Though Jeffrey Sloan is not a pool operator, he probably knows more about chlorine than you do. But don’t feel bad. Sloan just happens to be senior director, water and sustainability, for the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council.
His role at the Arlington, Va., trade association includes working to ensure the safe, effective use of chlorine, and he’s been actively involved in numerous outreach campaigns such as the CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program.
“While chlorine often gets a bad rap, a well-chlorinated pool has little odor, and air-quality issues at indoor pools underscore the need to better educate pool users, operators and policy makers about healthy pool practices,” Sloan says.
But he doesn’t put it all on operators. “Our educational activities also emphasize that swimmers can help reduce chloramine formation by keeping contaminants out of the pool by showering and using restrooms, for example,” Sloan notes.
Looking ahead, he says that his group will continue supporting the Healthy Pools partnership, as well as academic research to better characterize chlorine reactions in pool water and its effects on the quality of water and air. Sloan also plans to be involved in major efforts such as the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code.
“Our industry has a tremendous amount of information on chlorine’s efficacy against microbial contaminants, as well as responsible handling and use practices,” he says. “We will provide technical data and expertise as appropriate to inform the code development process.”
