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The growing attraction of waterparks and interactive aquatic play features provides lots of fun and excitement for families. Children especially enjoy the unique play features and bubbling water actions in the safe comfort of shallow water. But it is a daily balancing act for pool operators to maintain healthy venues. These facilities present a distinctive set of water-quality issues, and require constant monitoring. Because of the sheer size, complexity and number of visitors at waterparks, the risk factors are increased versus traditional pool environments.
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are the number-one health concern at aquatic play features, lazy rivers, activity pools and water slides/flumes. RWIs are introduced into the water environment by bathers, due to lack of bather cleanliness. Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E.coli 0157:H7, Norovirus and Shigella are the major threats. The water features attract children, who are too young to control the effect of their own fecal contamination, so parents need to be continually educated. Thus, pool operators must shoulder the responsibility by ensuring there is a constant supply of adequate disinfectant to curtail bather infection.
Making Adjustments
To maintain healthy water chemistry, operators need to make continual adjustments to accommodate high bather loads. Additionally, the introduction of makeup water as a result of splash-out and evaporation will affect the chemistry.