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Operating a sustainable aquatic facility is exceptionally important these days. Managers are seeking new methods to achieve the ultimate in water quality, combined with energy-efficient technology. While a marriage of the two is ideal, the priority is to strive for clean, clear healthy water all day, every day.
Water clarity can be verified in several ways. Most health departments suggest that pool clarity is determined if the main drain can be clearly seen from the pool deck. An effective technique is to toss a Secchi disk into the pool and determine if the 2-inch disk can be seen at the bottom--the black and red quadrants on the disk should be clearly visible through 15 feet of water. In actuality, though, water clarity can be measured as turbidity--the higher the turbidity, the more cloudy the water. Current quantitative indicators for measuring turbidity are the Nephelometer or Turbidimeter. NSF International recommends that pool-water turbidity should not exceed 0.5 NTUs. Most state codes do not allow turbidity to exceed 0.5 NTUs.
Filtration is critical to attaining ultimate water clarity. Traditional filtration media are still accepted by local and state health departments; however, aquatic operators are seeking greater clarity, with less effort using systems that are also easier on the environment. I will review alternative filtration technologies and how they operate so operators and managers can determine which system is best for their pool.