Some UK public swimming pools forced to close over national chlorine shortage

theguardian.com:

A shortage of chlorine is forcing some public swimming pools to close, with operators blaming factors ranging from a production fall in China to Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

Saxon Pool in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, has been closed to general swimmers since 6 May, with the operator and Central Bedfordshire council cancelling almost all sessions, apart from swimming lessons and a swimathon event.

Users were informed via email: “Unfortunately, due to a nationwide issue, SLL have been unable to secure orders of pool chemicals from Europe which is essential to operate the pool fully.” According to its website, most users will be unable to swim until more chemicals arrive. The council said deliveries were expected next week.

Runnymede Leisure Centre in Benfleet had to close its pool one weekend in April after running out of melclorite, a type of chlorine, which it reportedly obtained from manufacturers in Ukraine.

At the University of East Anglia, the pool closed for five days, with managers citing “severely depleted” levels of chlorine gas in the UK. It reopened on 10 May after a delivery, announcing the good news to users by tweeting: “Swimming is back.”

Industry experts have pointed to a variety of reasons for the supply disruptions.

“Some pool chemical companies are experiencing supply chain difficulties,” said Chris Hayes, managing director for the UK’s Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association.

“These can be attributed to a number of issues, including a temporarily reduced supply in the UK, a backlog coming from China’s supply chain caused by Covid, a significant fire in a US chemical plant in late 2020 and worldwide transportation issues. We are aware that some public pools have needed to close temporarily, and chemical