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Crime & Safety

Hazardous Material Spills at Pool

The minor incident last month caused no threat to swimmers.

Muriatic acid was spilled at the Piedmont Community Pool recently, but it was quickly cleaned up. Recreation Director Mark Delventhal said the corrosive spill was in a “secured” area and no swimmers were in danger of encountering it.

Firefighters responded to the spill when it was reported at around 1:06 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

“It was a minor spill totally contained and cleaned up by an abatement company,” Delventhal said. “In hindsight, we didn’t need to do that but we wanted to be very cautious.”

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Muriatic acid is used to maintain the proper Ph balance in the pool. Along with chlorine, it’s one of the two main chemicals necessary to keep the pool clean, Fire Chief Ed Tubbs said.

When the chemicals spill, “it’s typically not a big issue,” Tubbs said. “When they start mixing or they leak or other things, it can be more of an environmental issue than anything else.”

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The July 1 in part because the Piedmont Swim Club, which had been negotiating for a new contract to continue operating the facility, balked at paying for a million dollars worth of hazardous materials insurance.

That insurance is required for removal of hazardous materials on the property, such as contaminated soil, City Administrator Geoff Grote said. The city does not hold such insurance itself.

In the event that someone ever got hurt at the pool, the city is covered by general liability insurance for up to $29 million in damages, Grote said.

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