Best Practice Guidelines for Water Management in Aquatic Leisure Centres Published by Sydney Water PO Box 399 Parramatta NSW 2124 Sydneywater.Com.Au

Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres Published by Sydney Water PO Box 399 Parramatta NSW 2124 sydneywater.com.au

Sydney Water disclaims any liability for any inaccuracy or incompleteness in these best practice guidelines. Sydney Water makes no representation and does not warrant that any product, process or procedure referred to in this guide is suitable for any purpose. Persons using this guide are not relieved from the responsibility of relying on their own enquiries as to suitability of any information, product, process or procedure for any envisaged purpose. Message from the Managing Director

Businesses and industrial water users have made significant contributions to Sydney’s long-term water sustainability. Over the past decade holistic water management practices have been widely adopted. Sydney Water recognises the importance of its business customers, and has been Kerry Schott developing policies and products that focus on their needs. Managing Director These guidelines are one of a series of documents compiled by Sydney Water. They aim to capture the expertise of Sydney Water and some of its most efficient business partners to share ‘best practice’ industry knowledge. Council owned aquatic centres in Sydney use around 1,000 megalitres (ML) of water each year. Three quarters of this is discharged to the sewers from water treatment systems, and from on-site kitchen, shower and toilet facilities. Adopting industry best practice to manage this water use and discharge can make a huge difference to the safe and efficient operation of any aquatic centre. Between 2005 and 2010, aquatic centres in Sydney reduced their yearly potable water use by 150 ML. This led to a drop of around 113 ML in the volume of wastewater discharged to sewers and treatment plants over this period. Improvements in backflow prevention and trade waste practices also helped protect the community and the environment. This document summarises the most efficient operational procedures and management practices for aquatic centres. It has been put together to help council and aquatic centre sustainability officers, facility managers and swimming pool operational staff to share the benefits that come from improved water management.

Kerry Schott Managing Director, Sydney Water Message from the Aquatic and Recreation Institute and Australian Leisure Facilities Association

Given the profile of swimming pools in the community, the aquatic and recreation industry is in a unique position to influence community attitudes and behaviour in the establishment of sustainable communities. This puts a community service obligation on us as an industry, not only to implement sustainable operational practices, but also to communicate to the community how these practices can be applied in the commercial and residential sector. Since water is our core product, the industry is by definition a significant user of probably the community’s most precious resource. As evidenced by the closure of a number of public pools during the recent drought, there is a business and social risk to our community facilities if no action is taken to mitigate inevitable water shortages in the future. While many facilities have already made significant and encouraging improvements with up to 70% savings on water use, there is still much more work to be done in the industry as a whole. Therefore, as the peak body representing aquatic and recreation facilities in NSW, the Aquatic and Recreation Institute with the Australian Leisure Facilities Association, are proud to support Sydney Water in developing and producing of the Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres. We trust you will find these guidelines a practical and informative tool to implement significant water savings in your own facilities. These may be small operational changes or significant improvements, such as water harvesting. No matter how small the improvement it is worth remembering that ‘every drop counts’.

Nicole Murphy Pacholek Gary Penfold President Aquatic and Chair Australian Leisure Recreation Institute Facilities Association Acknowledgements

Sydney Water thanks the following organisations for their help in developing the Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres: • Australian Leisure Facilities Association • Aquatic and Recreation Institute • NSW Department of Health • National Project Consultants Pty Ltd • ECC Pty Ltd

Specific individuals contributed to and gave critical and constructive review and help with the document: • Sara Raishbrook – Sydney Water – Business Customer Services • Robert Quinn – National Project Consultants Pty Ltd • Wayne Dettmann – ECC Pty Ltd • Sally Armstrong – Sydney Water – Business Customer Services • Julie Bye – Sydney Water – Communications & Marketing • Philip Halkyard – Sydney Water – Business Customer Services • Christopher Letherbarrow – Sydney Water – Business Customer Services • Fernando Ortega – Sydney Water – Business Customer Services • Para Parameshwaran – Sydney Water – Business Customer Services • Neil Shaw – NSW Department of Health

A panel of aquatic centre managers in NSW helped guide the development of the document and gave critical and constructive review: • Gary Penfold – Warringah Council • Anthony Burling – Gosford City Council • Tatjana Domazet – Bankstown City Council • Paul Hartman – Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre • Reece Heddle –- Randwick City Council • Peter Shields – Fairfield City Council • Annette Sillan – Sutherland Shire Council

Sydney Water would also like to thank all the aquatic centres who agreed to be case studies and centres and companies that provided photographs: • Andrew Boy Charlton Pool, City of Sydney Council • Canterbury Pool, Canterbury City Council • Des Renford Aquatic Centre, Randwick City Council • Ian Coombes Australia Pty Ltd • Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, City of Sydney Council • Springwood Aquatic Centre, Blue Mountains City Council • Warringah Aquatic Centre, Warringah Council • Jesse Taylor Photography Contents

Message from the Managing Director Message from the Aquatic and Recreation Institute and Australian Leisure Facilities Association Acknowledgements Contents 4 List of figures 6 List of tables 7

Part 1 Understanding and managing your water use 8 Chapter 1 Water use in aquatic centres 10 Chapter 2 Aquatic centre KPIs and targets 12 Chapter 3 The link between water and energy 14 Chapter 4 The true cost of water 16 Chapter 5 Management tools 20 Chapter 6 Monitoring water use 23 Chapter 7 Water efficiency audits 30 Chapter 8 Water balance 33 Chapter 9 Action plans 34 Chapter 10 Managing staff and contractors 35 Chapter 11 Justifying water efficiency projects 36 Chapter 12 Sustainability and funding opportunities 37

Part 2 Leaks and swimming pool operation 38 Chapter 13 Leaks and base flows 41 Chapter 14 Saving water from treatment 50 Chapter 15 Saving water in filtration and make-up systems 56 Chapter 16 Evaporation 68

Part 3 Aquatic centre efficiency 72 Chapter 17 Amenities 75 Chapter 18 Kitchens and kiosks 87 Chapter 19 Cleaning your aquatic centre 89 Chapter 20 Water features 90 Chapter 21 Gardens and sports fields 92 Chapter 22 New and renovated aquatic centres 96

4 Part 4 Alternative water sources 98 Chapter 23 Rainwater 101 Chapter 24 Wastewater 105 Chapter 25 Groundwater 110

Part 5 Managing your wastewater 112 Chapter 26 Sewerage Usage Discharge Factor 114 Chapter 27 Volume measurement 115 Chapter 28 Trade waste 116 Chapter 29 Trade waste in aquatic centres 117 Chapter 30 Backflow prevention 120

Appendix 1 Risk management for using alternative water sources 122 Chapter 31 Factors affecting microbial risk 125 Chapter 32 Managing risks of using alternative sources of water 130 Chapter 33 Risk matrixes for different types of pools 137

