Why pool businesses are considered an essential business

Recently, Denton County (as well as many other DFW area counties) issued a “Stay at Home” order. Obviously this is a very unique situation right now that is a first for all of us.

We have been getting calls from clients about how the “shelter-in-place” affects them and their pool: Is the Retail Store open? Are you going to clean/repair my pool? Are you stopping construction on our pool? As you can imagine, this is going on all over the country and according to the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, the pool industry has been considered an “essential” business by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) & the US Department of Homeland Security.

Following is my understanding of what it means for Emerald Custom Pools as well as others in the pool industry:

Pool Service & Repair

• Exempt from the “Stay at Home” order are:
  • Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences…
• Reasoning
  • The maintenance of properly sanitized swimming pools and other artificial bodies of water is necessary to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases and help maintain community health.
  • Without proper pool maintenance (which includes circulation and treatment of water) various pathogens can grow, such as Pseudomonas, Cryptosporidium, E. Coli, Shigella, etc. It can also create a breeding ground for mosquitoes, other pests and the diseases they may carry. This presents a risk not only to bathers but to the entire community at large.
  • In addition, we all know the danger of a green, cloudy pool and that it is not extremely uncommon for children to drown in them.

Retail

• Exempt from the “Stay at Home” order are:
  • …distributors of cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, or sanitation supplies.
  • ..those who provide services that are necessary to maintain safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.
• Reasoning
  • If you are attempting to treat your own pool, necessary chemicals can be and should be purchased.
  • Many of the chemicals retailers sell can also be used for surface disinfection, drinking water treatment, and more.
  • Retailers are making accommodations to service customers like curbside pick-up, ship-to-home, in home appointments and the like.

New Pools & Renovation

• Exempt from the “Stay at Home” order are:
  • …construction, including housing construction.
• Reasoning
  • Projects under construction
    • It is critically important that active inground pool and spa projects be completed. Unfinished projects pose significant public safety risks as potential issues such as cave-ins and pool popping, as well as the dangers posed by an active construction site.

We do believe that our work is essential and important to our community’s safety and well-being. We are fortunate to be able to work and provide a valuable service during this time.

Stay safe & healthy,

The Emerald Custom Pools Family