What Lies Beneath a Clean Dip?

 

Keeping a swimming pool clean and clear can be a tough job, especially without the right chemicals.

 

Filed under
Specialised Cleaning
 
April 10, 2017
 
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What Lies Beneath a Clean Dip?
 

Chemicals used to keep water sanitised and disinfected should be at constant levels at all times. Proper sanitation is needed to maintain the visual clarity of water and to prevent the transmission of infectious waterborne diseases. Over sanitation, however, will cause skin rashes, burning eyes and other health problems for swimmers

Zenifer Khaleel, had a chat with Dayle Kelly - Deputy General Manager (OPS) and Rohan Krishantha Acharige - Housekeeping Assistant Supervisor, The Club (Abu Dhabi) to get some valuable insight on the chemicals used in regular pool maintainence.

“The pool is cleaned every day and is super chlorinated 3 times a year. The pool water can last up to 5 years in some cases.”says Dayle. “The pool water passes through the filtration system 5 times a day. Additionally, as it is a salt water chlorination system, the water receives a shock treatment as it passes through the cell, which improves the disinfectant process. There is also a sand media in line with the pump system that also removes debris. We have two people to work on cleaning the pool and maintaining the chemical balance.”

The Club is a multi-award winning private members’ club located in Mina Sadiyat, Abu Dhabi. Nestled on the shores of the Arabian Sea, The Club boasts a breadth of facilities, activities, and services unmatched in the region. At the heart of The Club lies a temperature controlled, 25 m long swimming pool. The pool has a large, shaded shallow area and is complemented by a 3 m deep-end.

Chemicals used for maintenance of the pool at The Club

Chemical don’ts

•The main idea is to reduce the use of chemicals. Hence, they should be added in proportion to the correct measure of the water in the pool.
• Chlorine should be added to water and not the other way round, as it may cause a violent reaction.
• Always leave a minimum of two hour separation between adding different chemicals in order to prevent any negative chemical reaction

The chemicals used

In general, to maintain water balance, the pool is tested several times per week for chlorine and pH levels, and adjusted as needed. Test for total alkalinity is done every few weeks. Calcium hardness and cyanuric acid levels tests are done every month.

The process of cleaning

Pool skimmer lines are cleaned with a cream cleaner. The walls and floor of the swimming pool are scrubbed down thoroughly with the cream and washed. A vacuum head and pole is attached to the vacuum hose, connecting the free end of the hose to the opening at the back of the skimmer. A grid pattern is followed to clean all areas of the floor, including slopes. The process is carried out very slowly and methodically to ensure no area is missed out. The skimmer basket and hair basket are vaccum cleaned by turning the filter handle to the ‘Backwash’ setting

Then the pump is turned on for 3 minutes and then switched off. The filter handle is moved to the ‘Rinse’ position and the pump turned on for about 1 minute. Finally, the pump is turned on to resume normal use of the pool. The same procedure is used for the children’s pool as well.

Maintaining the water chemistry of the pool is the most imperative factor in keeping the pool hygienic. The periodic and systematic cleaning under taken by The Club not only makes their pool look crystal clear, but also optimises the use of chemicals.

Regular maintenance techniques

When it comes to chemicals, there are various factors to ensure that they are used safely.

• pH levels have to be checked regularly and if found to be outside safe parameters, corrective action must taken.
• Water level and clarity is to be checked regularly and corrective action taken if deviations are found.
• Regular checking of pool and the pool pump room is important to highlight any maintenance issues.
• Checking of water temperature is vital to ensure the pool is in safe condition.