Appendix 2 Water saving checklist 146

Glossary 154

5 List of figures

Figure 1 – Water use in council aquatic centres in Sydney 10 Figure 2 – Water use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre 14 Figure 3 – Energy use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre 14 Figure 4 – Some additional costs of water in aquatic centres 16 Figure 5 – Water use charges ($/kL) from 1997 to 2012 17 Figure 6 – How to read a simple water meter 24 Figure 7 – How to read a larger water meter 24 Figure 8 – A graph of typical water use information from a data logger 26 Figure 9 – Aquatic centre hydraulic diagram 33 Figure 10 – Water use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre 40 Figure 11 – Energy use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre 40 Figure 12 – Site water use monitoring profile indicating a base flow 41 Figure 13 – Circulation system of a typical commercial pool 42 Figure 14 – The daily cost of a water leak based on water and wastewater 46 use charges (2010–11) Figure 15 – Pressure filter 57 Figure 16 – Pre-coat filter 58 Figure 17 – Water use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre 74 Figure 18 – Breakdown of water use in amenities 75 Figure 19 – Options for water efficiency projects 100 Figure 20 – Magnetic flow meter 115 Figure 21 – Key features of a typical backwash water holding tank 119 Figure 22 – Backflow explained 120 Figure 23 – Factors affecting microbial risk in aquatic centres 125 Figure 24 – Microbial risk for various swimming pool types 126 Figure 25 – Microbial risk for various swimming patron types 127 Figure 26 – Considerations for assessing microbial risk for various pool make-up 128 water sources Figure 27 – General hierarchy of microbial risk in pools, based on pool type, 129 pool design and equipment, and pool users Figure 28 – Procedure for recovering pool backwash water 133 Figure 29 – Deciding how to use treated backwash water 134

6 List of tables

Table 1 – Aquatic centre KPIs using bather numbers 12 Table 2 – Aquatic centre KPIs using patron numbers 12 Table 3 – Checklist for water efficiency audits 30 Table 4 – Checklist for managing leaks 48 Table 5 – Water treatment comparison table 54 Table 6 – Water filter comparison table 60 Table 7 – Water media comparison table 63 Table 8 – Recommended pool temperatures for a range of pool activities 68 Table 9 – Advantages and disadvantages of pool cover types 70 Table 10 – WELS ratings for showers 84 Table 11 – WELS ratings for tapware 84 Table 12 – WELS ratings for toilets 85 Table 13 – WELS ratings for urinals 85 Table 14 – Water use for a range of water feature types 91 Table 15 – Risk management protocol for use of recycled water 107 Table 16 – Potential risk for re-use of recycled backwash water in various applications 131 Table 17 – Microbial risk of backwash water for bathers 131

Part 1

Understanding and managing your water use Part 1 of the Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres is aimed at council and aquatic centre sustainability officers and facility managers. It presents benchmarks for water and energy use in aquatic centres and information to help you manage your water better. 1 Chapter 1 – Water use in aquatic centres

Chapter 1 Water use in aquatic centres

In Australia, aquatic centres also have fitness facilities or As well as these pools, there are major community facilities equipment, such as basketball are many privately owned and that require a large amount of courts or gyms. operated pools available to water and energy to operate. the public in: Aquatic centres are popular There are around 1,900 aquatic with the community, attracting • fitness centres leisure centres operating around 263 million visits a year around Australia. Most of these • universities (the Aquatic and Recreation are owned by local councils and • swimming schools Institute). On average, every managed either by councils Australian visits a public pool • hotels or an external management once a month. As well as • schools. organisation. Australian Leisure improving physical health and Facilities Association (ALFA) Aquatic centres owned wellbeing, leisure facilities estimates yearly revenues of and operated by councils provide communities with aquatic centres to be more in Sydney use around 1,000 a place to interact. This can than $1.3 billion, employing megalitres (ML) of water improve mental wellbeing, over 50,000 staff. a year. Around three quarters particularly in isolated and of this is discharged to the Aquatic centres include all disadvantaged communities. wastewater system from swimming pool facilities and In the Sydney region, there water treatment systems, aquatic leisure centres available are many aquatic centres and and from on-site kitchens, to the public. They include any swimming pools available showers and toilet facilities. indoor or outdoor recreational to the public. These include: pools, lap swimming pools, Figure 1 shows total water diving pools, hydrotherapy • 84 council owned aquatic use in aquatic centres from pools, family and toddler pools. centres 2005-06 to 2009-10. Sydney Some aquatic centres • 57 swimming pools in clubs. Water has worked with councils to help them better manage water use in aquatic centres. Between 2005-06 and 2009-10, aquatic centres Water use in council aquatic centres in Sydney in Sydney saved over 150 ML 1,200,000 or about 15% of their water 1,150,000 use. This reduced the volume of wastewater discharged 1,100,000 to the wastewater system 1,050,000 and treatment plants to about 113 ML, during the same period. 1,000,000

Yearly Water Use (kL) Water Yearly During this time, aquatic 950,000 centres in Sydney improved 900,000 their water efficiency by: 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Year • improving water management practices Figure 1 – Sydney aquatic centres have saved about 15% of their water use since 2005-06 • monitoring water use

10 Chapter 1 – Water use in aquatic centres 1

• detecting and fixing leaks also saved money and helped This guide provides practical • retrofitting existing protect the environment. steps to assist councils, pool managers and operators to amenities with efficient There is more to being better manage their aquatic fixtures sustainable than just centres. It will help you to • investing in alternative saving water. Aquatic centre achieve efficiency and save sources of water. managers must understand money. By reducing water use, their water and energy use implementing backflow and wastewater. They must prevention and improving also understand their Key trade wastewater discharge Performance Indicators (KPIs), practices, aquatic centres benchmarks and targets.

On average, every Australian visits a public pool once a month

11 1 Chapter 2 – Aquatic centre KPIs and targets

Chapter 2 Aquatic centre KPIs and targets

Sydney Water completed a survey of 42 aquatic centres in Sydney to further understand their water use trends and practices. KPIs for each site were calculated where accurate patron and water use data could be obtained.

The data showed that water Table 1 – Aquatic centre KPIs using bather numbers use per patron was generally lower in mixed-use aquatic Rating KPI centres incorporating sports Best practice <20 L/bather facilities. This supports findings from previous water Good 20-40 L/bather and energy audits, which Fair 40-60 L/bather show fitness and sporting facility patrons use little Poor >60 L/bather water, compared to what is needed for each swimming Mixed-use centres where bather numbers are not recorded pool patron to support the separately have a lower KPI to reflect the lower water use of pool functions. non-swimming patrons. KPIs for mixed-use centres are in Table 2. Two sets of KPIs were Table 2 – Aquatic centre KPIs using patron numbers developed to reflect the differences between these Rating KPI types of centres. The first set of KPIs (Table 1) is for single Best practice <10 L/patron use aquatic centres where Good 10-25 L/patron all patrons are swimming patrons (bathers) or for Fair 25-40 L/patron mixed-use centres that record Poor >40 L/patron bather numbers separately from other patrons. In 2008, Sydney Water identified energy use KPI’s from ten water and energy audits carried out at aquatic centres in Sydney. Aquatic centres that performed the best were using less than: • 20 MJ/patron • 2 GJ/m² heated pool area/year.

12 1 1 Chapter 3 – The link between water and energy

Chapter 3 The link between water and energy

The cost of energy (gas and electricity) and water will continue to rise. Aquatic centre managers and pool operators must understand the link between energy and water. By using water efficiently, energy savings can also be made, saving a lot of money.

