Is it time for New England to freak out over Zika?

With the first confirmed cases of Zika in Florida, the concerns about the Zika virus are again at the forefront.  An outbreak of a mosquito-borne virus is always a concern, especially in the heat of the summer.  And since mosquitoes are attracted to bodies of water of any kind, we would like to take this time to provide some information about Zika, and the steps you can take to combat it (and other mosquito borne illnesses) this summer.

 As far as your pool is concerned, ensure proper filtration at all times.  Pool water should be filtered continuously between 8 - 12 hours a day. Make sure you maintain proper balance of pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness and most importantly, sanitizer (chlorine/bromine/salt, or baquacil).   For chlorine, ensure that a level between 1.5 and 2.0 ppm is maintained at all times.  After heavy pool usage, treat the pool with a double dose of shock.  Preventative maintenance doses of algaecide are recommended as well.  Anywhere from one quart to half a gallon of algaecide once per week is sufficient, depending on pool size, location, etc.  For more information on pool maintenance and sanitizing tips, feel free to call us or stop by for a personalized recommendation.  We have provided additional information about Zika below. 

Here are some helpful links:  http://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/needtoknow.html
 http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2016/03/zikaandwater/  
http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=962EFC69-26FB-41C9-B0AB-754E76DB24E0

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