Pools and fountains at risk because of chemical shortage

We reported to you back in May that there was a chlorine shortage causing its price to increase dramatically. But now, one pool cleaner in the valley said the situation has gotten worse because of a lack of dry chemicals as well.

The supervisor at Pacific Coast Pool and Spa in Palm Desert, Johnny Oakley, said chlorine and the muriatic acid they use every day in the pools is scarce. He said they're not the only ones scrambling to find the chemicals they need to keep doing their job.

"Once [the pools and fountains] start turning green, they need so much chemicals just to get them back nice and blue again, and we're in the middle of the chlorine apocalypse," said Oakley.

The pool product distributor Oakley goes to has been forced to put out signs saying "Acid sold out" and "Chlorine sold out."

"You're gonna have equipment damage," said Oakley. "Then you're gonna end up having pools that eventually don't stay clear and start turning green."

Oakley said without enough muriatic acid balancing out the chlorine, pools and fountains not only run the risk of turning green and having equipment damage, but it could force some fountains and pools to become empty.

"We would rather put the chlorine in the pool than we would in the fountain," said Oakley. "So fountains are turning green left and right."

Oakley said he hasn't heard a solid answer as to why the shortage is happening and hopes to get more answers soon.

"What we had heard is there's a shortage of truck drivers. So we don't have drivers that are bringing the loads down, they have the supply, but they can't bring it down," said Oakley. "I have still been able to get a small amount of acid to, you know, to help maintain my pools, but it's getting really scary."

He said he thinks the shortage will die down as demand decreases at the end of the summer.