Splash
March 2002
Aquatic Facility
Newsletter for Pool
Operators
Features:
Play Equipment and
Special Events
Page 1
Pool Water
Contamination
Page 2
Ozone Pool Water
Sanitizer
Page 3
Salt Generated
Chlorine Systems
Page 4
Swimming Pool Air
Quality
Page 5
Provincial Pool Course
Listing
Page 6
Welcome to Splash
Welcome to the first issue of Splash, the aquatic facility newsletter.
Articles in the newsletter have been written by Saskatchewan Pool
Committee members and experts from the aquatic industry. It is
our hope that you find the newsletter informative and of assistance
in your work. We hope to make this a yearly publication each
spring.
In preparation for the next issue, we would appreciate receiving any
feedback that you may have in regards to the content or suggested
articles for future issues, please contact the Editor, George
Koutsoulis, Public Health Inspector, Box 1819 Fort Qu’Appelle,
SK. S0G 1S0.
Play Equipment and Special Events
Swimming pool managers and patrons often find new ways to
enjoy their aquatic environment. However, safety should be
maintained at all times. Before purchasing play equipment or
planning special events for your facility, consider if the changes
will have adverse effects on swimmers or operation of the pool.
Prior approval of location and design must be obtained from a
public health officer before installations of play equipment.
Several considerations should be made before installation of play
equipment. Play equipment must be designed for use in aquatic
environments. Materials should be rust or corrosion resistant and
should not pose a slipping hazard. Be aware that metal surfaces
may become extremely hot when located in direct sunlight.
Apparatus must be examined routinely to determine if hazards exist
pertaining to sharp edges, protruding bolts, or head or body
entrapment.
Splash
Even when used as the manufacturer had
intended, play equipment may pose a risk.
Floating mats and large inflatable toys may
obscure the view of swimmers in distress.
Weak swimmers can become trapped under
large floatation devices. Ropes, netting and
rings may cause entrapment or strangulation
in the apparatus. Poor placement of play
equipment may interfere with use of other
equipment or means of entry or exit to and
from the pool.
Toys and play equipment will require
cleaning periodically. Exercise care to
prevent damage to the equipment during
cleaning. Staff responsible for cleaning play
equipment must do so in such a way as to
ensure public and worker safety.
Hosting a special event at your aquatic
facility may mean installation of spectator
seating. Ensure that the seating does not
encroach upon the required 1.8m wide deck
perimeter. Do not block emergency exits or
access to the pool by emergency personnel.
Food and beverages are not to be permitted
on the deck area. Note that street shoes worn
by spectators contribute to soil in the deck
area.
Activities such as safety courses for small
watercraft may cause damage to the pool
basin or liner. Watercraft may introduce
contaminants to the pool as well.
Refer to the Saskatchewan General Pool
Design/Operational Standards when planning
events or alterations to your existing facility.
Consult with your local public health
inspector as he or she may have
recommendations that will help to ensure
your patrons visit to the pool is not only
enjoyable, but also safe.
Pool Water Contamination
The number of reports of recreational
waterborne disease has gradually increased
over the past decade. As diarrheal illness is
under-reported to public health authorities
this number is probably much higher. The
increasing attendance at recreational water
venues prompts the need for strategies to
reduce the transmission of gastrointestinal
illness resulting from their use.
Swimming typically involves sharing the
water with many other people in a pool. If
someone is ill, he or she can contaminate the
water for everyone who is swimming. Once
the pool is contaminated, swimmers may
accidentally swallow the contaminated water,
which could make them ill.
Chlorine used in swimming pools is an
effective disinfectant however; it does not
instantly
kill
all
disease
causing
microorganisms.
Some
of
these
microorganisms such as the parasite
Cryptosporidium are highly resistant to
chlorine concentrations routinely used in
pools. Current information suggests that it
would take 6.7 days with 1 mg/L of free
chlorine in the pool water to kill this parasite.
Foundation (NSF) recommended maximum
limit of excess ozone not absorbed into the
water is 0.1ppm/m³. At 0.1 – 1.5 mg/L in air,
ozone will irritate the eyes and respiratory
organs, and will cause headaches, vomiting
and severe irritation of the bronchial
passages.