Water and energy use ‘Many energy and water saving measures Sydney Water conducted detailed water and energy audits of ten aquatic centres in the Sydney metropolitan area. Figures 2 are interdependent. and 3 below show the typical breakdown of water and energy Given the relative use at these centres. high cost of energy, this usually makes such conservation 4% Other (including kiosk) 2% Urinals measures a compelling 6% Toilets 3% Cleaning investment. ’ 7% Basins Robert Quinn, National 36% Make-up Project Consultants. (including backwash)

20% Showers

22% Leaks

Figure 2 – Water use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre

2% Other 7% HVAC 3% Lighting 6% Hot water

18% Pool equipment 64% Pool heating

Figure 3 – Energy use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre

14 Chapter 3 – The link between water and energy 1

Energy use is directly related By focusing on the following • Reducing water use in: to water use when used for: areas, the easiest savings can −− amenities be made: • pool heating (64%) −− kitchens and kiosks • pool equipment (18%) • Locating and fixing leaks −− water features • hot water systems (6%). • Optimising filter backwash −− landscaped areas procedures Indirectly, the pool hall heating −− cleaning practices. • Managing pool water and ventilation system These areas are discussed quality affects water use through in parts two and three evaporation, so optimising • Reducing evaporative loss of these guidelines. these systems can save valuable water and energy.

By using water efficiently in aquatic centres, energy savings can also be made

15 1 Chapter 4 – The true cost of water

Chapter 4 The true cost of water

The real cost of water to a equipment and the specific Water charges business is more than the chemical regime of the pool. water meter charges. If you These additional charges Sydney Water applies use less water, you directly are for: the following charges to pay less in water, wastewater customers connected to the and trade wastewater • energy use water supply: charges. Indirectly, you use • chemical use. • Service charges less energy to pump and heat In addition to water and • Water use charges water and chemicals to treat wastewater charges, energy • Wastewater use charges the water. This allows you to is used to pump and heat • Trade wastewater charges save energy and chemicals. pool water, and chemicals are For the latest charges visit The audits done of Sydney used to treat the water. Losses sydneywater.com.au aquatic centres in 2008, of water from the pool, due to showed pool water can cost leaks or inefficient practices, Service charges between $7 and $11 a kilolitre can incur extra costs to the (2006-07 pricing), once other business. By including energy These include meter service costs are taken into account. and chemical treatment costs charges for your drinking Figure 4 shows the additional in your calculations, you can water or wastewater system aspects of water use that may assess more accurately the connection. affect the cost to a business in true cost of your pool water. Water and wastewater service an aquatic centre. Additional By carefully calculating the charges are based on the size charges related to water true cost of your water, of your water meter. If you use in pools depend on the you can use cost savings reduce water use, investigate specific heating and pumping associated with saving resizing your meter to reduce equipment used, the type water to accurately calculate water and wastewater charges. of energy used to power payback periods. If you are planning to connect to alternative water sources like recycled water or sewer mining, look at reducing the size of your water meter. Water use charges However, you should consider any future plans for additional buildings or extensions that Wastewater charges might increase water use. If you need to resize your Energy use charges – heating and pumping meter, call Sydney Water on 13 20 92 or consult your Business Customer Services Chemical use and other charges representative.

Figure 4 – The real cost of water to aquatic centres is more than water use charges

16 Chapter 4 – The true cost of water 1

Water use charges (2010–11 pricing) to reflect Most aquatic centres have the costs of treating and a SUDF of 70–95%. This is These include charges for the managing wastewater. based on the amount of water amount of drinking water supplied that is eventually Unless the volume of you use. The cost of water has discharged to the sewer. almost doubled over the last wastewater is directly five years (Figure 5). metered, Sydney Water uses Trade wastewater a sewerage usage discharge Sydney Water charges factor (SUDF) to calculate the charges customers $2.012 for every amount of wastewater you Cafés and kitchens can kilolitre (kL) of water used dispose of to the wastewater discharge trade wastewater, (2010-11). Water prices system. The SUDF is the including greasy or oily wastes. will continue to rise. The ratio of water going out They may be required to have Independent Pricing and of your business through a grease arrestor and are Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) the wastewater system, charged a trade wastewater has approved price rises for compared to water coming quality charge by Sydney Sydney Water until 2011-12. in from Sydney Water water Water to cover the extra costs Wastewater mains. Your SUDF depends of treating this wastewater. on your business type and the Visit sydneywater.com.au use charges equipment you have installed. or call 13 20 92 to speak with This includes charges a Business Customer Services The SUDF includes all for being connected to representative about trade discharge to the wastewater the wastewater system. wastewater charges. system including liquid trade Wastewater (Sewerage) waste and wastewater and, Submetering trade wastewater use charges apply to all in some cases, first flush discharges enables you to non-residential properties. stormwater from open areas. better assess your trade Businesses that discharge SUDF is the ratio of the wastewater amounts and more than 500 kL of estimated volume discharged may help you reduce your wastewater a year, or 1.37 kL into the wastewater system trade wastewater charges. a day, are charged $1.45/kL to the total water used.

Water use charges $2.50

$2.00

$1.50

Charge ($) Charge $1.00

$0.50

$0.00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06* 2006-07* 2007-08* 2008-09* 2009-10 2010-11 Year

*indicates tier 2 pricing (water use is greater than 1,096 litres each day) Figure 5 – Water use charges ($/kL) from 1997 to 2012. The cost of water has almost doubled over the past five years

17 1 Chapter 4 – The true cost of water 1

Sydney Water’s ‘Wastesafe’ is processed at a Wastesafe and gas costs associated with system ensures grease arrestor depot. Find a full list of water pool equipment and heating waste from all customers with and wastewater charges at swimming pool water. After a trade waste agreement is sydneywater.com.au you have determined the safely collected, transported yearly costs of electricity and and disposed of. Grease Energy costs gas, divide it by the number arrestor contractors bill A technical water and energy of kilolitres used in the pool customers for collecting and audit helps you identify what make-up each year. This figure transporting grease arrestor proportion of total water is your energy cost for each waste. Sydney Water bills used at the centre is for pool kilolitre of pool water. customers directly when waste make-up, and the electricity By working out how much electricity and gas you use,

you can calculate the CO2 Case study emissions associated with Calculating water, wastewater usage and trade waste charges each, and the overall CO2 emissions. Including emission An aquatic centre with a 50 mm water meter using 60 kL reductions in a business case of water a day has a calculated SUDF of 90%. Its café serves for water efficiency helps hot food and is subject to a trade waste quality charge of support the proposal. $1.23/kL. The café discharges 2.5 kL a day through the As a general rule, the grease arrestor (volume 700 L) that is pumped out quarterly. greenhouse gas emissions Water charges from electricity and natural gas are: Water cost 60 kL x $2.012/kL = $120.72 a day or $44,062.80 a year • natural gas (NSW direct Wastewater charge ((60 kL – 1.37 kL) x .90) x $1.45 source emission factor) = $79.57 a day or $29,041.67 a year – 51.7 kg GHG/GJ Water service charge (based on 50 mm meter size) • electricity (NSW full fuel of $195.70 a quarter or $782.80 a year. cycle emission factor) – 0.985 kg GHG/kWh Wastewater service charge (based on 50 mm meter size = 273.6 kg GHG/GJ x SUDF) of $808.14 a quarter or $3,232.56 a year Total = $77,119.83 a year Chemical treatment and maintenance costs Trade waste charges Calculate the cost of chemicals Trade waste quality charge 2.5 kL x $0.624 for treating pool water and = $1.56 a day or $569.40 a year the cost of maintaining pool Wastesafe (grease arrestor) processing fee 700 L x 4 x $0.136 equipment during the year. = $380.80 a year After you determine the yearly Trade waste quarterly permit fee of $20.24 costs of chemical treatment = $80.96 a year and maintenance, divide it by Total = $1,031.16 a year the number of kilolitres used in pool make-up each year. Total water and trade waste charges This figure is your chemical = $78,150.99 a year or $3.57/kL and maintenance cost for each kilolitre of pool water.

