Faulty pool pump the cause of Levin Pool centre evacuation

Advice from Fire and Emergency New Zealand has revealed that a chemical incident at the Levin Aquatic Centre on 28th October was caused by a faulty pump resulting in chlorine and sodium bicarbonate being mixed together and without correct dispersal.

The reaction made it difficult for customers and staff to breathe, and staff immediately evacuated the centre.

Chris Kennedy, from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, told 1News that the reaction created a vapour cloud and fumes which spread inside the centre, affecting 32 people.

Horowhenua District Council Community Facilities Manager Brent Harvey added “the chemicals were put into an area and the pump was not working, which caused them to sit there and cause the odour and react.

"The faulty pump meant the chemicals could not be dispersed into the pool water.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand neutralised the reaction by waiting for the chemicals to stop reacting before tipping them into the pool to dilute them. The pool reopened the next morning. WorkSafe had been notified about the incident and an investigation is being conducted.

Harvey noted “we will be ensuring our processes are robust to minimise the chance of this happening again.”