Nationwide carbon dioxide shortage forces temporary closure of four city pools

As a result of a nationwide shortage of carbon dioxide (CO2), due in large part to supply chain issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of San Diego announced it will be temporarily closing four of its municipal pools beginning Monday, Aug. 22.

CO2 is used to help balance and maintain the pH levels in the pool water. As a CO2 replacement during the shortage, maintenance crews will be continually applying muriatic acid, a common chemical used in backyard pools, as a safe alternative and will regularly monitor each pool to ensure pH levels are safe for the public. Current maintenance staffing is inadequate to perform the intensive monitoring at all 14 City pools.

The closures will allow pool maintenance staff to properly service and monitor the nine open pools to remain in compliance with County of San Diego environmental health guidelines for municipal pools.

Programming currently scheduled at temporarily closed pools will be moved to neighboring municipal pool facilities. The CO2 shortage is not expected to impact existing contractual agreements with San Diego Unified School District and San Diego Community College District athletics programs.

The four pools that will temporarily close starting Monday are:

Carmel Valley, 3777 Townsgate Drive (residents are encouraged to visit any open pools).
Colina Del Sol 4150 54th Place (programming will be absorbed into City Heights Swim Center, 4380 Landis St.).
Kearny Mesa, 3170 Armstrong St. (programming will be relocated to Swanson Pool, 3585 Governor Drive).
Martin Luther King, Jr., 6401 Skyline Drive (programming will be absorbed into City Heights Swim Center, 4380 Landis St.).

Two of the pools identified for closures, Colina Del Sol and Martin Luther King, Jr., have leaks that were recently identified and repair work will be conducted during these CO2 shortage-related closures. Additional fall and winter maintenance also will be performed at all four closed pools.
There is no definitive timetable for the four pools to reopen, and the City will continue to seek alternate sources of CO2 to have the pools operating as soon as possible.
Residents are encouraged to contact their local municipal pool for updated hours and programming. For additional information about the City’s municipal pools and available aquatics programs, visit sandiego.gov/pools.