructors. Lifeguard training and skill practice requires physical contact and we will resume classes as soon as the 6 ft. social distancing requirement is lifted. At this time we plan to do everything we can to have properly trained lifeguard personnel available to open your pool per contract but the start of the season will be postponed. We will update as needed.

All of our current maintenance and office staff have been properly trained and provided supplies to practice good respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene. Our pool cleaners are continuing to make maintenance visits per contract, service technicians are making necessary pool repairs and our entire staff is continuing preseason preparations to have your pool and facility ready to open as soon as reasonably possible.

As you may know, cleaning supplies and hand washing supplies are becoming hard to find. This may impact the future months as we get items ready for the summer season. We will update as needed.

Can the COVID-19 virus spread through drinking water?

The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19

Can the COVID-19 virus spread through pools and hot tubs?

There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.

Helpful Resources:

• How to Protect Yourself
• Understanding the Virus