About Using Pool Water to Disinfect Objects and Surfaces Against COVID-19

While it is believed that properly treated water is safe from coronavirus transmission, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is suitable to disinfect other things.

In a series of webinars featuring representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they were asked if, in public settings, pool water was enough to disinfect shared items such as toys and equipment. The officials said no.

This is true for a couple reasons. First, studies have not been conducted to determine whether disinfection can occur with the concentrations of sanitizer found in treated pool and spa water. Second, while it's true that the CDC believes treated water is safe from coronavirus transmission, that is largely due to the track records of other coronaviruses, which have been inactivated by 0.5 parts per million of chlorine and which have a history instability in water.

In public pools and aquatics centers, try to avoid shared objects and equipment. If something must change hands from one user to the next, use a disinfectant registered by the EPA to work against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.