At least one Annandale-area pool affected by drain recall

The pool at Talltree South

Just when you thought it was safe to get in the water, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall of swimming pool drain covers.

At least one pool in Annandale has been affected. “Continental Pools has advised us that our drain cover is included in the recall and therefore our pool cannot open,” said Dorothy Firsching, of the Talltree South Condominium Association. She just found out about the recall Friday afternoon, the day before the pool was scheduled to open Saturday, May 28.

[Update: The pool at Cardinal Forest condominium, which is also managed by Continental Pools, is affected by the recall.]

None of the pools managed by NV Pools is affected. “Everybody is in good shape with us,” says Sarah Naghdi of NV Pools.

The announcement from CPSC, released May 26, says the recalled drain covers “were incorrectly rated to handle the flow of water through the cover, which could pose a possible entrapment hazard to swimmers and bathers.” According to the CPSC, no injuries have been reported as a result of being trapped by these products.

About 1 million units are affected by the recall. The affected drain covers are made by these companies: A&A Manufacturing, AquaStar Pool Products Inc., Color Match Pool Fittings, Custom Molded Products,  Hayward Pool Products, Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Rising Dragon USA, and Waterway Plastics.

The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals says the recall only affects drain covers sold or manufactured after Dec. 19, 2008. It says less than 100,000 public pools are affected. Only pools with single-drain systems are affected.

Firshling says the pool at Talltree South will have to be drained before a new cover can be installed. It will cost a couple of thousand dollars and she hopes it can be done within a week. “The timing couldn’t be worse, she said. “Why couldn’t this have happened a couple of months ago?”

“The risk is really very small,” she said, “but you can understand the potential liability. So what can you do?”