Chlorine shortage has no impact on WW pool

WALLA WALLA — A chlorine supply disruption is not expected to sink operations at Veterans Memorial Pool.

Walla Walla Parks and Recreation Director Andy Coleman said staff were notified by the city’s chlorine supplier last Monday that, due to the referenced mechanical failure, they were not going to be able to provide chlorine for Veterans Memorial Pool until further notice.  That same day, Coleman said his department had about a week’s worth of chlorine remaining at the pool.

“Staff worked for four days to identify sources of chlorine, including a significant amount from the Midwest, in order to avoid having to close the pool,” Coleman said.  “I am happy to report that we have secured enough product to allow Veterans Memorial Pool to continue to operate through the end of July.”

The chlorine shortage is the result of an electrical failure at Westlake Chemical, based in Longview, Washington.  Westlake supplies chlorine to water and sewer utilities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California.  According to the Washington State Department of Health, the situation is expected to be resolved within a couple of weeks.

“We should be able to receive products from our regular supplier when the current supply of chlorine is exhausted,” Coleman said.  “I give a tone of credit to staff across the city for exhausting all of their resources in order to keep the pool open.” As for drinking water, DOH and partner agencies across the state have emphasized that throughout the state of Washington it remains clean and safe despite the chlorine supply interruption impacting regional drinking water and wastewater treatment utilities.

Photo via the city of Walla Walla

---

Elkhorn Media Group

---

---