Image left – By including energy and chemical costs and wastewater charges, you can more accurately assess the true cost of your pool water

19 1 Chapter 5 – Management tools

Chapter 5 Management tools

Managing water efficiently means there are processes in place, which continually improve. This includes having effective communication, keeping good records, ensuring staff are trained, engaged and accountable, and having processes in place to make good decisions. These affect the flexibility and efficiency of your business.

Sydney Water’s business customer program Qualitative approaches to water shows improved water management is the management include: key to sustainable water efficiency. Without • leading and demonstrating corporate effective water management, technical commitment improvements can only deliver short-term gains in water efficiency. • understanding water use performance and savings opportunities Water management assessment • using water use targets and KPIs to To help companies achieve better measure performance long-term resource management, Sydney • making people responsible and Water runs management assessment accountable for water management for business customers. A management • improving operations and maintenance assessment helps you better understand how practices to improve water and energy management • managing supply and legal compliance in your business. • incorporating the true cost of water into A management assessment is not an audit. financial management practices It is a self-managed tool that provides • using technology to drive innovation you with actions to continually improve • your resources management. It analyses measuring, verifying and reporting qualitative or non-technical measures, which regularly. all businesses must address to manage water Our experience shows that the businesses that effectively. perform best in this assessment process are able to sustain water savings over the long term.

20 Chapter 5 – Management tools 1

The 7-point plan 2. Appoint a water manager 3. Understand how you manage water and energy for holistic water The aquatic centre manager management is the best champion to drive Conduct your own water audit efficiency in your aquatic (Chapter 7) or contact Sydney The Sydney Water 7-point centre. They are responsible Water’s Business Customer plan provides a useful for managing budgets and Services team for assistance. framework for aquatic achieving savings. centres to develop a resource Determine where, how and management plan to Organisations that appoint when water is used in your structure and prioritise their a person to manage water aquatic centre. Audit water water management. achieve the best results. use and develop a total water The person must have balance for your site. Include 1. Seek commitment and dedicated responsibility all water entering and leaving leadership from senior for water management, the site, including wastewater management although this does not and evaporation. need to be their only task. Your council general manager Complete a fixtures and or aquatic centre manager Make sure your council’s equipment survey so you know must commit to achieving sustainability officer engages exactly what equipment you sustainable and efficient with the aquatic centre water have and how much water it use of water and energy, manager to share plans and uses. This will help you identify in writing. objectives of any projects. inefficient equipment and Commitment and opportunities to save, and to leadership from senior quantify the additional costs management is essential to of water, including energy and ensure a successful water chemical treatment costs. management program. To achieve real results, managers must take the lead in water efficiency and set an example for their staff. Managers must encourage changes in business processes and behaviours to achieve sustainable water savings. A good example is to ask purchasing officers or staff to consider all costs over the life of equipment before buying. When taking into account maintenance, water and energy costs over the life of the item, the lowest priced unit may not always be the cheapest.

Some of the simplest ideas for saving water are often the most cost effective

21 1 Chapter 5 – Management tools

4. Identify opportunities 6. Develop a water efficiency 7. Involve staff and customers to improve water efficiency strategy Behavioural change of Some of the simplest ideas A water efficiency strategy staff and customers will for saving water are often the should work through the ensure water savings are most cost-effective, so don’t be following principles in order: maintained. Include water afraid to think laterally. Water and energy management Avoid efficiency is not just about practices in your staff large-scale technical solutions. Avoid using water where inductions and training to Small changes can make a big possible. Repairing leaks clearly identify their roles and difference. Ensure all staff have is the most cost effective responsibilities. Highlight the opportunity to contribute way to minimise water use. achievements and savings. water saving ideas. Retrofitting or upgrading Think of innovative ways to amenities or pool filters also 5. Set a realistic goal engage staff and customers avoids unnecessary water use. in water efficiency. Ensure It is important to have Reduce they can offer ideas and realistic efficiency targets so take part in water efficiency everyone can measure the Where water use can’t be initiatives to increase their gains. Aquatic centres that avoided, reduce the amount impact. Increase staff and conduct a water audit can being used. Reduce the flow customer water efficiency typically set savings targets through taps and add spray awareness and understanding of 20% or more. Benchmark nozzles to the end of hoses. through management against KPIs such as litres Replace inefficient amenities reporting, posters on bulletin for each bather or patron. with new, efficient models. boards, and newsletters. (See Chapter 2 for more Re-use information about KPIs Competitions can also be in aquatic centres.) If you cannot reduce the a good way to increase amount of water being used, awareness. Consider engaging try to use it more than once. your customers, or making Some aquatic centres treat use of national events such and re-use filter backwash as National Water Week water for pool make-up or (www.nationalwaterweek.org.au) irrigation. to promote water efficiency. Recycle Recycling water is an alternative where health guidelines allow. For example, treated recycled water cannot be used in swimming pools, but may be used for irrigation or toilet flushing. When you consider a water efficiency strategy, assess the impact of water efficiency on energy use and trade waste compliance (see Part 1 Chapter 4 and Part 5).

22 Chapter 6 – Monitoring water use 1

Chapter 6 Monitoring water use

Monitoring your water and energy use regularly is the key to maintaining an efficient aquatic centre. It is impossible to save water if you don’t know how much you are using, and where and when it is being used. Monitoring water use helps you understand your water use patterns and identify leaks that could otherwise remain undetected, costing you unnecessary water, energy and wastewater charges.

There are four main ways you Manual meter reading little or no activity overnight, can monitor your water use: you may have a leak. Leaking Sydney Water reads business amenities and faulty float 1. Manual meter reading water meters monthly or valves commonly cause 2. Using Sydney Water’s quarterly. However, it is better overnight flow. EDC Online you read your own water How to read your meter 3. Using a monitoring system meter, preferably daily as part of your routine maintenance 4. Using your building Most water meters have program. management system (BMS). a series of numbers. The numbers measure the amount To get more detailed To check if your aquatic of water used in kilolitres and information from your centre has leaks, read your litres. The numbers in black monitoring, you can install meter at the close and start measure kilolitres (thousands submeters on key water-using of the business day. If there of litres) and the red numbers equipment. is a difference between the two readings and there was measure fractions of a kilolitre.

