The “New” App – Remote System Monitoring

Controlling the many variables that impact recreational water stands as the prime objective for the water-quality professional. That may seem an obvious statement, but it’s also much easier said than done. Issues with water balance, filtration, sanitation, disinfection by-products, water-related illnesses, organic contaminants, and, ultimately, bather load all conspire to make the job of creating …

Water Health – The Tipping Point in Commercial Pools

You don’t have to be a hydrologist to know that water has both a light and a dark side. On one hand, we know all about the existential importance of water as a natural resource, we simply cannot live without it. And, we know that water provides a spectrum of recreational activities and aesthetic appeal …

Reliable Industry Information – One Great Example

It’s no secret that at times I’ve been critical of the state of education in the aquatics/pool/spa industry. It’s not my nature to complain; yet throughout my long tenure in the industry, I’ve consistently found it difficult to find adequate informational resources — a shortcoming that has become a common refrain among many in our …

Hydrotherapy – How Water Saved My Life

When you’re as passionate as I am about water quality and, indeed, all things aquatic, it’s natural that some other people might wonder what motivates such an all-encompassing level of interest. It’s a valid question: why is water and its proper care such a huge deal for me? As I’d imagine is true of many …

Automated Water Testing and Monitoring – The Benefits

It always circles back to chemistry. Managing water quality is always, very much, an exercise in manipulating chemical values so that water remains sanitized, balanced and appealing. The only way to do that—to ply the trade of the water quality professional—is to be proficient in water testing. Whether it’s through traditional reagent-based tests in vials, …

Facility Water Management – How SRK Can Help

Water treatment and the resulting water quality it does — or does not — provide are issues at the very heart of all aquatic facilities. The water is the essence, the lifeblood of places where people take the plunge. But there’s far more to it than simply managing the rigors of chemistry, hydraulics, filtration and …

Sensing Water Quality – What Our Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Ears and Skin Tell Us

As is true of most endeavors in which us humans diligently apply ourselves, the art and science of recreational water treatment become more complex and sophisticated as time goes along. Yet, for all of the sanitizing, filtration, balance and testing methods at our disposal these days, you don’t really need to know anything about those …

Perfect Water Quality for All – Idealism or Reality?

I’ve always believed that to make something real, you first have to visualize it. It’s true in most, if not all, aspects of life. Creating a different reality requires seeing it in your mind’s eye. Only then can you begin taking the steps needed to make it real and affect positive change. That’s why when …

What is a “Water Quality Manager”? – And Why Do We Need Them?

For several years, I’ve promoted the idea of establishing a new type of aquatic professional – the water quality manager (WQM). Because water quality is the key factor for any type of aquatic facility, commercial or residential, I believe it makes sense that our industry provides a class of professional who goes beyond the traditional …

Water Chemistry Basics – A New Approach

NOTE: This article was originally published in the October 2012 issue of AQUA Magazine. Maintaining superior water quality requires knowledge, skill and an enlightened perspective says veteran builder and servicer Steve Kenny of SRK Pool Services in East Hampton, N.Y. Heavily influenced by his prior career in the culinary arts, Kenny approaches water chemistry with …