Keeping Pool Water safe

Your backyard swimming pool may look refreshing, particularly on a sweltering hot day. But if it’s not properly monitored, the water can harbor bacteria, viruses and parasites that can cause what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) call recreational water illnesses. Instances of these ailments, which include ear and eye infections and respiratory, intestinal and skin diseases, are dramatically on the rise according to the CDC; reported cases have more than tripled in the past 20 years.


If your home includes a backyard swimming pool, hot tub or wading pool, take the following steps to minimize outbreaks of infections:

Be diligent about hygiene.

• Change diapered children well away from the pool and its surrounding deck, and make sure all swimmers take frequent bathroom breaks.
• Remind swimmers not swallow pool water and to shower with soap each time they enter or leave the pool.
• Don’t allow pets in the water.
• Don’t allow anyone who has an infection or illness to enter the pool area. And have a plan—and implement it immediately—if anything occurs that contaminates the water.

Be Aware. Check the water pH and chlorine levels regularly—or have it monitored regularly by a professional pool service—particularly during times of heavy use. The CDC website says the following signs can indicate whether or not pool water is safe:

• Water should be clear enough that you can see any painted stripes and the bottom of the pool.
• The sides of the pool should be smooth and not sticky or slippery.
• A well-chlorinated pool has little odor, while a strong chemical smell indicates a maintenance problem.
• Make sure the pool pumps and filtration systems are in good repair and operating as they should.

Be Informed. The chemicals used to sanitize pool water are themselves toxic if used, stored or applied improperly, so make sure you know how to handle them or have a professional pool service do it for you on a prescribed schedule.

Swimming pools are a great source of recreation, exercise and relaxation, and a little vigilance on your part can help ensure that you and your guests don’t get sick.

Visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/protection/pool-user-tips-factsheet.html for more information about pool water safety.

Have you downloaded the Avalon Mobile App?

Avalon has rolled out our new mobile app for every community we manage.  Instant access to association information, communications and notifications.   Here is a short video overview: Community Base

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June Landscape Tips

The heat is on, so stop planting. Shrubs and trees planted now thru August will require an excessive amount of water to get established over the next few months, and the danger of death will be great even if you miss just one or two days of irrigation. Do not worry; we will have plenty of time to plant again in the fall, plus who wants to be digging planting holes in the 100 degree heat? June is a great month to settle in to your summer schedule. This is a regiment of deeper watering, keeping blooms in check by dead heading, and managing the rapid growth that comes with the longer days. It is also a great time to fertilize your planter beds again with a balanced 15-15-15 or 9-9-9 plus iron fertilizer. You will be rewarded with a resurgence of blooms and will help the plants with the coming heat stress.   

Make sure to water the fertilizer in well. If you have California natives or low water use Mediterranean plants, do not fertilize them now.  This is traditionally the start of their dormant period, and they don’t need the extra nutrients.  Deeply watering natives once or twice per week may keep them from going dormant and even encourage another bloom cycle. Be easy on the water though, they don’t like “wet feet.” You planted natives to reduce summer water, so do just that.  June is a great month to simply sit back and enjoy your garden. By now you have healthy blooming plants, lush green grass, and the weather isn’t too hot to take some time and enjoy a cold ice tea on the porch. If ants become a nuance, this is typical as they search for water. The use of bait stations is far more effective than sprays. The baits are carried back to the nest where it kills the queen and her offspring, effectively ending the life cycle of the colony.  Now that we are into summer, we need to be irrigating our turf 7 -9 start times a week; now through September.  We are still running it 5-9 minutes per run time, 4-5 days per week. But with the temperatures soaring, we may have to run it twice on some of the watering days. This is called cycle and soak. We water for 5-7 minutes, wait an hour and run an additional 5-7. Sharpen that mower blade to keep the mowing clean. 

Bonus tip: Have you ever thought about installing a small water garden? Hardy water lilies look spectacular, and early June is a great time to find them already fully blooming at our local pond supply stores.

Learn about the Avalon Mobile App!

Avalon provides a mobile app for every community we manage.  Instant access to association information, communications and notifications.   Here is a short video overview: Community Base

#hoawebapp,#avalonmanagement