Treated recreational water venues

Abstract

Swimming is an activity enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities in all parts of the world. Swimming promotes known health benfits. The water provides support for the body, making it an ideal activity for people with joint pain or who are recovering from an injury. In addition to exercise, soaking in hot tubs or hot springs promotes relaxation and soothes sore muscles. With the notable healthy benefits and enjoyment associated with simming, it is important that the water and facility do not become a source of disease and/or injury. Swimming may be thought of as communal bathing. Bathers introduce varying amounts of organics into the water including sweat, urine, dead skin, hair, oils, lotions and microorganisms every time they enter. The type and concentration of organics introduced by the bather is a function of the individual and the facility they are using. A small child in swim diapers in a splash pool is very different to an adult competitive swimmer practicing in a lap pool. Regardless, it is the responsibility of the facility operator to maintain healthy water quality.Four factors contribute to maintaining a healthy water quality in a recreational water facility: engineering design, water chemistry, disinfection and facility management. All factors must be operating properly for a facility to maintain a healthy bathing environment. For instance, if a facility operator does not adhere to their policies in remediating a fecal accident in the pool water, then even if the facility has a disinfectant residual when the event occurred, they have still placed the other bathers at risk. This chapter will present a holistic approach for the maintenance of recreational water. This includes a discussion on the engineering aspects that define the different facilities, a general discussion on maintaining balanced water chemisty, the use and evaluation of disinfectants and a general discussion at the end on the importance of well-trained facility managers. An overview of the various illnesses that are associated with recreational water which is not maintained correctly are presented as a cautionary note. Finally, like any industry, recreational water is subject to trends, which will be addressed in the appropriate sections.