Read your water meter as part of your routine maintenance program

23 1 Chapter 6 – Monitoring water use

Standard water meters may have a series of six, seven or eight numbers. Examples of how to read these meters are given in Figure 6.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Black numbers measure kilolitres (kL), thousands of litres. Red numbers measure fractions of kilolitres. The above example totals 12,345.678 kilolitres. Or

12,345 kilolitres and 678 litres

Figure 6 – How to read a standard water meter

Larger water meters may break down water use even further by using dials as well as a series of numbers. One example of how to read a larger water meter is shown in Figure 7. If your water meter is different and you are having trouble reading it, contact the meter manufacturer for detailed meter reading instructions.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0.009 0.001 1 kilolitre or 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1000 litres 0.008 kL 0.002 100 litres

10 litres

0.007 0.003 Each revolution around the dial face is 10 litres Each major graduation on the dial face is 0.001 kL or 1 litre Each minor graduation on the dial face is 0.0001 kL or 0.1 litre 0.006 0.004 0.005 The example totals 12,345.6714 kilolitres or 12,345 kilolitres and 671.4 litres

Figure 7 – How to read a larger water meter

24 Chapter 6 – Monitoring water use 1

EDC Online EDC (Every Drop Counts) Online is a secure website to help Sydney Water business customers track, report and organise their water information. It can help you: • set priorities for water management • track water use after projects have been implemented • monitor water use • set KPIs and targets. Key features include: • up-to-date water use data for business customers (based on billing frequency) • automated graphic reports to help you interpret trends in water use for all sites, each individual site and each billing meter • ability to produce water use figures benchmarked against business specific KPIs • access to meter reading data that can be downloaded for analysis • a location for your important water management documents. Register for EDC Online at sydneywater.com.au

Customised EDC online water use reports. These automated graphic reports help you interpret water use trends

25 1 Chapter 6 – Monitoring water use

Monitoring systems Installing an automatic monitoring system is more efficient than manual meter reading for monitoring water use and can monitor multiple submeters. Data loggers fitted to your water meters can store and transmit information on water use. There are two types of monitoring systems – offline and online. Offline monitoring systems are affordable, collect valuable data and are easy to use. They involve connecting a data logger to a water meter, which emits pulses. Pulse emitting water meters emit an electronic or magnetic pulse every time a set volume of water (1 litre, 10 litres) passes through it. The logger records the number of pulses in a given period (5-15 min). Water use is calculated from the number of pulses and the given pulse volume for

a particular water meter. Data loggers can be easily installed and used

Water use graphic summary – total water used each day 70000 Water use (L) 60000 50000 40000 30000

Water use (L) Water 20000 10000 0 16/08/08 17/08/08 18/08/08 19/08/08 20/08/08 21/08/08 22/08/08 23/08/08 24/08/08 25/08/08 26/08/08 27/08/08 28/08/08 29/08/08 30/08/08 31/08/08 01/09/08 02/09/08 03/09/08 04/09/08 05/09/08 06/09/08 07/09/08 08/09/08 09/09/08 10/09/08 11/09/08 Date

Figure 8 – A typical graph of water use information from a data logger

26 Chapter 6 – Monitoring water use 1

The data from the logger system, and a smaller yearly through quick detection of should be downloaded every service charge. The cost leaks, provided they are repaired 15 days and analysed. Check increases with the number quickly. In aquatic centres these that the supplier of your data of submeters monitored and systems can help in water use logger provides software and effectiveness of transmission. reporting and can report KPIs instructions to download and and targets. Quality monitoring The costs to install and operate interpret the information. can also be linked to water continuous online monitoring Data loggers can easily be monitoring to provide a holistic are generally offset by savings installed and used. overview of centre performance. in water and energy costs Online monitoring systems can transmit water use data so it does not have to be downloaded. Like the offline data loggers, they can be installed on pulse emitting water meters and submeters. They operate similarly to the offline systems but transmit data to a website where it is automatically interpreted and displayed in real time. These systems provide alarms and SMS or email alerts if there are dramatic changes in water use or base flow indicating leaks. To establish an online monitoring system for your aquatic centre, you pay an upfront cost to set up the By attaching a data transmitter to a water meter, you can send data to a website

By viewing your monitoring data online, you can see and interpret real time information

27 1 Chapter 6 – Monitoring water use

Use your building • reducing energy and Priority 2 – Amenities chemical use by preventing management system Toilets, urinals and showers unnecessary water can use large amounts of You can use your existing heating, pumping and water, depending on bather building management system treatment. numbers. Monitoring (BMS) to continually monitor amenities identifies leaks water use. Talk to your Install submeters and measures the success current BMS supplier about To get the most out of your of improved maintenance connecting water meters to monitoring program, you and cleaning procedures. your BMS. The cost to upgrade must install and monitor your system depends on the submeters at key points in Priority 3 – Outdoor areas complexity of your hydraulics your centre. Submeters help Monitor the water supply and centre layout. you understand where and to your irrigation system Your BMS enables you to when water is being used. and water features. They may combine the monitoring of With this information, you not be a large part of your water, gas and electricity into can set the priorities for aquatic centre’s water use, a single system. This gives you water efficiency actions. but outside leaks can be a snapshot of current use, You can prioritise submeters easily missed. which you can compare to in your aquatic centre: Priority 4 – Kitchens historical trends. Priority 1 – Swimming pools and kiosks Analyse water use Monitor the water added to Examining water use in kiosks information pools to make-up for losses helps you identify leaks and inefficient practices. Regularly monitoring your from leaks, splash-out, water use helps you manage overflow and evaporation. water more efficiently. This helps to detect leaks or Graphing your water use faulty float valves that might data gives you a simple be causing constant refilling representation of how much of the pool. It also identifies water you are using and unnecessary manual pool where you are using it. This refilling by staff. makes it easier to identify patterns and changes. This means saving money by: • spotting discrepancies in water use so you can quickly respond to leaks and equipment malfunctions • collecting meaningful data on water use to justify water efficiency projects • comparing energy and water use against KPIs

for the centre or specific You can use your existing Building Management System to monitor water use sections of the centre by connecting your water meters

Image right – By tracking water use you can improve your performance

28 1 1 Chapter 7 – Water efficiency audits

Chapter 7 Water efficiency audits

A water efficiency audit helps • identify water and energy Follow the procedures you determine priorities for efficiency opportunities, in Table 3 to complete water efficiency projects. including water re-use a comprehensive water This is vital information for • develop water benchmarks efficiency audit of your centre. any business case for water and targets. efficiency projects. Business Customer Services Key objectives of a water offers subsidised water efficiency audit are to: efficiency audits to business • identify water use patterns customers who use more than 80,000 litres a day. You • understand the water can do a water efficiency supply system check yourself or hire a • identify deficiencies in the consultant to do a more system, including leaks detailed study. and waste

Table 3 – Checklist for water efficiency audits

Audit stage Procedures Planning and research • Graph your historical water use. Is water use constant? Are there seasonal peaks? Can you explain any large peaks and troughs? If the graph is erratic, it may mean lots of leaks and poorly managed water use practices. What was the lowest monthly use and why? • Locate up-to-date hydraulic plans that identify water, wastewater and stormwater reticulation pipe networks. • List your water-using equipment. How old is the equipment and what is its expected water use? Do you have maintenance manuals? Is equipment being operated and maintained following the manufacturer’s recommendations? Is more efficient equipment available? • Identify existing submeters and determine locations for new submeters. • Inspect access to the water pipe network, water services, existing meters, submeters and tanks. Can you inspect pipes? Can you read the meters easily? • Think about your water efficiency priorities. Do you want to save water to cut costs, boost community approval, improve facilities, or meet environmental standards?

