It is a common practice for pool service contractors to utilize muriatic acid to clean the cementitous surface prior to plastering swimming pools. It is a human poison, toxic both by ingestion and inhalation.
Extreme precaution is necessary when handling muriatic acid to protect workers and the environment.
In most cases, pool service contractors have properly neutralized the acid prior to releasing it to the ground. This problem may easily and inexpensively be remedied. The acid should be diluted with a ten to one ratio of water. Then a neutralizing agent i.e. sodium bicarbonate or calcium bicarbonate should be sprinkled on the diluted acid. The neutralizing agent can easily be kept on the service truck in 25 pound buckets.