68-69 CHLORINE:SPN Master pages 12/3/09 00:30 Page 3
spnfeature
“My responsibilities are to the public and
to general water purity and safety. The fact
“I THINK WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF
is chemicals have proven results. There is a
lot of non-traditional treatment emerging
THREATS AROUND, POOL OPERATORS
on to the market. These still have some
concerns surrounding them, and I don’t
ARE DESPERATE TO FIND A SILVER-
think any are endorsed by PWTAG.”
Last year local authority pool
BULLET APPROACH TO SANITISING
administrators were urged to take extra
care during the increased attendances
POOL WATER. I THINK THAT’S WHERE
linked with the summer to avoid infections
bringing bad publicity, closing pools or
CHLORINE COMES IN”
even sparking off legal action.
The message went out to swimmers that In the United States latest figures have industry in the UK wants chlorine free
more stringent action was needed to shown record figures for recreational water products to prove themselves in the
ensure swimmers shower before and after illnesses. market place and against industry
taking to the pool. And while there’s an The US Centre for Disease Control have protocol. That remains the view of the
increase in the trade to promote products shown 4,412 incidents – including 116 SPATA technical review committee.
and systems to take different options in hospital visits and five deaths in the latest Howard Gosling told the BSPF
terms of day to day pool management two year period where figures are available. conference last year said that PWTAG
extra emphasis is placed on ensuring the A US report on the high number of pool (Pure Water Treatment Advisory Group)
‘guarantee of infection free water’. contamination cases claims “Filtration alone has been clear and remains so that there
“We are diligent and undertake far is not the answer, given the tiny size of must be an oxidising residual disinfectant
more safety checks than even two years organisms which can cause bacteria. A in the pool water.
ago. I think that is all because of the recent report from the Professional Pool ”There has recently been a proposal to
growing consumer pressure to ensure pure Operators Association suggested that high- write a protocol of testing that would have
water to swim in. It has made us more rate sand filters can remove particulates in to be carried out in a laboratory initially
conservative and dependent on the proper the range of 20 to 50 microns, and some before any subsequent “field trials” in
use of chlorine,” said one commercial pool filters can remove particulates in the range order to demonstrate the performance of
manager as well as concerning bathers and of 5 to 10 microns. However, since an alternative disinfectant. We have been
for these reasons it is in all pool cryptosporidium measures 5 microns, and invited to join in writing this protocol.
owners/managers interests to undertake many bacteria are 2 microns or smaller, “It has always been accepted that
safety checks and test the quality of the there is a strong probability that a majority neither ozone nor UV can be used without
swimming pool water. of the millions of organisms associated with a residual oxidising disinfectant.
“Chlorine levels within the serious infections will make it past even the “It would be wrong for the SPATA
recommended range for swimming pool most efficient filtration systems. Technical Committee to go against the
water do not pose any known health risks. In the build up to the important advice of the PWTAG experts especially
Chlorine has been used safely and Swimming Pool and Spa International when one considers the danger of Legionella
successfully used as pool and spa Conference held at the Royal College of and the HSE’s comment that deaths from this
disinfectants for over a century.” Physicians in London it is still clear that the bacterium may result in prosecution.” spn
He said it should be standard practice
for pool operators to keep pool cleaning
equipment running properly.
“The pool manager should also educate
staff and swimmers about recreational
REACH LIKELY TO
water illnesses and develop policies
concerning showering, changing room use
and nappy changing that promote healthy
SUPPORT STATUS QUO
swimming behaviours.“
And while chlorine free alternatives are
likely to continue to gain an increased
ON CHLORINE USE
market share in popularity the threat of
more serious incidents is seen as likely to A change in the way REACH, the new The aim of REACH is to improve the
re-enforce the safer options of chlorine. European Community Regulation on protection of human health and the
One of the worst outbreaks of chemicals and their safe use considers environment through the better and
cryptosporidiosis across New South Wales swimming pool chemicals is thought to earlier identification of the intrinsic
in Australia has seen infection levels hitting be less likely, following the growing properties of chemical substances. At the
a 10 year high. The health authorities were number of cases of illnesses caused by same time, innovative capability and
unable to pinpoint the pools harbouring the water contamination. competitiveness of the EU chemicals
parasite, but had to issue a public warning The organisation which reports in June industry should be enhanced. The
urging people not to swim for at least two is expected to look at a continuing trend benefits of the REACH system will come
weeks after they have had diarrhoea. of uses of chlorine in pools. It is thought gradually, as more and more substances
The New South Wales Health Infectious to support more research into chlorine are phased into and out of REACH.
Diseases Unit, said that the parasite was alternatives and to provide access for The use of chlorine is known to be “on
harboured in swimming pools and causes funding for any safer options but for the the agenda“ of both the EU and the
diarrhoea. immediate future is to support chlorine World Health Organisation and the
“The problem is once it has taken hold as the only proven system. indications are that the new body will flex
these parasites are difficult to eliminate . It REACH deals with the Registration, its muscles later this year.
does again raise the question as to Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction “There is no concern about being anti-
whether there should be more stringent of Chemical substances. The new law chlorine and REACH has to look at things
disciplines imposed on the maintenance of came into force on 1 June 2007. over a longer period,“ said a EU statement.
public swimming pools.“
Visit our website at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk APRIL 09 swimming pool news 69
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