SWIMMING
As water features raise the fun factor, chlorine disinfectant can cause problems
Paul Hennessey, sales and marketing manager, atg UV
T
he use of ultraviolet (UV) dis- infection for swimming pool applications is growing fast. From
small swimming pools, spas and hydro pools to large municipal leisure facilities and full-scale water theme parks, this treatment is now becoming standard practise in many UK leisure facilities. As water features, wave machines,
flumes and splash pads raise the fun factor in swimming pools, the traditional method of disinfecting water by using chlorine is causing problems for operators and customers alike. Higher water temperatures and increased turbulence in leisure pools requires increased dosages of chlorine, leading to pool users complaining of burning eyes, red or itchy skin and an over- powering chlorine smell throughout the facility. In some cases the fabric of the building has also been attacked through cor- rosive condensation. The main reason for these problems is the production of
chloramines in the water caused by the reaction of free chlo- rine residuals with organic materials, such as bacteria brought into the environment by pool users. While ozone can be suc- cessful at reducing chloramine levels, both the installation and operation could be expensive and may require skilled person- nel to operate the plant, again driving up operating costs. UV treatment provides another option. UV wavelengths
between 240 and 280 nanometres deactivate all micro-organ- isms, particularly Pseudomonas (SP) and Ecoli. Manufacturers such as atg UV can incorporate UV systems into existing con- trol strategies to protect against micro-organisms, including chlorine-resistant pathogens such as cryptosporidium. A correctly-sized UV treatment system also reduces chloram-
ines, the compound responsible for skin irritations, red eye and the often overpowering chlorine smell. The result is safe, glacier-clear sparkling water, fresh air and a more inviting bathing environment. Typically, following the installation of this treatment, operators report a significant drop in com- bined chlorine levels, chlorine smell and a large reduction in the need for taxing back washing and shock treatments. Systems such as atg UV’s ECF system offer pool operators
a flexible and cost effective solution, treating up to 2000 m3/ hr in a single high-output, small footprint system.
www.atguv.com
64 Read Sports Management online
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Keith Glass sales engineer, Triogen
C
hlorine is the most common method employed to treat pool water as it’s a fairly effective dis- infectant and eliminates a large
number of bacteria, as well as some viruses. It’s also a fairly strong oxidising agent that reacts with organic matter in the swimming pool water. However, chlorine does have its limi-
tations and has several disadvantages. These include the fact that potentially harmful micro-organisms such as cryptosporid- ium parvum and giardia lamblia remain unaffected, and the chloramine by-products can irritate the bathers’ nose, eyes, respiratory system and skin. Ozone has proved to be a viable option over the past 30
years. It’s a gas that can be loosely described as a concentrat- ed form of oxygen and is responsible for the ‘fresh air’ smell that’s experienced after a thunderstorm. Generated by passing a stream of air through an electric ar-
cor by passing air over a specially-dosed UV lamp, ozone is not a stable compound and quite rapidly decomposes to oxygen. It has a half-life of only about 20 minutes at room tempera- ture, which means it can’t be manufactured and stored; it must be generated at the location where it is used. Ozone gas, when used to treat water, is a strong oxidising
agent while offering a strong biocidal effect: it kills or ren- ders harmless micro-organisms unaffected by chlorine, which means that it’s a powerful disinfectant when applied at the correct dose. When ozone is used in conjunction with chlorine, the undesirable chloramines are destroyed and their undesir- able effects are largely eliminated. Ozone gas is generated in an ozone generator. This gas is
then mixed with water from the pool filter, and the water/ ozone mixture is held in a tank for a predetermined time. This allows the ozone to react with the impurities in the water and also allows any excess ozone to separate from the water. The excess gaseous ozone is converted back to oxygen
and discharged to the atmosphere. The cleaned water is re- turned to the pool. The flocculating effect of the ozone collects small particles to form larger particles that can easily be re- moved by the filter and the pool water is clearer, bluer and more sparkling.
www.triogen.com
Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012
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