Trichlor Shortage?...The Alternatives

Chemical Fire Raises Concerns about Trichlor Supply
The blaze at a BioLab plant occurred shortly after it was struck by Hurricane Laura.
.By Rebecca Robledo Published in Pool & Spa News 09/22/20

A BioLab chemical plant caught fire shortly after it was struck by Hurricane Laura.
​The plant, in Westlake, La., smoldered for two and a half days before firefighters could completely extinguish it. Residents were told to stay indoors with windows and doors closed.

No injuries or illnesses were reported as a result of the fire. According to BioLab parent company KIK Custom Products, the facility had already been evacuated to make way for the storm, and all employees were confirmed safe.
​
The State Police Hazmat Unit is conducting an investigation on the cause and to assess damages. It likely will take several months, said Sargent James Anderson of the State Police.
After seeing the site, the department suspects that the incident was caused when water entered an enclosed area that had been breached because of storm damage. However, this is a preliminary theory, and it won’t be finalized until the investigation is complete.
BioLab and KIK are still assessing the extent of damage and lost product, said Isabelle Pierre, general counsel for KIK Custom Products.
It is known what chemical was involved — trichloroisocyanuric acid. This leaves some industry professionals worrying about the availability of trichlor for the season. More than usual of the ever-popular sanitizer may be needed this year, as children continue schooling at home and families extend their swim seasons. Additionally, professionals are receiving notices from manufacturers about price increases. This includes a 7½% rise in the price of liquid chlorine, causing even more concern about the effects of the BioLab fire, said David Hawes, CEO of H&H Pool Services in Dublin, Calif., and CFO of the Independent Pool and Spa Service Association.
“We’re all sitting on pins and needles to see if the [fire] will affect chlorine tablet supply and pricing,” he said.
To make sure his company is set for a protracted swim season, he is stocking up. “It seems weird, because normally in September you’re starting to slow down a little bit. But you can store some of the dry chemical without too much trouble, so we’re bulking up a little bit. If the price doesn’t go down, I’ll just be stocked up.”

How does this impact you, a Pool Owner?
Before the fire, we were finding it difficult to find some trichlor products, mostly 1" Chlorine Tabs. Now, stock at distribution warehouses have been depleted and we do not have a clear timetable of when supply will return to normal.

If you use trichlor tablets, Pacific Pool Supply has alternatives for you!

​poolife® NST® Tablets (for skimmer use)NST® is an alternative to 3" tablets and does not contain cyanuric acid. Perfect for use in a skimmer, this product will destroy bacteria and organic contaminants without over-stabilizing your pool water or adding additional cyanuric acid to your water. 

Each long-lasting tablet will continuously sanitize your pool in the skimmer for up to one week! This product is an innovative, proprietary technology that provides long-lasting, slow-dissolving chlorination sanitization levels.
Useful Tips:

• Use only in pools with a skimmer and skimmer basket. The skimmer basket must be free of all other water treatment products before adding this product.
• Place the tablet(s) in the empty skimmer basket. Replace with a new tablet as needed.
• For optimum product performance, swimmer comfort, and crystal clear water, always maintain pH from 7.2 - 7.6, total alkalinity from 60-120 ppm, calcium hardness above 200 ppm, and free available chlorine residual between 1-4 ppm.
• Best used with poolife® Algae Ban II algaecide and poolife® Quick Swim Oxidizer. 
• Compatible with chlorine, salt chlorine generators, ozone and mineral systems.

poolife® NST® Feeder Tablets
​These slow-dissolve cal hypo tablets were specifically formulated for use in the poolife® NST® Tablet Feeder. They contain a stain and scale inhibitor and are packaged in modular pails for easy identification at the shelf. Just like the NST® skimmer-fed tablets, these will destroy bacteria and organic contaminants without over stabilizing the pool or adding additional cyanuric acid.
Useful Tips:

• NST® Feeder is for residential pools only up to 50,000 gallons
• Follow poolife® NST® Feeder operating manual for specific tablet use
• Do not mix these tablets with any other chlorine sanitizer product