This time factor significantly increases the
risk of spreading this illness. The
transmission
of
disease
causing
microorganisms can occur even in well
maintained pools due to frequent fecal
contamination, the inability of chlorine to
rapidly kill these microorganisms, and the
common occurrence of accidental ingestion
of pool water.
As with any system, if poor bacteriologic
results are obtained, it is usually because the
system was not properly sized for the pool or
spa it is supplying. When setting up an ozone
system, a Major Ion Analysis should be done
on the water source, as the level of ozone
required is dependent on the oxygen demand
of the water.
It is important that public health
professionals and the aquatic industry address
the risk of recreational waterborne disease
through strategies for prevention efforts and
corrective response to fecal fouled swimming
pool incidents. The strategies would include
the education of staff and patrons with
current information about waterborne disease
transmission
and
simple
prevention
measures. Pool policy changes could include
fouled swimming pool response, the use of
barrier garments, and engineering changes to
consider improved filtration and turnover
rates.
Because ozone is very unstable it must be
produced at the pool facility. When ozone
attacks organic material e.g. body oils, skin
cells etc. in the water it causes this material
to cling to other substances in the water e.g.,
calcium, magnesium and flocculating agents
to form a larger mass of material. This
material can then be filtered out through sand
filtration. This process is commonly called
microfiltration. Ozone also has the ability to
oxidize a few compounds found in swimming
pool and whirlpool water. In this process,
organic material is “burnt off”.
Ozone is created by 2 methods, UV Light and
Corona Discharge:
Ozone
UV Light: Air is forced through a tube and
passes by an ultraviolet lamp, the radiation
causes the oxygen molecules to split and
form ozone.
Pure ozone (O3) is a blue gas that is
extremely reactive. It is the most powerful
oxidant, purifier, flocculent and disinfectant
known to humankind and is also an effective
antiseptic and bleaching agent. It can be
detected by smell; a pungent odour is
noticeable at concentrations of 0.01 – 0.04
mg/L when the gas is formed by an electrical
discharge.
The National Sanitation
Corona Discharge: Corona Discharge
produces ozone by forcing an air stream
through an electrical storm of high voltage
electrodes.
3
Due to a high salt content, approximately
3000 mg/L is required to operate softer water
and an increase in Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS) will be observed when using the
system. As the system produces a liquid
chlorine solution, maintenance of chlorine
disinfection levels and testing equipment are
required.
When ozone is compared with chlorine as a
sanitizer, ozone is 25 times more effective
than the active form of chlorine.
Unfortunately, ozone provides virtually no
residual disinfection, therefore, must be
used in combination with an approved
sanitizer e.g. bromine or chlorine.
Another drawback to ozone is that it may not
kill cysts e.g. Cryptosporidium, and some
other large organisms, so other procedures
such as micro filtration must take place prior
to treatment.
There have been past concerns with these
systems in that high chlorine levels may
result in damage to the electrolytic cells.
Therefore, it is generally recommended not to
operate current systems over 3.0 mg/L free
chlorine to avoid cell damage and the high
cost of replacing these units. With this in
mind, one could not superchlorinate using the
salt generated chlorine system, but would
need another chlorine product or a nonchlorine shock treatment. If another chlorine
product is used to superchlorinate e.g.
calcium hypochlorite, bypassing of the
electrolytic cells is required to avoid damage.
Note that since whirlpools require a
minimum of 3.0 mg/L free chlorine residual,
this method of disinfection is not suitable.
Salt Generated
Chlorine Systems
Salt Generated Chlorine systems are seeing
increased use in the swimming pool industry.
This type of system is one that produces
chlorine by electrolyzing a salt and water
solution.
Although this seems like a new concept,
chlorine has been produced using this method
for nearly 200 years, and about 90 percent of
the chlorine used today is produced this way
despite being sold in other forms. Some
advantages of the system may include:
A salt-water brine is created through the
addition of rock salt to water, usually in a
separate holding tank. This brine is then
passed through a series of electrolytic cells
situated on the return line of a pool filtration
system. The solution is chemically separated
through the addition of an electric current
within the cell (electrolysis) and chlorine is
produced. The chlorine is then discharged
into the pool water to act as the disinfectant.
Cost savings: These systems have a high
initial cost, but can be cost effective over
time as high chemical costs are reduced.
Manufacturers state that a more stable, longer
lasting chlorine residual will be maintained.
Safety: After installation, the addition of salt
is all that is required to maintain the system.