30 Chapter 7 – Water efficiency audits 1

Audit stage Procedures Collect and do • If the centre is closed overnight, take meter readings to identify if there are flows when facilities are not being used. • Install logging equipment on meters and submeters. • Audit amenities and fixtures. Do flow tests to determine flow rates (use a bucket and a stop watch or a special flow cup) and identify inefficient water fixtures. What is the flow from taps and showers? How many single flush toilets do you have? Do you have cyclic flushing urinals? Are sensors for urinal flushes operating effectively? Do you notice any leaks? • Review infrastructure. What is the opportunity for rainwater re-use? • Is there an upcoming project where underground storage can be incorporated? • Do all downpipes feed to a few points so rainwater can be easily collected? Is stormwater collection an option? Are storage locations close to their point of use? Review your operations • Review cleaning and staff practices. Do staff use hoses or pressure equipment to wash down areas? Do kitchen staff turn off taps? Do cleaners report leaking equipment? • Review equipment that operates automatically. Ensure cooling and heating systems are not competing. Make sure your pool filter is running to specification. Refer to Part 2 for tips on how to do this. • Review water use outside the centre. Is vandalism a problem with taps being turned on? What are grounds staff and contractors’ watering practices? How do they decide when to water? • Check water-using equipment to make sure it still operates efficiently. Measure the water issue of equipment to see if it still meets the manufacturer’s specifications. How does it compare to best practice? Calculate • Develop benchmarks for water use and compare them to your targets or industry best practice. • Calculate how much water is costing for supply, discharge, treatment, pumping and heating. • Calculate hot water costs. • Calculate possible water savings and likely cost savings incorporating all costs. Action plan • Develop a ‘water balance’. What uses the most water? • Identify your best water efficiency opportunities and prioritise them by simple payback or internal rate of return calculations. • Review water re-use or recycling opportunities.

31 1 Chapter 8 - Water balance 1

Chapter 8 Water balance

A water balance is a measure are installed, you can develop as well as any water features. of how much water is an accurate water balance. Remember to include entering and leaving your Develop a water use swimming pool water losses aquatic centre. Working out a balance using information from evaporation and splash- water balance for your centre from regularly monitored out. Graph this information will also help you understand submeters. The best way to in a pie chart to show where water is being used. show water use is to draw a how much water is used Figure 9 is a hydraulic diagram of your water system. in different parts of the diagram of an aquatic centre. The diagram should include centre and discharged to It shows where water is used swimming pools, amenities, the wastewater system. in a centre. Once submeters irrigation systems and kiosks,

Evaporation Sydney Water master water meter

Backflow prevention Splash containment device out Swimming Filter Balance pool tank

H W For pool make-up

For filter backwashing

Patron amenities Backwash holding Irrigation / cleaning tank Kiosk G A

To sewer To sewer

Submeter H W Hot water system G A Grease arrestor

Figure 9 – Aquatic centre hydraulic diagram. Once you have calculated and graphed your water balance, it is easier to identify and prioritise your best opportunities to save water

33 1 Chapter 9 – Action plans

Chapter 9 Action plans

Once you have measured your heating and ventilation Develop a resource and compared your centre’s system, reduce evaporation management plan water use to best practice in your pool and prevent benchmarks, develop an corrosion of internal pool hall A resource management action plan. The action plan components. This reduces plan is important to ensure will prioritise your water water loss and saves on water ongoing, sustainable use efficiency projects and any and energy bills. of resources, such as water, financial investment. Some energy and staff. It also Think of other things you factors to consider when allows you to assign resource can do in your centre that prioritising projects include: responsibilities, plan projects may indirectly reduce water and manage disruptions and • funding availability use, such as capturing and business risk. • water and energy savings re-using condensate from boilers. Reducing water use The following should be • cost saving can also save on chemical use, included in your resource • health requirement chemical treatment costs and management plan: • compliance and legal cleaning operations. • Baseline water requirements and energy use • customer and tenant Review your progress • Water and energy demand Regularly reviewing your saving targets • technical requirements water efficiency progress • Resources and and the abilities of means you can report on: responsibilities your team • how much water you • Training • whether they are have saved achievable. • Water and energy • how your water savings saving projects By understanding your have affected your KPIs • Budgets and timeframes priorities, you can develop • the costs and benefits a water efficiency plan of your actions • Risks with clear objectives and • the success and challenges • Monitoring and reporting achievable targets. of implementing water • Quality compliance Formal processes for setting efficiency projects. requirements action plans are a key part Reviews help you re-focus • Backwash schedules of best practice water and prioritise water efficiency • Maintenance schedules management. projects. It is important to The resource plan needs to Think laterally approach water efficiency in be reviewed yearly to track a simple and systematic way. progress towards achieving In aquatic centres, energy Continual improvement is a goals and to prioritise projects. and water use are linked. key element of best practice By using simple measures water management. to maintain temperature and humidity within your centre, you can reduce the load on

34 Chapter 10 – Managing staff and contractors 1

Chapter 10 Managing staff and contractors

Some council aquatic centres • hold yearly water and are managed by an external energy assessments at facilities management your aquatic centre to organisation. This can cause inform and align aquatic problems, such as operators: centre managers with your council’s sustainability • not understanding or objectives. Create a complying with the management plan council’s sustainability together and involve your objectives Sydney Water Business • not understanding or Customer Services sharing water or energy representative responsibilities • include targets, KPIs and • not being held accountable key responsibilities in job for water or energy use descriptions or contracts and costs. to hold aquatic centre To improve the sustainability facility managers performance of council accountable for water aquatic centres, managed and energy use or costs both in house and externally: • hold aquatic centre • develop and drive the managers or external resource management facility management plan with your aquatic organisations accountable centre facility manager for assigned water and • ensure your lease energy KPIs and targets arrangement clearly at performance reviews states responsibilities and • consider a lease performance targets for arrangement based

water and energy on efficiency and CO2 • have formal monthly or emission performance. quarterly meetings with agenda and minutes to check on facility sustainability performance and address issues

35 1 Chapter 11 – Justifying water efficiency projects

Chapter 11 Justifying water efficiency projects

Once all these costs have Responding to future Understanding the been quantified, you may cost increases needs and values need to develop a business case to justify water efficiency Over the last five years, the of your community projects identified from cost of water has almost A proactive approach water efficiency audits and doubled. As water and fuel to water efficiency will water management plans. become scarcer, the cost of show your centre shares By carefully calculating the water and energy is likely community expectations true cost of your water, cost to increase more rapidly. about the environment. savings associated with By becoming water efficient Audits by Sydney Water show water efficiency can be now, businesses are better many aquatic centres can used to accurately calculate prepared for and more resilient implement water efficiency payback periods. to these cost increases. projects that will pay for Other factors to help support To reflect increasing water themselves in less than your business case include: prices, consider incorporating two years. Managing water a 10% increase into your better, simple retrofitting, • responding to future calculations of future water and capturing and re-using energy and water cost charges where these are not rainwater have achieved increases available. This will show how water savings. • understanding the making water savings now Certain issues within some needs and values of your is more cost effective than communities may be more community. waiting until charges go up. important than in others. Your community may prioritise energy savings over water savings or may be more interested in reducing costs or improving services at a facility. It may be helpful to frame your business case from a different perspective to secure community support or external funding, such as focusing on the cost reduction or energy savings of a project.

