DUCK DROPPINGS IN POOL,,SURFSIDE HOMES BY THE SEA, HOA, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA

REPORT ON THE STATUS OF DUCK DROPPINGS IN AND AROUND POOLS




By John McLaughlin, Ad hoc Pool Committee member



By now most of you know that we have had a serious problem with female Mallard ducks swimming and “camping out” at our pools. Their droppings have upset us to the degree that we closed the East Pool (for three days) and have called on Galaxy Pool Cleaners to make extra trips here.



They have cleaned and shocked the pool with chlorine several times, and the cost of maintaining the pools is quickly rising.



We have taken several steps to alleviate the problem, to a small degree of success. First, we have strung monofilament (fishing line) near the bottom of the fences surrounding the pools. We also have strung “noodles” of differing colors across the pools to dissuade the ducks from swimming there. Then we bought an alligator head to float in the pool (alligators prey on ducks), and eventually bought two large blowup toy alligators to float in the pools. Finally, we took PVC pipe and strung monofilament from the pool house to the other ends of the East Pool.



This morning, after more than a week of problems with the ducks, the pools were clear of duck droppings. Did they go away? No. Did we stop them from doing their mischief at the pools? Probably not.



For the next (short) while, I believe we should continue to string the noodles and floating alligators in the pool every late afternoon. Hopefully, their presence will cause the ducks to alter their living patterns enough to keep them away from the pools.



Unfortunately, the cause of this problem appears to have been someone feeding the ducks at the pool, a clear violation of Longwater Chase Association pool rules, and possibly a violation of state statute. Many people are unaware that their feeding Florida birds causes harm to the birds (they become dependent, and when not rewarded with food as usual, will cause damage to lanai screens). Feeding ducks on Association property is clearly against the rules, and we have seen what the consequences are… financial and life-style of our residents. I am including a piece found on the Interenet:





If you have mallard ducks landing in your pool are the duck droppings harmful?



Droppings and Health

We have the same problem this year so I've been researching this, also. According to the Massachusetts Audubon Society site, the droppings are not a health hazard if you maintain an adequate level of chemicals (by which I assume they mean chlorine or the non-chlorine products like Baquacil). This is the only reference I've found so far.

You should not trust Baquacil to fully sanitize and protect you from the duck poop if using it for pool water sanitation. Only chlorine can provide this protection. But be sure to remove the poop from the pool and shock often with a residual from 5-10 ppm.

According to the local Massachusetts health department, the pool or jacuzzi should be drained and cleaned with bleach.



Duck droppings are not harmful, but should be removed. Chlorine is the most effective sanitizer, but be sure you check the water balance prior to super shocking your pool. I would not recommend draining the entire swimming pool each time you have droppings. You could try using a Solar Cover when the swimming pool is not in use and not only would it keep ducks out, but help retain the sun's heat in your pool.