Just as the weather gets warmer, some homeowners are having a tough time finding chlorine due to a new shortage. And when they can track down the crucial cleaning chemical, most find that the price has gone way up.
“I would advise homeowners to plan and plan early and just plan their usage plan,” said Randy Love, an aquatic specialist who works for the City of Knoxville.
He said production for chlorine was already slow because of COVID-19. However, the situation got even worse when a chlorine plant caught on fire. The plant caught fire in August 2020, in Louisiana.
The incident stopped production entirely, even after the plant slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials said that they won't be able to start production again until 2022.
In Knoxville, Love said the public Inskip Pool has enough chlorine to last through the season, so people will still be able to cool off in the water.
Dollywood's Splash Country water park said the same thing. Workers said they are not having problems finding cleaning products, and the park is scheduled to open on Saturday, May 15.
Staff at Wilderness at The Smokies said they are also fully stocked. They also aid they are prepared to work with their suppliers if they encounter any issues.
And for homeowners worried about their pools, experts said it's best to plan ahead as they enjoy their pools throughout the summer.
“Plan for an event and plan for keeping your pool clean and clear," said Love. "And structure those events instead of wasting a lot of homeowners do waste chlorine, which does harm our environment."