36 Chapter 12 – Sustainability and funding opportunities 1

Chapter 12 Sustainability and funding opportunities

Calculating the true cost of fund – the revolving fund. Useful references water can help build a strong These funds are then business case for making your used to undertake further Australian Leisure Facilities centre more efficient. A general sustainability projects that Association (ALFA) 2010, rule for prioritising water will also attract revenue for About Us, efficiency projects is: avoid, the revolving fund through www.alfaleisure. reduce, re-use and recycle. further savings. org.au/default. asp?PageID=10&n=About+Us Many water efficiency projects To make the revolving fund are more cost effective work, it is important to only Commonwealth of Australia, than first expected if water, fund the most cost effective National Greenhouse wastewater discharge and sustainability projects with and Energy Reporting other operating costs are the shortest payback periods (Measurement) Determination considered. The most effective first. This ensures the fund 2008 (Schedule 1), water efficiency projects have is sustainable. Talk with your http://www.austlii.edu.au/ short paybacks (from several finance section to develop a au/legis/cth/consol_reg/ months to three years), making revolving fund. ngaerr2008512/s1.03.html them excellent candidates for Commonwealth of Australia, internal funding approval. Environmental levies National Greenhouse Sometimes it can be difficult An environmental levy is and Energy Reporting internally to fund more an additional fee on top (Measurement) Amendment expensive or technically of property rates, charged Determination 2009 (No.1), advanced water efficiency to residents in a council http://www.comlaw.gov. projects. If you need financial area. The additional money au/ComLaw/Legislation/ support for water efficiency generated from the levy LegislativeInstrument1.ns projects, there are funding is used to fund resource f/0/778FB0F2BBACC03EC programs available. Some of efficiency projects and A2575E1000B8E44/$file/ these are listed below. improve the natural F2009L02571.pdf environment in the local The Aquatic and Recreation Revolving funds for government area. Institute NSW (ARI NSW) 2010, water and energy If you are thinking of Creating healthy and Active efficiency including an environmental Communities, levy in council rates, consider http://www.aquaticinstitute. Internal funding for getting the community com.au/images/downloads/ sustainability projects can be involved. Letting residents ari_advocacy.pdf secured by using a revolving have a say in what projects fund. Monetary savings are funded by the levy made by implementing reduces opposition to the sustainability projects are extra charge. deposited into a designated

Part 2

Leaks and swimming pool operation Part 2 of Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres is aimed at facility and aquatic centre managers and swimming pool operators. It describes practical steps you can take to reduce leaks and improve pool-operating practices to reduce water and energy use. 2 Introduction

Introduction

Most of the water and energy used in an aquatic centre relates to leaks and swimming pool operation. Figures 10 and 11 (also shown in Part 1) show the water and energy use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre. Twenty-two per cent of water is wasted through leaks. Thirty-six per cent of water is used in pool make-up and includes water used for backwashing filters. Wasting water through leaks and poor pool operation also wastes the energy used to heat and pump the water.

4% Other (including kiosk) 2% Urinals

6% Toilets 3% Cleaning

7% Basins

36% Make-up (including backwash)

20% Showers

22% Leaks

Figure 10 – Water use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre. Most water is used in pool make-up or wasted through leaks.

2% Other 7% HVAC 3% Lighting 6% Hot water

18% Pool equipment 64% Pool heating

Figure 11 – Energy use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre. Wasting water through leaks or pool operations also wastes the energy used for pool heating.

40 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows 2

Chapter 13 Leaks and base flows

Water use profile (Site 1) 8.0 7.0 Notice water use between 10 pm 6.0 and 5 am the 5.0 following morning is 4.0 steady but never 3.0 returns to zero. This is base flow. 2.0

Water use (L/min) Water 1.0 0.0 15/9/08 16/9/08 16/9/08 17/9/08 17/9/08 18/9/08 18/9/08 12:00 0:00 12:00 0:00 12:00 0:00 12:00 Date/Time

Figure 12 – Site water use monitoring profile indicating a base flow. On average 22% is wasted through leaks and base flow

Aquatic centres in Sydney faulty pool equipment, Ask your customers and waste an average 22% of leaking amenities or staff, including cleaners and total water use through leaks amenities left on. contractors, to formally report and base flows. leaks. This is an easy way to Figure 12 shows a site water ensure leaks are identified, Leaks are visible or hidden use monitoring profile reported and repaired quickly. and occur when water is where a base flow has been lost through cracks or faulty identified. The monitoring One leaking tap can waste up components in the plumbing time line helps to narrow to 221,000 litres a year. For an system. Leaks are either static down the cause of the base aquatic centre with multiple or pressure. flow. The flow never returns leaking taps, this could be to zero – even overnight very costly. • Static leaks have a when the site is closed and constant loss of water. Leaks from hot water no equipment is being used. • Pressure leaks are caused sources (showers, basins and by a pressurised system Visible leaks kitchens) can cost thousands when the system is of dollars a year in water and Visible leaks in aquatic operating. energy. These costs include centres can occur in: the cost of the metered Base flow is overnight or • toilets water, wastewater discharge, unaccounted for water use • urinals trade wastewater charges identified by monitoring. (if applicable), and energy. • showers In aquatic centres a base flow may occur from normal • kitchen sinks and operation of cooling towers dishwashers or pool make-up. If a base • leaking pipes in the flow is unaccounted for, it plant room. could be a concealed leak,

41 2 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows

Hidden leaks Pool structure Pool and balance tank shells Some leaks are not visible Common indicators of leaks Areas of rust sometimes and hard to detect. Most in the pool and balance tank indicate leaking structures. aquatic centres have complex structure include: Loose or missing pool tiles or underground plumbing missing tile grout are also an • cracks in the pool or networks that make it hard indicator of leaks. Inspect and balance tank shell or to identify, locate and repair repair missing tiles and grout visible structural damage hidden leaks. Figure 13 shows regularly. • rust staining on pool shell the circulation system of a Expansion joints typical commercial pool. In walls, around light fittings many cases, underground or inside gutters Large pool shells require leaks can drain into the • loose pool tiles, dislodged expansion joints to connect wastewater system, and missing grout. the pool shell and pool circulation system. These may stormwater systems or Structural damage can occur nearby creeks. fail at certain points causing when the pool is emptied and large leaks. Rust and loose In the pool circulation re-filled, when changes in tiles around expansion joints system, leaks can occur in temperature cause the pool indicate leaks. Inspect and the pool structure or the shell and joints to expand maintain expansion joints pool circulation plumbing and contract, and when there regularly. See the case study and equipment. A cracked is ground movement. These opposite. pool shell or split pool water can put pressure on the pool supply line can lose millions shell and joints, causing them of litres of water a year. to crack.

Suction lines

Return gutter

Submeter

Balance tank Drinking water (for pool make-up) Drains Pool

Pump motor Pump Return lines

Filter Treatment Heating To sewer Backwash system system system water holding tank

Figure 13 – Circulation system of a typical commercial pool

42 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows 2

Case study Swimming pool tile repair

Staff at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) in Albert Park, Victoria, inspect and replace the tiles in their swimming pool each fortnight. MSAC uses scuba divers to carry out tile maintenance rather than empty the 75 metre pool. This means the pool can stay open during maintenance, causing minimal disruption to business. South East Water in Melbourne reports that emptying the pool for repairs would waste up to 5 million litres of water. The risk of structural cracks from external pressure on the pool shell is also reduced.

Case study Leaking expansion joint

An Olympic pool audited by Sydney Water had a leak of 70 kL/day in the top half of the shell. The cause of the leak was failure of waterproofing in the shell wall expansion joint as evidenced by falling tiles.

