Ultraviolet Water Treatment – The Case for Using UV

Ultraviolet (UV) water treatment is both an exciting and somewhat mysterious way to sanitize water. In recent years, it’s become widely used in managing swimming pool water because it’s been proven an effective way to control pathogens without adding any chemicals to the water whatsoever. It also offers other benefits such as destroying chloramines and …

Ozone (03) Technology – Underused and Misunderstood

If you look at the original plans for many commercial aquatic facilities, it’s surprising the number of them that were designed with plumbing and electrical systems meant to accommodate ozone systems. Yet, many never had the systems installed. Likewise, when I talk to facility managers and pool operators, they may know some things about ozone …

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 …

“Readiness” To Meet Water Quality Challenges – A History

There’s a saying in French cooking that I’ve always loved: mise en place. Translated it means, “everything in its place,” or as I was taught in culinary school, “the state of readiness.” In practice, mise en place simply means being prepared to cook; having the kitchen set with all cookware, accouterments, and ingredients ready to …

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, …

Clean Water “Feels” Different

As I’ve written in another blog, pool surfaces and components are created to be smooth and easy on the touch. Swimmers should never feel rough patches on the surface or abrasive edges on rails or ladders. And something is definitely not right when a swimmer feels dry, rough or itchy skin, or has red 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 …

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 …