Chlorine Scare Averted at Sierra Madre Pool
By admin
Published: Thursday, June 25th, 2009
The pool at the Sierra Madre Aquatic Center experienced an accidental overdose of chlorine on Thursday, June 18. James Carlson of the Sierra Madre Public Works Department believes that this was a “one time incident.”
While the department is not “entirely sure” what went wrong, there is only one “plausible reason” that has been agreed upon by health officials. 
While the circulation pump was being replaced on Thursday, a “reservoir of liquid chlorine” had gathered.
This high concentration of chlorine was then released into the pool when the installed pump was turned on.
Seven children were sent to the Arcadia Methodist Hospital after experiencing dry or sore throats and chest pain, but all of them were released around 5 pm on Thursday.
Sixty other swimmers were evacuated from the pool, but there were no other reports of chlorine exposure.
The pool was closed for the rest of the day as a precaution, and was reopened on Friday, June 19 after a health inspector confirmed that the chemical levels in the pool were normal.
The circulation pump is replaced every few years, so no other similar incident is expected to occur any time in the near future.
The Sierra Madre Aquatic Center is located at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd, and is open for the summer from June 15 to September 7. The aquatic center offers lap swimming, public and family swimming, swim lessons, and a swim team.
Leave a Reply
