Asbestos Warning for Old Swimming Pools
It’s easy to assume that asbestos is only present in homes and commercial structures built before 2000, such as our roofing materials, cladding, and vinyl flooring. However, there’s actually a long list of products and places it can be present, and one such place is your local swimming pool – or even the one in your own backyard. Did you know asbestos-containing materials (ACM) have been found in swimming pools around New Zealand?
How Does Asbestos Get Into Old Swimming Pools?
Any swimming pool in New Zealand built before 2000 and most commonly before 1980 may contain asbestos. Fortunately, as old swimming pools are put out of action, and new ones take their place, it’s becoming less and less common for it to be identified.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s still not being discovered. In 2021, it was found at the Olympic Pool Complex in Gisborne during routine maintenance. According to news stories, the 33-metre outdoor pool had ACM in the overflow drain, which had been revealed by loose sealant. The outdoor pool had been in use after asbestos had been found in the overflow channel of the indoor pool.
Since many forms of drainage and pipes around New Zealand contain asbestos, finding ACM in public swimming pools was probably not as surprising as you might think.
However, it has also been found in other parts of swimming complexes. In 2016, it was discovered in the pump storage area of Moana Pool in Dunedin, which was located underneath the pool level of the building. Due to its location, it posed no risk to the general public and would be removed, isolated, or permanently blocked off by experienced asbestos removal teams.
Marblesheen Pool Coatings
Even though drainage is one of the most common places to find asbestos, that doesn’t mean it’s the only place it’s present. Some swimming pools and spas built before 1990 with Marblesheen/Marblelite decorative coatings may also contain it.
Marblesheen manufactured pre-1990 was a decorative white cement and white marble chip coating for concrete swimming pool shells up to 25mm thick. When undisturbed and not damaged, Marblesheen pool coatings are considered low risk. However, old age can lead to cracks, chips, and breaks that may allow some of the coating to break free.
In that case, contacting an asbestos removal company can be crucial. They can test to confirm its presence and advise on the best course of action. This might be complete resurfacing, removal of the Marblesheen, or some repair work.
Signs That Your Pool May Have Asbestos In It
Typically, the age of your pool can be an excellent indicator that it falls within the timeline of ACM being used in the construction of swimming pools. Drainage, pipes, pumps, and the pool coating itself may all contain asbestos.
However, you can only guess. The only way to know for sure that your pool contains asbestos is by having an asbestos removal business take a test. They can take a small sample of the area, send it to a lab, and let you know whether your pool does, in fact, have ACM.
Steps to Take If You Find Out Your Pool Has Been Contaminated With Asbestos
If you held concerns about your swimming pool containing asbestos and received a positive test result, the first thing you should do is not panic. Asbestos removal experts are available throughout New Zealand to help you manage the problem.
Simply follow these steps below if you find yourself in this very predicament:
Refrain from using the pool once you believe asbestos has been identified. Even though current research from the World Health Organisation suggests no association between cancer mortality and asbestos-contaminated drinking water, you can take a cautious approach until you hear otherwise from experts.
Call an asbestos testing and removal company. They can carry out testing to confirm its presence.
An asbestos removal company can visit your swimming pool and walk you through the best options. These might involve sealing off the ACM, isolating the area, or removing it completely.
How to Reduce the Risk of Contamination in Old Swimming Pools
Essentially, the best way to reduce the risk of contamination in old swimming pools once asbestos has been identified is by making sure no one can access it. Block off the entire swimming pool area until experts have had a chance to develop a plan of action to keep everyone safe.
Isolation, sealing, and removal continue to be the best courses of action for making old swimming pools safe for all New Zealanders.
Find Out More
You can find out more about asbestos, the health risks associated with it, and its presence in old swimming pools by contacting Chemcare. They will be more than happy to offer helpful advice and assist with your potential asbestos problem. You can then be back to enjoying your swimming pool in no time.