Strategies for chloramine removal: Best practices for maintaining proper air and water quality at indoor pools

HVAC systems or modifications

One of the most important aspects in designing an indoor aquatic venue is the HVAC and dehumidification systems. These issues need to be considered from the design phase of any construction as they are more expensive to correct once the facility is operational.

Water chemistry, bather loads, water and air temperature, air velocity (including where it is being drawn out of and returned into the aquatic environment), and relative humidity all play a significant factor in designing a great aquatic environment that can be enjoyed by all. After all, these facilities are designed for the health and comfort of bathers, facility staff, and spectators.

Where the incoming fresh air is directed, where the exhaust air is collected and discharged, to the ratio of fresh air to recycled air within the facility, all of these factors must be calculated pre-construction. As soon as the first bather/swimmer enters the water, combined chlorine (in the venue’s water and air) starts to become an issue for the operator. All of these factors should be considered prior to the facility being built or renovated.

During the winter, many indoor facilities reduce the amount of fresh air drawn inside. This is due to the cost of heating the cold air before it is returned to the pool area and discharging all of the heated, humid air. Other concerns include condensation on building surfaces and bather discomfort.

Without enough air exchanges, the removal of the volatile combined chlorines from the air within the facility becomes more difficult as it sits just above the pool’s water surface. The location of the supply and the return openings have to allow for this air removal without creating an excessive amount of evaporation from the water’s surface.

To minimize evaporation and aid in keeping the humidity down, the air temperature should be one to two degrees warmer than the water temperature. However, when the water temperature is increased for special use, such as instructional or therapeutic needs, the warmer air temperature may not be comfortable or practical for bather comfort. Therefore, this has to be considered when designing the system.

Dehumidification units

One important aspect of designing an indoor aquatic facility is the use of dehumidification units. Sizing this equipment requires a fair amount of planning during the facility’s design phase.

Items that need to be considered include:

• size of venue;
• the outdoor temperature at the coldest time of the year;
• the materials that constitute the indoor building surfaces;
• the type of usage the facility will see; and
• the air and water temperatures that will be maintained.

All these items are critical to determining the right size unit.

Dealing with bather discomfort

Despite best efforts, in some cases, facility operators may have difficulty getting rid of the lingering odour associated with combined chlorines. This odour can be a significant issue at hotels, spa facilities, and other ‘class B’ pools in Canada and the U.S., where the air handling system may not be adequately able to handle this problem.

There are new products on the market that eliminate the odour of combined chlorines, without correcting the underlying chemistry of bad air. For example, deodorizer products do not remove the actual chloramine problem from the pool water chemistry, they only mask the odours associated with the problem.

These products do not absolve the operator and facility engineer from properly maintaining the pool’s water chemistry. They need to perform the required water tests and record the results to maintain the free and combined chlorine within regulatory requirements, as well as make appropriate dilutions to ensure healthy and safe recreational water. That said, these products may have a place in some facility operator’s arsenal of strategies for dealing with the combined chlorine issue.

Every aquatic facility operator wants an environment that is not only healthy for patrons and staff, but also enjoyable for spectators. Accomplishing this requires a lot of work to maintain the water chemistry and air quality. A quality test kit capable of reading combined and free chlorine levels is a necessity.

This article presents several strategies to aid a facility operator’s thinking on this topic. Some might not be applicable in all cases; however, by reviewing these aquatic facility maintenance strategies operators can determine which one might work for them in their current situation. It is important to keep in mind, however, there is no substitution for good water quality maintenance.

Frank Goldstein, president and CEO of Chesapeake Aquatic Consultants LLC, is a pool and spa industry veteran with more than 50 years of experience. Along with being the author/editor of many of the Association of Pool & Spa Professional’s (APSP’s) technical training manuals and training programs, he recently finished writing his fifth edition of the APSP Service Tech Manual and was the technical editor of the publication. Goldstein also provides expert witness testimony for many segments of the industry in Canada and the U.S., and teaches at several community colleges as adjunct faculty. He has also conducted several of the Lowry School of Pool & Spa Chemistry courses in Toronto, where he taught an advanced water chemistry and commercial pool and spa operations program developed by the late R. Neil Lowry, Ph.D. Goldstein, who became an APSP Fellow in 2015, has served on the national board of directors and was one of the founding members of the National Service Council. He can be reached via e-mail at chesaqua@msn.com.

Michael Lowry is an instructor with, and promoter of, the Lowry School of Pool & Spa Chemistry. His 25 years of experience range from servicing pools to selling commercial, industrial, and residential pool chemicals. In 2012, Lowry was recognized by the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) for exceptional performance at the group’s annual instructor meeting earning two distinguished instructor awards—one for the highest increase in certified pool operator (CPO) certifications in 2011 over 2010, and the second for the highest number of certifications outside the U.S. He can be reached via e-mail at mlowry@lowryassociates.ca.