The document discusses several key considerations for designing aquatic facilities including water quality, mechanical components, industry standards and regulations. It addresses water filtration and sanitation systems, maintaining proper chemical balances, and ensuring good air circulation. Recommendations are provided for filtration types, disinfection methods, achieving water clarity and balancing various chemical factors that impact health codes and equipment longevity.

1. Governing Bodies of Aquatic Facilities Water Quality, Air Quality and Health Concerns Mechanical Components and Industry Trends Recommendations for Engineers/Architects

2. Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) International trade association of companies that build water features Standards for design, workmanship and pool operations Standards are developed and managed by the International Aquatic Foundation (IAF) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Provide standards of testing for research and development Some regulations require pool parts to be stamped as ASTM approved NSF International (NSFI) NSF/ANSI Standard 50 covers pool equipment that sanitizes the water, cleanses the water or transports the water Lisa Virtue 11/2008

3. Lisa Virtue 11/2008

4. When designing a facility with water features the following must be considered: Water Clarity For Guests’ comfort Proper visibility for lifeguards (per Health Code: you must be able to view the deepest drain clearly from the pool deck) Water Disinfection/Sanitation and Oxidation To prevent disease and illness transmission To maintain proper Health Code compliance Air quality and UV light affects the oxidation of sanitizers and must be considered when building a water feature facility Water Balance (PH/Alkalinity/Calcium) Guests’ comfort Equipment longevity Saturation Index Takes into account all chemical readings in the water to make sure the water is balanced properly even if all chemicals are within an acceptable range Lisa Virtue 11/2008

5. To achieve water clarity you must have a filtration system installed Filer Types: Cartridge filtration Newest type Spun-bound polyester or pleated, treated paper Can filter 15 to 25 microns (Crypto is 4-6 microns) ½ the size of sand filters Used for spas/smaller pools Filter life expectancy: 6 months D.E. Can filter 3 to 6 microns Natural Substance Diatomaceous earth is a porous powder with microscopic openings, that when magnified look like tiny sponges. All D.E. filters have internal elements that become coated with D.E. It is this 'filter cake' that strains dirt, dust, algae and even some forms of bacteria from the water. Sand (wave house) Oldest type—dating back to Greek/Roman times Natural Substance Sand replaced every 5 to 15 yrs Filter life expectancy: 20 yrs Can filter 50 microns (Crypto is 4-6 microns) Flow Rate capacity: 3 gpm/ft2 Lisa Virtue 11/2008

6. Public water must be disinfected and sanitized to prevent disease transmission from patron to patron Health Code dictates the minimum and maximum levels of sanitation that are acceptable in a public facility- Chlorine 2.0-4.0 and pH 7.2-7.8 Options for Disinfectants: Liquid Chlorine (NOT gas) Bromine Generate your own chlorine using salt Ozone (must be generated on site and there is still a need for some chlorine) Lisa Virtue 11/2008

7. Why keep water balanced? Comfort of swimmers Operating life of equipment Pool/Ride Operators keep an eye on this balance by taking daily SI (saturation index) readings Factors contributing to water balance and used to determine the SI reading: PH Calcium Hardness Alkalinity Temperature Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Lisa Virtue 11/2008

8. Outdoor Facilities The only concern is when water is left in tanks under waves and there is no air circulation Indoor Facilities Air circulation Chloramines need to be circulated outside of the facility and not into other parts of the facility Top 1’ of water needs to have air circulating because of the chloramine build up Air temperature needs to be within 2 degrees of the water temperature For comfort to swimmers For HUMIDITY and equipment longevity Lisa Virtue 11/2008

9. Filtration system Can help eliminate the crypto threat if the filters can filter to at least 4 microns Chemical Feeders Automatically inject chemicals into the pool/wave Oxidation Oxidation must be created for the sanitizers to be affective This can be achieved thru equipment or with proper air circulation Air Circulation and De-Humidification system for enclosed containers For example: in the tanks for the waves Indoor facilities Lisa Virtue 11/2008

10. Consider your local health code Turn Over Rate (TOR) to size your filters and pumps—San Diego = 6 hrs. Gallons / TOR / 60 = min. GPM required * 1.25 is ideal FlowRider West = 20,000 gallons/ 6 hrs. /60 = 55 GPM *1.25 = 69 GPM Actual: 200 GPM B-Max = 150,000 / 6 / 60 = 416 GPM * 1.25 = 520 GPM Actual: 650 GPM Decide on which filter you want-this will determine your Filter Media Rate (FMR) Your FMR will determine your needed Filter Area Flow Rate must match the flow minimums and maximums of your filter Jeff Ranta 11/2008

11. FILTER MEDIA RATE (FMR) - The rate of flow of water a filter can handle. The FMR is used to determine the necessary minimum filter area required. The FMR for a particular filter type is determined as part of the manufactures compliance with NSFInternational Filter Type Filter Media Rate High-Rate Sand 12-20 gpm/ft2 Cartridge 0.375 gpm/ft2 Diatomaceous Earth 2.0 gpm/ft2 Jeff Ranta 11/2008

12. FILTER AREA (FA) - A pump’s maximum flow rate must be used to calculate the minimum filter area. Filter area is the surface area of the filter media through which the water flows. The correct filter must be matched with the amount of water that passes through the filter to achieve the proper turnover rate. Exceeding The FMR causes problems; Sand Filters -Causes channeling where water bypasses filtration resulting in dirty water returning directly to pool. Cartridge Filters - Dirt, minerals and oils can be driven through filter and back into pool. Particles can become imbedded and difficult to remove. D.E. Filters -Dirt and oils will be forced into grid cloth and cause the D.E. to stick to the cloth. D.E. will then not be released during cleaning and shorten grid life. Jeff Ranta 11/2008

13. FLOW RATE (FR)- The flow rate is the amount of water moving through the circulation system FA=FR/FMR or FMR=FR/ FA or FR= FAxFMR Example-What is the sq. ft. of filter surface area for F/R west? FA=FR/FMR- Flow Rate =141 gpm FMR=20gpm/ft2 Jeff Ranta 11/2008

14. For the waves, please consider the following in your design: Ozone generator system Healthier for employees and swimmers Less chloramines in the water because less chlorine and chemicals More effective at killing bacteria UV Light for indoor pools/waves Helps sanitize the water with less chemicals Kills microorganisms and oxidizes chloramines Easy maintenance Indoor air circulation systems Under the waves in the tanks Indoor facilities also need de-humidifiers Filtration: D.E. Filter Smaller than sand filters and more efficient Filters to the 3-6 micron range, preventing disease transmission Lisa Virtue and Jeff Ranta 11/2008