The City of Port Coquitlam says it has made safety improvements at the Port Community Community Centre (PCCC) following reports of hazardous exposures at the pool.
Last month, the municipality examined the PCCC tank after some lifeguards complained about the health effects while on the pool decks at the facility at 2150 Wilson Ave.
According to an analytical report obtained by the Tri-City News, the concentration of nitrogen trichloride levels at the pool ranged from 0.30 mg/m3 to 0.73 mg/m3 from the samples collected on Sept. 11, 2024.
Nitrogen trichloride, or trichloramine, is a chemical compound that typically flares up between ammonia-derivatives and chlorine.
“All levels were either above WorkSafeBC’s guideline value of 0.35 mg/m3 or 50% of the guideline value (action level),” the Sept. 24, 2024, report from Kinetic OHS Services states, noting the northern side of the deck was the most toxic at 0.73 mg/m3.
In a statement, the city said it took immediate action to address the levels by:
- testing the air quality further
- installing a sensor to monitor temperature, humidity and CO2
- placing in a lower-level trichloramine exhaust fan
- adding a surge tank exhaust fan
- including supply air over the hot tub area
And, once complete, more safety measures will be put in place, said Casey Dale, Port Coquitlam’s communications and marketing coordinator.
These include:
- having pool doors to the spray pad open during pool operation
- installing deck fans to better air flow
- boosting hot tub backwashing and draining to twice a week
- increasing the pool air handling unit to 100 per cent outside air
“The pool continues to meet high safety standards for both staff and the public, and we will continue to monitor air quality closely to ensure a safe environment,” Dale noted.
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