Correlation between water quality parameters important
The relationship between pH, ORP and free available chlorine (FAC) is very important. Pool water must be kept more acidic (a pH level of 7.5 or lower) to make sure the HOCl remains active. This increases the sanitizer’s oxidation ability to destroy and deactivate a wide range of potentially dangerous bacteria and viruses. This, in turn, also raises the ORP reading.
As ORP sensors (probes) are able to provide a good estimation of water sanitizer levels, automatic chemical controllers have become an integral component of the equipment room. They assist commercial pool operators by keeping a ‘watchful eye’ over water chemistry and take the guesswork out of maintaining healthy water conditions. It is impractical, and likely impossible, for pool operators to manually test pH and chlorine levels and add the requisite chemicals every minute, every day. A controller, on the other hand, recognizes any changes in sanitizer and/or pH levels and sends a signal to the chemical feed equipment to add more sanitizer and maintain the preferred water chemistry.
Automation benefits
Once one understands what an automatic chemical controller is monitoring, its ‘primary’ benefits for a commercial aquatic facility can be discussed. First and foremost is bather and operator safety; a chemical controller helps maintain water quality and reduces human contact with chemicals. Manual handling and broadcasting of chemicals is also minimized, reducing the exposure and risk to employees.
Another benefit these devices offer is the probability of reducing chemical usage by more than 30 per cent. Using a process termed ‘proportional feed,’ controllers are able to make feed decisions every minute, therefore eliminating the addition of too much chemical.
The device’s ability to keep swimming pool water in balance by maintaining precise chemistry also decreases the water’s chances of scaling or becoming corrosive. As such, controllers have also been shown to increase the lifespan of the swimming pool (structure), its surface and equipment. Using the proper amount of chemicals also allows the facility to operate in a more efficient and eco-friendly manner.
