Pool & Hot Tub Chemicals Hazardous Waste Illegal in Garbage or Drains Find out what to do with hazardous waste Keep Dry by Storing Properly If water comes into contact with pool chemicals, the runoff can contaminate drinking water sources. Store off of the ground, and away from windows, doors or any other points of water entry to keep chemicals dry. Don't Store With Flammable Material Pool chemicals create toxic fumes, which make it easier for flammable substances to explode or ignite. Do not store with flammable or incompatible substances, such as gasoline, oil, grease and alcohol. Find out more. Keep in a Cool Place Store pool chemicals below 95°F/35°C and in conditions recommended by the manufacturer, in order to prevent them from producing toxic fumes. Use Up Completely Empty bottles should be used up completed, so that there are less chemicals available to leach into the environment. Ways to Reduce Natural Alternatives to Chlorine The Olympic Games use ECOsmarte in their pools because it is a non-chemical, ecofriendly pool cleaner. In general, when a single pool switches to a natural pool cleaner, anywhere from 500 to 700 gallons of chlorine are removed from the environment each year.