Rethinking Pools to Boost Safety and Minimise Use of Water, Energy and Chemicals
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white paper THE RETHINK WATER NETWORK NETWORK THE RETHINK WATER | RECREATIONAL WATER | MAY 2014 | MAY WATER | RECREATIONAL Rethinking pools to boost safety and minimise use of water, energy and chemicals Safe pool solutions ensuring high water quality and minimised use of resources Rethinking pools to boost safety and minimise use of water, energy and chemicals Safe pool solutions ensuring high water quality and minimised use of resources Version 1.0 About this white paper This white paper was developed by the Rethink Water network in Denmark. The work is coordinated by the Danish Water Forum. The Rethink Water network consists of more than 60 technology and consulting companies, water utilities, water organisations and public authorities. It was established to support our partners internationally in developing the highest quality water solutions. Quoting this white paper Please quote this white paper and its articles: “Kristensen, G.H. (Tech. Ed.) & Klee, P. (Ed.in C.), 2014. Rethinking pools to boost safety and minimise use of water, energy and chemicals. Safe pool solutions ensuring high water quality and minimised use of resources. The Rethink Water network and Danish Water Forum White Papers, Copenhagen. Available at www.rethinkwater.dk” Editor in Chief Pia Klee, kickstarter for the Rethink Water platform [email protected] Technical Editor DHI Gert Holm Kristensen [email protected] DHI Morten Møller Klausen [email protected] Contributors COWI Torben Schack [email protected] Danish Rootzone Technology Jørgen Løgstrup [email protected] DHI Gert Holm Kristensen [email protected] DHI Morten Møller Klausen [email protected] inBlue Ole Grønborg [email protected] LiqTech Daniel Larsen [email protected] Rambøll Henning Hammerich [email protected] Language Editor David Lalley, WordDesign © The Rethink Water Network & Danish Water Forum 2014 Executive summary Walking through the glass Even if the practical and legal requirements a day, which is much better than traditional with regard to the operation of public pools and systems that only remove pollution a few times door separating our old and water parks vary widely on a global scale, most a week, or even less. This filtration is typically our new facility you feel of the technologies used have hardly changed combined with other technologies to remove in the last 100 years. For over a century, chlorine the remaining particles. the huge difference between has been the preferred dis infectant for making the new and the classic pool sure the water is free of unhealthy bacteria and Improved ventilation – due to the lack of alternatives – the continued Much of the remaining by-products are then system. It really stresses use of chlorine is still the most realistic future removed with a gas stripper, UV technology and scenario. Yet large quan tities are not always other equipment. The chlorinated com pounds the need for public pools needed to keep the water safe, and lowering are also removed at the surface of the pool by to bring down the level of the chlorine content im proves the water and new kinds of ventilation. Nowadays most venti- air, protecting people from the intense chlorine lation systems in swimming pools are designed clearly harmful chlorine odour and itchy eyes and skin. to keep the air over the water surface still, in by-products order to cut down evaporation and thus reduce Improved water treatment energy consumption. However, this is not good PER KERSMARK The mechanisms controlling the formation of for the health of those using these pools. CEO harm ful chlorinated disinfection by-products FILBORNA ARENA, SWEDEN are very complex and still poorly understood, Improved overall resource efficiency but there is a general consensus that the forma- Another important perspective on the grow- tion rate increases with higher concentrations ing pool market is the trends towards larger, of chlorine. One option, therefore, is to lower advanced pools that in turn lead to an increased the pH of the water – a measure that some use of water, energy and chemicals. The risk coun tries have practised for years. Chlorine is that operating costs rapidly escalate. There occurs in a much more active form at a lower pH, are, of course, physical limits for how efficient a which means that the same disinfection effect very resource-intensive facility like a swimming can be achieved with a lower chlorine content. pool can become, but the opportunity to bring Another option is to redesign water treatment down the consumption of water, chemicals and systems to remove solid impurities more often energy is certainly available. This white paper in order to avoid the chemical breakdown of provides numerous examples of how owners of contaminants