A Massachusetts Pool Just Had $20K In Damage Thanks To A Jar Of Salsa, So Let's Review Pool Food Etiquette

We're in the soft, nougatty center of summer which means that from sea to shining sea across this great nation, it's the height of pool season. 

I'm more of a pool guy than I am a beach or lake guy. It's just that it's been a while since I've played everyone's favorite game. "Was that seaweed or a shark that touched my leg?" while swimming in a pool.

However, I've seen a shocking rise in people running afoul of pool food etiquette, and frankly, I've had enough of it.

We're starting to see some real-world consequences for these actions and I think a community pool in Massachusetts would agree after a rogue jar of salsa did $20,000 in damage.

According to Boston 25 News, the town of Needham, Massachusetts' parks and recreation department posted on Facebook earlier this month that its pool was out of commission after a glass jar shattered at the side of the pool, which, in turn, led to shards of glass getting into the pool itself.

I don't think I need to explain why that's no bueno…

That meant thousands of dollars were spent to rectify the problem, and more than 200,000 gallons of water had to be drained in the process. Fortunately, for the pool-going folks of Needham, things are supposed to be back to normal later this week.

Sure, accidents happen, but I was not happy to hear that this jar was a jar of salsa, which — call me old fashioned — has no earthly business being within about 15 feet of a pool.

Look, I like a nice jar of salsa as much as the next guy, but I also respect the sanctity of the pool and have the decency to get out of the pool when it's time to load up a Tostitos scoop.

Please don't be this guy. (Getty Images)

There Have Been Too Many Startling Pool Food Violations In Recent Months

There's a pool at my apartment complex, and over the last few months, I've seen appalling instances of people just ignoring pool food etiquette.

The rule is simple: no food.

Have a beverage in a non-glass container and everything's cool. But, over the last couple of months, I've seen some shocking affronts to that simple rule.

One day, I saw a lady standing a few feet from the pool wall and eating a sandwich in the pool.

Sure, the pool filter can handle dead lizards and the occasional squirrel that forgot it isn't that one squirrel that knows how to water ski, but can it handle big chunks of bread and lettuce from this lady's Pub sub?!

I don't know — pool filtration is not my expertise — but I don't want to find out. Not when she could have been housing that hoagie of hers a few steps away on a lounge way, well away from the pool water I'm trying to see how long I can hold my breath in (43 seconds; not bad).

It got worse, I saw another lady who brought a bowl of cereal to the pool. Thank all that is good in this world that it wasn't in the pool, but while we're all trying to cool off and get a tan, do we need this woman's Cap'n Crunch and moo juice getting fried by the sun?

No, no we do not.

There's no reason to eat in or near a pool so keep that on the pool deck.

Now, like I said, drinks? Well, that's a totally different subject… I welcome that with open arms.