YMCA: Planned change isn't a good idea

The Gig Harbor Tom Taylor YMCA put up a sign at check-in announcing it was turning our salt-generated chlorine pools into liquid chlorine pools on Sunday (Feb. 14). Steve Triller, executive director and Loren Johnson, director of facilities, said that the saline is corrosive and causing the pool and other metals to rust, and that it is less expensive to use liquid chlorine.

Once it’s changed, it’s permanent. Pool users need to voice their concerns now, or by Sunday it will be too late.

Many people come to this Y because of the safer pools. The change will put the aquatic staff at risk from overexposure to chlorine, as well as vulnerable populations who use the pool.

Research shows that chlorinated pools dramatically increase the risk of getting or exacerbating asthma, harming lungs, burning eyes and nasal passages, and irritating the skin. Long-term exposure can cause tooth decay and cancer.

This is no way to save money. Although the Y didn’t ask our opinion, we can still tell them no.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 11:40 AM with the headline "YMCA: Planned change isn't a good idea."