Your mineral pool during bushfires, how to fix and protect

The recent Australian bushfires have caused immeasurable damage to lives, homes, wildlife and habitat. Those directly impacted are forever at the top of our priority, but fire damage is far reaching and, even if your community has not been hit by the fires themselves, smoke, debris and ash can still wreak havoc. Taking care of your mineral pool during and in the aftermath of the fires is not just for the benefit of your backyard and ability to use the pool safely, but also for the unexpected benefit to animals seeking refuge from the smoke and heat.

If your pool has been damaged by the bushfires, or you are in a high-risk area and need to prepare your pool from bushfire damage, the following offers guidelines to ensure it remains, or returns, safe and clean.

Keep up your normal pool maintenance as much as possible

Although your mineral pool requires less ongoing maintenance than chlorine, ozone, ionised or salt water pools, there are still TLC guidelines suggested to ensure the quality of the water is at optimal levels. If you are able to do so, continue with all (or as much as you can) of the maintenance work typically required, such as:

• Ensure the water is free of leaves, debris and ash by using an automatic pool cleaner or a simple hand-held pool net to scoop foreign items out
• Make sure you are up-to-date with your mineral levels and water chemistry checks
• Perform a backwash if you are experiencing a higher than usual instance of foreign items in your pool

Prepare and protect your pool

While you’re not using your pool, consider investing in a pool cover over this period to help eliminate debris and water loss. Although our Quantum Purity AOP system is the hardest working, most effective sanitising system in the market, in these extreme conditions it does help to keep the larger than normal particles from entering your pool.

Think of the wildlife

If you’d rather keep your pool available for wildlife seeking some cool refuge (as a man in the Hunter discovered recently!), set up ease of access in and out. Guidelines from wildlife rescue organisation WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc) say to drape something over the edge (that does not absorb water, such as bodyboard or heavy-duty rope secured at one end) to offer a platform. Alternatively, you can place clean bowls of water in shaded areas for easy access; your pool is what has likely enticed them to your backyard, and the availability of clean hydration can be lifesaving. You can also rest assured that your mineral pool choice is gentle, and will not harm wildlife.

Aftermath care

Your mineral pool will have been working overtime! Manually clean out what the eye can see, regularly and consistently check the mineral levels of your pool. Clean out your filter and, if you’re worried, consult a professional about the state of your pool and if any other measures need to be taken. By following the above, and trusting the incredible ability of the Quantum Purity AOP system, your pool should remain in good shape before, during and after fire events, for you and your family, and our furry friends.

For more information go to NSW Health Swimming Pools and Bushfires.