News

Feb 15, 2024

Chlorine Explosion Prompts Response From Hazmat Team on Long Island

Published on By Police and emergency personnel swiftly responded to a hazardous incident on Ashwood Court in Southampton. A small explosion occurred involving a bucket filled with chlorine tablets.

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Police and emergency personnel swiftly responded to a hazardous incident on Ashwood Court in Southampton. A small explosion occurred involving a bucket filled with chlorine tablets. Authorities have determined that the incident was caused by the improper storage of wet chlorine tablets.

The danger arose when the chlorine tablets became wet, after which the lid of the bucket was carelessly sealed. This combination created a significant build-up of pressure within the bucket, ultimately resulting in the explosion. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the Southampton Fire Department, North Sea Fire Department, and Southampton Town Fire Marshals and Code Enforcement promptly arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

Due to the potential health risks associated with chlorine exposure, a specialized Hazmat team was summoned to safely manage and clean up the affected area. Their expertise in handling hazardous materials ensured that the necessary precautions were taken to mitigate any potential harm caused by the explosion.

The incident serves as a critical reminder of the dangers associated with storing wet chlorine tablets. Wet chlorine, particularly when confined in a sealed container, can react with various substances and create hazardous conditions. Chlorine is a highly reactive chemical that releases toxic gases, and when exposed to moisture, it can generate heat, leading to the release of even more harmful fumes.

To prevent such incidents, it is crucial to follow proper storage guidelines for chlorine products. When storing dry chlorine tablets, the following measures should be taken:

By following these guidelines, individuals can significantly minimize the potential dangers associated with chlorine storage and reduce the risk of accidents or explosions caused by improper handling.

It is crucial to prioritize safety when dealing with hazardous substances like chlorine. Proper storage practices, coupled with awareness of the potential risks, will help ensure the well-being of both individuals and the surrounding environment.

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Pool News coverage brought to you by Pool Magazine's own Marcus Packer. Marcus Packer is a 20 year pool industry veteran pool builder and pool service technician. In addition to being a swimming pool professional, Marcus has been a writer and long time contributor for Newsweek Magazine's home improvement section and more recently for Florida Travel + Life. Have a story idea or tip you'd like to share with Pool Magazine? Email [email protected] your story idea.

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The North Providence Pool and Fitness Center has been closed until further notice due to an apparent chlorine explosion that occurred last week.

According to North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, the initial belief among residents was that the explosion might have been caused by an earthquake. Reports of the building rumbling and lights flickering added to the confusion.

As a safety precaution, the building and adjacent library were quickly evacuated while authorities conducted their investigation. Although the library has since reopened, the pool and fitness center will remain closed indefinitely.

The investigation eliminated an earthquake or natural gas leak as potential causes. Instead, it was revealed that the explosion resulted from a buildup of chlorine gas underground. This dangerous accumulation of gas had reached a critical point, unleashing the explosive force that wreaked havoc on the facility.

The destructive impact of the explosion was evident, as the force propelled the hot tub approximately 4 feet into the air, leaving behind a void in the floor. The building’s walls also bore the scars of the blast, with visible cracks snaking through the structure.

As the investigators continue to assess the extent of the damage, their primary concern is to ensure the safety of the public. The pool and spa had been drained and were out of commission at the time of the explosion, but authorities could not help but express concern that the outcome of this incident might have been dramatically different had they been in operation at the time.

The reopening of the North Providence Pool and Fitness Center remains uncertain at this time, as the investigators diligently work to mitigate risks and ascertain the full scope of the destruction. Mayor Lombardi emphasized that the priority is the safety of the community, and it could take a few weeks or more before the building can safely accommodate visitors again.

Such explosions involving chlorine are uncommon, but they serve as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking in pool facilities. While such incidents may be rare, they underscore the critical importance of adhering to robust safety protocols and regular maintenance procedures.

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The UK is embracing innovative approaches to heat commercial swimming pools sustainably, with one remarkable method gaining attention from news sources. This groundbreaking technique involves installing mini data centers, each approximately the size of a laundry machine, underneath swimming pools. Already successfully implemented in Devon County, this sustainable initiative aims to revolutionize pool heating and tackle expensive technical challenges faced by both data centers and swimming facilities.

This partnership between pools and data centers addresses expensive technical challenges faced by both parties. Since the majority of electricity consumed by computers is eventually released as heat, data centers often struggle to cool down their hardware. Conversely, commercial pools require heating, but the soaring energy costs have led to the closure of many pools in the UK.

Mark Bjornsgaard, CEO of Deep Green, the technology firm providing pools with data centers, explained this practical collaboration: “We see that supply and demand as two sides of the same coin.”

According to Bjornsgaard, a staggering 97 percent of electricity consumed by computers is converted into heat. This has resulted in data centers being infamous for their excessive energy and water usage for cooling. To combat this issue and reduce resource consumption, companies like Microsoft have experimented with submerging servers in liquid baths and even underwater.

