{"id":690,"date":"2021-06-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poolspaforum.com\/home\/?p=690"},"modified":"2023-08-11T10:41:26","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T10:41:26","slug":"pool-chlorine-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/poolspaforum.com\/home\/2021\/06\/07\/pool-chlorine-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"Chlorine Shortage: Pool Owners\u2019 Shocking Discovery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Poolmagedon \u2014 it\u2019s not the summer\u2019s latest blockbuster. In fact, it might be the biggest belly flop of 2021. What is it? Poolmagedon, as some are calling it, refers to the worldwide shortage of trichlor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trichlor, a type of chlorine, is often used by pool owners to sanitize their water and keep it safe for swimming, splashing, and general summer fun. But with the shortage of trichlor, will summer fun be canceled?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you look at your local pool supply store, you might be afraid the answer is yes. Flyers are posted, warning shoppers about the chlorine shortage and, if there is chlorine, it is available in limited quantities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, pool owners are noticing that the price of chlorine is not what they paid last year. It\u2019s more. A lot more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the pool chlorine shortage might be adding stress to what should be a relaxing summer, here\u2019s why it happened and what you can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"trichlor
A fire destroyed the Louisiana plant where the country’s trichlor tablets were made. An increase in demand has magnified the shortage. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why is There a Pool Chlorine Shortage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is not just one reason there is a pool chlorine shortage \u2014 there are two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supply and demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chlorine supply chain took a hit when Hurricane Laura struck the Gulf Coast in August 2020. After the storm hit, a fire started in the BioLab chemical plant in Louisiana that manufactured trichlor tablets. The building was destroyed, and rebuilding will take at least a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fire was a hit to the already stressed supply chain. Amid the pandemic, the demand for pool chlorine was up. More people were incorporating a pool into their backyard and those who had pools were using them more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resulting pool chlorine shortage was something industry veterans had never seen. The cost was increasing, and it was harder for pool supply stores to get chlorine in stock. Those who could stock chlorine were stockpiling it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dog
Your four-legged best friend might love going for a dip in the pool. However, it’s important to keep out dogs and other animals to reduce the demand for chlorine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Can Pool Owners Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But what happens if your local pool store was not among the ones with a chlorine stockpile?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Less Chlorine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious solution is to use less chlorine. According to Bloomberg, there are 5.2 million homes that have in-ground pools in the U.S. Nearly 70 percent of those pools use chlorine as a sanitizer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following basic pool rules can minimize how hard your sanitizer has to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Reducing Chlorine Usage<\/h4>\n\n\n\n