This excludes the handling of dangerous
forms of chlorine, as well as other chemicals.
4
chemicals such as disinfection by-products
like chloroform and trihalomethane.
Comfort: Manufacturers of the system have
claimed patrons will experience reduced skin
and eye irritation as well as reduced chlorine
odour and taste.
Studies have shown that human exposure to
disinfection chemical by-products occur in
three main ways. The exposure to chloroform
is the most easily measured and used in
various studies to determine the rate of
uptake. The most significant exposure for
swimmers is dermal exposure, approximately
60 per cent. Inhalation accounts for 30 per
cent of exposure, while ingestion accounts
for 10 per cent, which is really only
significant in children.
Designing or choosing the proper system to
work in your pool is extremely important.
Improper sizing to pool volume has been a
common problem and will result in
insufficient chlorine production and poor
residual maintenance.
Adequate ventilation is also essential for hot
tub/spa areas because the high water
temperature and small water volume creates
increased risk of exposure to Legionnaires'
disease and disinfection by-products.
Swimming Pool Air Quality
The main focus of proper ventilation is to
decrease potential health related concern of
swimmers using the facility. Although the
maintenance of pool water is the main focus
of operating a public swimming pool,
ensuring that the ventilation system is well
maintained will only help to ensure that
patrons continue to enjoy their experience.
Water quality in public pools is an essential
part for maintaining a safe and healthy pool
environment. What may not be as obvious is
that for indoor swimming pools air quality
also plays a role in the comfort and safety of
the swimmers, and staff. The following is
some general information regarding the
operation of heating ventilation and air
conditioning systems (HVAC) for public
pools and the effect it has on the environment
and patrons.
HVAC systems must operate 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. Turning systems off to
reduce energy costs, is not acceptable and
will lead to condensation on surfaces such as
windows and other pool surfaces.
Proper operation of ventilation systems is
important in controlling temperature,
humidity, and the accumulations of irritant
5
EAST CENTRAL HEALTH DISTRICT
Provincial Pool Course Listings
for the 2002 Season:
Yorkton:
May 25
Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Main Board
Room
8:30am -5:00pm
Cost is $25.00.
Call 786-0600 to register
Class sizes are limited and enrollment is on
first come first served basis.
SASKATOON DISTRICT HEALTH
Saskatoon:
April 16 & 17
9:00am - 3:30pm
Lakewood Civic Centre
1635 McKercher Drive
PRINCE ALBERT HEALTH DISTRICT
Prince Albert:
May 8
8:30am - 5:00pm
Boardroom, 1521 - 6 Avenue West
Prince Albert
Cost is $25.00 per person
Call 765-6600 to register
June 18 & 19
9:00am - 3:30pm
Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre
1110 Idylwyld Drive North
October 24 & 25
9:00am - 3:30pm
North Health Centre/Lawson Civic Centre
227 Primrose Drive
SOUTH CENTRAL HEALTH DISTRICT
Estevan:
Saturday May 25
8:30am - 5:00pm
St. Joseph's Hospital, Auditorium 2
Cost is $25.00 per person
Call 842-8618 or 637-3626 to register.
Humboldt:
June 27 & 28
9:00am - 3:30pm
Humboldt Aquatic Centre
Centennial Park
REGINA HEALTH DISTRICT
Cost is $25.00 per person
Call 655-4605 to register
Regina:
May 7& 8
Day1 8:30am-4: 30pm; Day2 8:30am-12pm
Wascana Rehab Centre
2180 –23rd Avenue
Centre Auditorium
Cost is $25.00 per person
Call 766-7755 to register.
MOOSE JAW / THUNDER CREEK
HEALTH DISTRICT
Moose Jaw:
June 6
9:00 am to 5:00pm
Moose Jaw Union Hospital
6th floor – Solarium
Cost is $ 25.00 per person
Call 691-6400 to register
May 22 & 23
Day1 8:30am-4: 30pm; Day2 8:30am-12pm
Wascana Rehab Centre
6
2180 – 23rd Avenue
Centre Auditorium
Cost is $25.00 per person,
Call 766-7755 to register
MIDWEST HEALTH DISTRICT
Outlook:
May 15
Cost is $25.00 per person
Call 867-2243 to register
Kindersley:
May 22
Cost is $25.00 per person
Call 867-2243 to register
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