Deep Green’s innovative strategy involves immersing its hardware in mineral oil within a compact, laundry machine-sized box. The mineral oil effectively captures heat from the computers, which is then redirected to heat the pool above. This setup allows the Devon pool to maintain a temperature of around 86 degrees for approximately 60 percent of the time.

The implementation of this data center significantly reduces the pool’s reliance on a gas boiler. According to Deep Green, the data center reduces the pool’s gas consumption by an impressive 62 percent. This, in turn, is expected to curtail carbon dioxide emissions associated with gas usage by nearly 26 metric tons annually.

Moreover, this sustainable pool technology also brings substantial cost savings. For example, the Exmouth Leisure Centre in Devon, which houses one of Deep Green’s mini data centers, had initially projected its energy costs to soar by $120,000 this year. However, the data center is estimated to save about $24,000 from that bill.

Deep Green covers all expenses related to the equipment, installation, maintenance, and electricity usage of its technology. The company generates revenue by providing clients with access to the computing power of its servers for machine learning and AI applications. Additionally, by diverting waste heat to pools, Deep Green saves money that would have otherwise been spent on more expensive cooling systems.

Featured Photo: Mark Bjornsgaard – CEO of Deep Green

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Public swimming pools have been a central part of American culture for over a century, offering a space for people of all backgrounds to come together, cool off, and enjoy the summer. These pools were initially built with the aim of providing recreation and hygiene to urban communities, regardless of race or class. However, a complex history of segregation, suburbanization, and funding challenges has resulted in a significant decline in public pools, depriving many communities of vital recreational spaces.

In the early 20th century, public pools were bustling hubs of social interaction, boasting unique designs that catered to the delight of the masses. In major urban metros, these pools provided leisure and fun for large segments of the population. Unfortunately, as the civil rights movement sought to integrate these spaces, racial tensions escalated, and many cities officially segregated their pools. The subsequent surge of private pools and suburbanization further perpetuated the decline of public swim facilities in urban areas.

Today, the disappearance of urban swimming culture represents a significant loss for city dwellers. Not only did these pools foster a sense of community and social cohesion, but they also provided an opportunity for children, particularly African-Americans, to learn to swim—an essential life skill. As public pools vanished, swimming disparities widened, with many low-income families and minority groups lacking access to affordable swimming opportunities.

According to Jeff Wiltse, the author of Contested Waters, during the early 20th century, there was a significant rise in public swimming facilities primarily established for bathing and hygiene purposes. These municipal pools gained immense popularity, but they were segregated by gender due to concerns about potential sexual impropriety. Moreover, similar to many other public facilities of that time, these new pools were disproportionately concentrated in white neighborhoods.

An alarming number of public pools continues to evaporate each year and the problem appears systemic all over the United States. The city of Louisville, for example, serves as a glaring example of the decline of public swim spaces. Once home to ten public swim facilities, the city now has only four and this summer only two are open. This leaves thousands of residents, predominantly Black and lower-income households, without easy access to water during sweltering summer months. Even efforts to renovate existing pools or allocate funding for YMCA passes have fallen short of the ideal solution—an indoor swimming center accessible year-round.

Long Beach, despite being known as the “Aquatic Capital of America”, faces a significant deficiency in public pool facilities. With a population of over 460,000 residents, the city only boasts three year-round public swim facilities. This scarcity of accessible and available public facilities is a stark contrast to the city’s beach-oriented reputation and highlights the lack of investment in recreational infrastructure. Of the three existing public swimming facilities in Long Beach, none are conveniently located or easily accessible via public transit. Instead, residents must rely on two high school pools that are only open part-time to the community during the summer.

The city of Boston is currently facing a significant problem with its public pools, especially during times of extreme heat. Mayor Michelle Wu’s recent declaration of a heat emergency on July 26 and 27 underscored the severity of the situation. During an oppressive heatwave, access to cooling facilities, such as city-owned pools and splash pads, becomes crucial for residents to stay safe and comfortable. However, a startling reality came to light – 10 out of the city’s 18 public swim facilities closed.

To put the problem into perspective, in 2009, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated there were 600,000 public pools in America. Today, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance estimates there are 309,000 public pools currently in operation and that number continues to decline.

Restoring public pools to their former glory won’t be easy. The heyday of building public swimming facilities was fueled by government initiatives like the New Deal in the 1930s, but current budget constraints make it challenging for cities to build and maintain new pools. Additionally, changing societal dynamics, such as scheduled summer activities and the perception of public pools as dingy and unsafe, have contributed to the declining interest in public pools.

While some cities have managed to maintain their public swimming facilities, many have struggled to keep up with lifeguard shortages, maintenance costs, and increasing insurance expenses. A shortage of lifeguards, means pools are often forced to operate under abbreviated hours or end their swim season early. Private pools and non-profit organizations have attempted to fill the void, but they cannot fully replace the social and recreational benefits that public pools once provided.

Without proper investment and commitment from the government and communities, public pools will continue to fade from view, leaving America’s urban residents without safe and easily accessible places to swim. To reclaim public swimming as an inclusive and shared experience, a collective effort is needed to build and revitalize public swim facilities, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the sense of joy, community, and unity they once offered.

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