Smoke And Ash Force New Pool Safety Protocols After Eaton Fire

City authorities have issued comprehensive guidelines for swimming pool maintenance in the wake of the 2025 Eaton Fire, addressing mounting concerns about smoke and ash contamination.

Officials outlined an eight-step restoration process on January 20, 2025, that must be completed before allowing any swimmers to enter affected pools, focusing on water clarity and chemical balance.

The restoration protocol requires pool owners to maintain specific chemical levels as part of the process, including a minimum chlorine concentration of 2.0 parts per million and pH levels between 7.2 and 8.0.

Current guidelines explicitly prohibit pool service companies from discharging contaminated backwash water into storm drains, mandating instead that it must be directed into municipal sewer systems.

Pool owners under the current Do Not Drink Order must wait for the restriction to be lifted before using tap water to refill their pools, according to the official guidance.

The Pasadena’s Department of Public Works’ Street Maintenance and Integrated Waste Management Division requires residents considering pool drainage to contact them at (626) 744-7311, noting pools must be dechlorinated to 0.0 ppm chlorine and maintain pH between 7.2 and 8.0.

Residents conducting deck cleaning operations are instructed to use misting and stiff brushes or brooms, avoiding hosing debris into storm drains, with guidelines recommending careful collection and disposal of ash-contaminated materials.

The restoration guidelines specify pools can reopen only when meeting all criteria, including clear visibility to the deep-end drain cover and verified chemical balances within prescribed ranges.

Licensed and experienced pool service companies may be contracted for cleanup, though authorities emphasize the importance of preventing mosquito breeding in affected pools, with specific protocols pending further guidance.