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FOCUS: HOTELS & LEISURE Recovering swimmingly from COVID19


Evoqua Water Technologies’ Mark Abbo provides ps for releasing your pool from lockdown


W


e live in uncertain times. In spite of some easing of lockdown restrictions, currently swimming and spa pools are closed to the public but, when they are


allowed to re-open, operations will change for the foreseeable future.


Whilst chlorination will inactivate the viruses in pool water, preventing it from spreading in changing rooms and other areas around pools remains a concern. Swimmers may have to arrive in their costumes, additional hygiene measures will be needed and the number of people in the water at any time will have to be limited to allow for social distancing. All of this will impact on the economic viability of the pool and Olympic gold- medallist Duncan Goodhew, who is president of the Swimathon charity, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that 10% of the UK’s public pools may not be able to reopen.


During the lockdown, your pool will not have been in normal operation so, when the time comes to reopen to the public, you will need to ensure your pool is ready to go. In June, Swim England published its Returning to the Pool which contains guidance for operators on all aspects of pool operation including water treatment, air circulation and social distancing. In respect of pool water quality, your pool water should compliant with current PWTAG guidelines on water quality and complying with the latest Technical Notes 43 to 46 . Currently there are no Ct values published for the SARS-Cov-2 virus but the World Health Organisation indicates that it should be more susceptible to chlorination than, for example, Adenovirus .


About Evoqua Water Technologies


Evoqua Water Technologies is a leading provider of mission-critical water and wastewater treatment solutions, offering a broad portfolio of products, services and expertise to support industrial, municipal and recreational customers who value water. Evoqua has worked to protect water, the environment and its employees for more than 100 years, earning a reputation for quality, safety and reliability around the world. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company operates in more than 160 locations across nine countries. Serving more than 200,000 installations worldwide, our employees are united by a common purpose: Transforming Water. Enriching Life.®


i ii iii


https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/pool-return-guidance-documents/ https://www.pwtag.org/technical-notes/


World Health Organization (2020). Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the Covid-19 virus: interim guidance, 23 April 2020.


30 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2020


Based on published data for Adenovirus, Swim England recommend that you maintain a free chlorine residual of at least 1.5mg/l Cl2 at pH 7.0. For pools, there were two basic options when you closed to the public, either leaving the water treatment system running at a reduced flow or super-chlorinating the water before shutting down the circulation system. Commercial spas, on the other hand, will probably have been emptied and cleaned prior to closing down for the lockdown period. As we all know, recommissioning a plant that has been mothballed can be problematic. Valves and pumps that haven’t been operated for a long period may be reluctant to re-start when you need them, and stagnant water may be a source of corrosion and microbiological problems. Whether you have been carrying out routine maintenance or not, you need to be prepared for continued closure and now is the time to inspect your plant. Ensure that your annual service visits by your pool maintenance contractor are in place and carry out some simple checks to ensure a trouble-free return to business as usual.


Here are our top ten tips for maintaining your pool and the quality of water:


1. Clean the pump strainer basket and run the circulating pumps at the designed flow rate to check that the pool flow and filter pressures are correct. The flow should be ramped up slowly so that you don’t flush suspended dirt out of the filter into the pool.


2. Check to see if the bottom and the sides of the pool are clean, vacuum and brush as required.


3. Back wash the filters regularly in accordance with the operating and maintenance manual.


4. Check your stock of chemicals and that they are still within their shelf life.


5. Flush the chemical dosing pumps and make sure that there are no deposits in the chemical lines.


6. Clean all automatic controller sensors and recalibrate if required.


7. Check that the secondary disinfection (UV or ozone), if you have it, is in good condition and ready to be turned back on when required.


8. Clean and disinfect scum channels, overflow channels, grating and pool surrounds in accordance with PWTAG Technical Note 44.


9. Check the condition of the pool water and air heating systems.


10. Test the circulating water for the main parameters of water quality: o Free chlorine o Total chlorine opH o Calcium hardness o Total alkalinity oClarity oTDS o Cyanuric acid (outdoor pools only)


If you can tick all those boxes, your water treatment system will be in pretty good shape for a return to service and you’ll be able to welcome bathers back after the confines of the lockdown: something we can all look forward to.


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