Improve Water & Air Quality

Often, indoor aquatic facilities struggle with poor air and water quality. Especially during peak times when bather load is high, it can be hard to maintain water quality, and air quality can suffer, creating potential health problems for swimmers and even damaging facility equipment. New recommendations suggested in the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) suggest that pools rely on secondary sanitation systems in such cases. One of the most common and reliable forms of secondary sanitation used in aquatic facilities are UV systems, which use light to destroy microorganisms.

Q: We are considering a secondary sanitation system to get our air and water quality issues under control. Will it help?

A: Yes. If you have a secondary sanitizing system in place, you can ensure the water is as clean as possible while also combating the high chloramine levels that cause poor air quality, red eyes, dry skin and other unpleasant side effects for bathers.

Q: How does chlorine contribute to poor air quality in our facility?

A: Aquatic facilities require continuous treatment with chemicals such as chlorine in order to deactivate pathogenic microorganisms and to prevent the spread of waterborne illness. The problem is that chemicals such as chlorine react with organic and mineral compounds to create harmful and foul-smelling byproducts, including nitrogen trichloride, also referred to as "chloramines."

Chloramines emit an unpleasant smell that can be particularly strong in indoor facilities, especially where ventilations systems are not adequate. Even worse, chloramine gases are harmful to swimmers' lungs if exposed over a long period of time, and they can also cause damage to the pool equipment, dehumidifier and ventilation systems.

UV systems provide an excellent way to reduce combined chloramines, effectively improving air quality.

Q: We'd like to add a UV system at our aquatic facility, but we have limited space in our pump room. Is there an affordable UV unit that has a smaller footprint?

A: UV systems are an excellent and affordable option that not only improves water quality, but also improves air quality, especially for indoor pools. UV secondary disinfection systems provide aquatic facilities an effective alternative to the many chemicals normally purchased to ensure clean, clear, swimming pool water. UV provides instant protection against chlorine-resistant microorganisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

Ultraviolet light is healthier for swimmers, the environment and your facility's bottom line, as UV actually provides cost savings by reducing chemical usage. Aquatic facilities should look at low-pressure systems because they are more affordable and lamp replacement is more economical as well.

Low-pressure UV units that can be installed vertically or horizontally can help accommodate different equipment room configurations. Single-end UV lamps with a top-loading quartz sleeve are not only easier to service but also do not require service as frequently when compared to medium-pressure systems. Low-pressure UV lamps offer up to 12,000 hours of continuous operation and draw one-third of the power to operate compared to medium pressure systems.