with chlorine. An optimised water public pools have reduced their operating costs flow and drum filters will remove 90 to 95 per and at the same time achieved a more healthy cent of solid organic substances up to 200 times environment. First to embrace new concept, Sweden In Sweden, the Filborna Arena in Helsingborg was the first public swimming facility to embrace new technology concepts that avoid harmful chlorine by-products and thereby improve the indoor environment for swimmers. In 2010, new extended pool facilities, built as a green- field project, were added to the existing facility. A radically different water treatment concept, combined with an innovative air ventilation system, has reduced the level of chlorine by-products to detection limits, pro tecting people from an intense chlorine odour, itching of the eyes and skin, and respiratory ailments. In addition, the use of water, energy and chemi- cals were greatly reduced compared to the traditional facility, which is separated from the new by a glass door. In 2012 the Filborna Arena was the proud host of the Swedish swimming championships. (Courtesy: inBlue) WHITE PAPER - RECREATIONAL WATER | 4 Photo: Kontraframe/City of Copenhagen white paper Harbour pool in central Copenhagen, Denmark In natural water environments as rivers, lakes and the sea, THE RETHINK WATER NETWORK NETWORK THE RETHINK WATER the quantities and flow of water are normally huge, and bacteria that are part of a natural balance break down contaminants resulting from people bathing. As a rather unique story, the harbour of Copenhagen has been | WASTEWATER transformed from an industrial port to a vibrant cultural and social centre of the city in just a decade. People now | SEPTEMBER 2013 | SEPTEMBER swim and enjoy water playgrounds in the city centre in an impressive natural outdoor pool – the harbour itself. The industrial water traffic is gone, so modernising the sewer system and diverting local rainwater improved the water quality so the City of Copenhagen was able to open this public harbour bath in 2002. Protection against wastewater discharges during heavy rainfall is managed by integrated wastewater strategies and innovative technology. An In control integrated bathing water quality forecasting system measures sewer overflows, and hydrodynamic and bacterial of wastewater to protect people models simulate the water quality in the harbour. This system provides real-time information about whether or not and ecosystems the water quality complies with the EU Bathing Water Directive. Download the white paper on wastewater treatment , Efficient solutions for treatment of wastewater which is part of the same series as this white paper on www.rethinkwater.dk/wastewater WHITE PAPER - RECREATIONAL WATER | 5 1. A technology shift for better health and higher efficiency 1 2. Balancing safe water with a healthy pool environment 2 3. The full opportunities with an optimised design build from scratch 5 4. Upgrading of existing facilities to cut costs and improve water/air 9 5. Documenting performance of new water treatment technology 11 6. Design of water environments with no use of chemicals 15 If your goal is water efficiency, Denmark is ready as a partner 17 WHITE PAPER - RECREATIONAL WATER | 6 Photo: Iwan Baan Outdoor pool World Expo 2010, China Many architects and designers are attracted and inspired by water and natural water environments. This was also the case when Denmark’s pavilion for the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai was designed by the award-winning Danish architectural firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), and the Little Mermaid statue of Copenhagen was brought on a historic trip to China. The bronze-skinned statue has sat pensively on the edge of the harbour since 1913, created to commemorate the leading character in the 19th-century fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. It was brought to the World Expo 2010 as a token of China–Denmark friendship and as a symbol for the unique story of Copenhagen Harbour’s clean water, as explained on the previous page in this white paper. The pavilion was built around an artificial pond whose water represented the sea surrounding the statue at home in Copenhagen harbour. The water was kept clean and safe to take a swim in, using the same technology concept introduced in this white paper. (Courtesy: BIG and inBlue) WHITE PAPER - RECREATIONAL WATER | 1 1. A technology shift for better health and higher efficiency Having worked most of Recreational water facilities are popping up water and energy rise, the risk is that operating everywhere in the world, with fun and exotic costs will go through the roof. my life in the facility, it is water environments featuring pools, water amazing to see this dramatic slides, river rides, wave surfing, spa relaxation Attention of politicians