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Road Tests
OZOMATIC Ozone Generators By Badon Brosnan Manager Thebarton Aquatic Centre The Thebarton Aquatic Centre experiences large bather loads in our 25 m pool all year round with the education department program running through term time, training squads, learn to swim lessons, public lap and recreation swimming. We have always struggled to keep on top of our combined chlorine levels due to this heavy loading, resulting in average clarity of the water at times, strong fumes ever present within the centre and swimmers forever complaining of the usual sore eyes, coughing and breathing difficulties associated with chloramines. As with most indoor centres, we have tried numerous methods to try to reduce these problems, but have had little or no success until recently.
Through our service contractor, Vic de Fontenay, we trialled an ozone treatment unit on our 25 m pool in April this year and within a week the water clarity had improved remarkably, our combined readings were reducing and the fumes were harder to detect. After one month this situation continued with both Vic and myself over the moon with the results we were seeing. Customers feedback was turning to positive comments rather than the regular complaints.
Some examples of the improvements include:
- Swimmers who would have that lovely smell of chlorine on their skin well after their swim, commented that this was less evident.
- People who had experienced nasal problems during and after their swim also commented that sneezing and a runny nose were less of a problem.
- Squad swimmers, who had been the main gauge on any chloramine problem in the water, have been training with no breathing difficulties since the ozone introduction and are impressed with the improved water clarity.
- The balance tank which is situated behind the deep end of the pool, had always given a strong indication of the chloramine build up, when removing one of the inspection covers and being overcome with the fumes, on removing a cover now the fumes are very hard to notice and you can even take a deep breath with no problem.
- We are also seeing a reduction in the use of chlorine which indicates that the ozone is certainly playing a part in the disinfection of the water.
The Thebarton Aquatic Centre, being owned by the Henley and Grange Swimming Club, is very determined to combat this chloramine problem we all seem to experience in indoor pools. I believe that the improvements we have seen thus far in reduced air bourn chloramines, combined chlorine readings and increased visibility in the water has taken us along way forward in achieving this goal.
If anyone has any questions or comments they would like to discuss, feel free to either contact myself at the centre or drop in for a chat. Also Vic can be contacted (Service Providers Section) to provide some more information about these new units.