Normal pool level

Marks indicating 80 mm Stabilised Missing water loss each day water level tiles

43 2 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows

Recessed pool lights and Pool gutters and skimmers Older, recessed gutter areas other fittings and skimmer boxes are Both gutters and skimmer difficult to inspect. Cracks Leaks in these areas can also boxes are made from steel in the shell can corrode be indicated by rust. You can reinforced concrete and run steel reinforcing. Rust stains test for leaks by applying dye along the pool perimeter to around joins or cracks can around the outside of fittings collect and feed water back indicate leaks. and suspected cracks. Leaks to the balance tank to supply are revealed when the dye the circulation pump suction disappears out of the pool line. Modern pools use more through the fitting or crack. accessible deck-level gutters.

Modern pools use more accessible Below deck, recessed gutter made from steel reinforced concrete deck-level gutters

Rust stain on a concrete skimmer box shows corrosion in the steel reinforcing, indicating a leak

44 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows 2

Pool circulation Locating leaks Pool shell, balance tank and/or pipe systems plumbing and To confirm if you have a leak equipment in the pool shell or circulation Repeat the bucket test with plumbing, conduct the the pool pumps turned off. Common indicators of leaks following test. Also mark the water level in in the pool circulation and the balance tank at the start plumbing equipment include: The bucket test of the test. If the loss from the • puddles under or around Turn off the make-up water pool is exactly the same as in equipment in the plant supply and place a large the first test when the pumps room bucket of pool water in the were on, then the leak should • pool decking sinking pool. Make sure the water be in the pool shell. If there or lifting level inside the bucket is no pool water loss, the leak matches the water level should be in the pressurised • soggy spots around outside the bucket and mark parts of the system and/or the pool this on the bucket. Leave the the balance tank. • soggy or patchy, green circulation pumps on and grassy areas If the water level in the compare the water levels balance tank has not dropped, • steady flows in drain lines. inside and outside the bucket then the leak is most likely in These are caused by faulty: in the morning. If the water the pressurised parts of the level outside the bucket has system. If the balance tank • suction or pressure gone down by more than the level has fallen, it has a leak. return lines water level inside the bucket, But if this does not account • water treatment the pool system has a leak. for all the losses indicated equipment Once you confirm you have by the first bucket test, there • drain and backwash valves a leak, you must locate it. may be additional leaks in • faulty bleed valves Conduct the following tests the pressurised parts of the • pumps and pump glands. to find your leak. Remember – circulation system. there may be more than one. Some pump glands are If a balance tank leak is designed to leak a specific suspected, you must monitor amount of water to maintain after hours make-up water a pressure seal. You must use with the pool pumps perform regular maintenance off. This requires a make-up of the pump and gland submeter, fitted with data to prevent excessive and logging equipment. Water unnecessary water loss. You use during this period can also replace these glands indicates a leak in the balance with a mechanical seal to tank and/or possibly part stop water loss completely. of the return (suction) piping from the balance tank. You can check the return piping for leaks by isolating it at the balance tank with a valve or a temporary plug, and then observing the make-up water use after hours compared to when it was not isolated.

45 2 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows

Pressure and suction lines pipes can be buried under investment. Finding and pool decking or hidden under fixing leaks quickly can save Pressure testing is a cost or behind infrastructure. you hundreds of dollars a day. effective way to locate leaks Where sections of pipe work in pressure and return lines. are not exposed, you can use Measuring your leak Use existing isolation valves acoustic detection equipment or temporary plugs to isolate Depending on the size of your to pinpoint the location of different parts of the system. leak, you can calculate the leaks, and where to dig. If the Pressurise each isolated water and money wasted. pool water is heated, you can section – pressure drops Figure 14 shows the daily cost also use infrared detection for indicate a leak. of a water leak based on water locating underground leaks. and wastewater use charges Underground pool If you cannot locate the leaks, (2010-11). Additional costs circulation leaks contact a leak detection depend on the water treatment Leaks in the pipe work may specialist. There will be an and energy used for heating be hard to locate, because upfront cost, but it is a good and pumping the wasted water.

Daily cost of a water leak 900 90 800 80 700 70 600 60 500 50 SUDF (%) 400 40 300

Cost each day ($) each day Cost 30 200 20 100 10 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 2.25 2.5 2.75 Size of leak (L/s)

Figure 14 – By fixing leaks, you can make huge cost savings in water and wastewater use charges

46 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows 2

Case study Fixing a concealed leak at Canterbury Pool

After identifying a base flow through monitoring at Canterbury Pool, the council engaged Sydney Water to help identify its source. An initial site inspection eliminated obvious causes and there were no leaking amenities or unusual operational practices observed. A leak detection company was employed to investigate a possible concealed leak. Over a period of two days the leak location was narrowed to an area of two square metres under a concrete slab. The 2.5 L/s leak was flowing into an old decommissioned pool, which had been filled in. The repair work included excavation, capping the burst pipe and restoring the site to its original condition. Finding and fixing the leak quickly helped save the council over $600 a day in water and wastewater costs. The payback for their investment to find and fix the leak was less than one week.

47 2 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows

Managing leaks There are a number of signs that may indicate a leak: • increased water use • increased or erratic chemical use • constant supply line flows when pools are not in use • air in the pool circulation system. Use a systematic, coordinated approach to identify and locate leaks and base flows.

Table 4 – Checklist for managing leaks

Activity Systematic approach How often Check your • Compare water bills from the same period in the previous Monthly/ water bill year as well as the bill for the previous month or quarter. Quarterly • Calculate and compare your KPI of kL/patron/day against the previous month, against your target, and against other similar centres. Monitoring • Install submeters to the water supply serving swimming Daily pool balance tanks, kitchens and amenities. • Read your water meters daily or at least on the same day every week. • Read your water meters after cleaning at night and in the morning before opening. Any unexplained difference may indicate a leak. • Install offline or online monitoring equipment which will provide you with real time monitoring data (refer to Chapter 6). Visual • Conduct a routine inspection to check for visible leaks. Daily: early inspection Check all amenities, kitchens and outdoor areas and look morning or for leaking taps, showers, toilet and urinals. evening Maintenance • Conduct detailed maintenance inspections to identify Weekly inspections undetected leaks. Align these with your backwash, clean up or OHS routine. Make sure you: −− check the pool structure • Pool shell (eg expansion joints) • Pool shell fittings (eg lights) • Balance tank and float valves • Gutters −− check pool circulation plumbing and equipment • Suction and pressure (return) lines • Water treatment equipment • Drain and backwash valves • Pumps and pump glands

48 Chapter 13 – Leaks and base flows 2

Activity Systematic approach How often Contractors • Inform contractors and staff of their roles and Monthly/ and staff responsibilities. Quarterly awareness • Communicate your water efficiency KPIs to contractors and training and their staff, especially maintenance and cleaning contractors. • Ask contractors to alert you to problems as soon as possible, and to document issues in written reports. • Give maintenance staff a limited pre-approved budget so they can quickly buy equipment to make essential repairs. Planned or • Regularly replace sensor batteries, tap washers and Quarterly/ proactive other consumables before they fail. Use manufacturers’ Yearly maintenance guidelines or past experience to schedule work. This will help stop leaks and better organise budgets and work schedules.

One leaking tap can waste up to 221,000 litres of water a year

49 2 Chapter 14 – Saving water from treatment

Chapter 14 Saving water from treatment

Pool water treatment systems TDS Pool water balance and practices result in a need The need to continually add To mitigate the build up of to add fresh make-up water chemicals to pool water TDS and chloramines, some to maintain quality. However, causes build up of residual of the highly concentrated there are options that achieve salts or total dissolved solids water is discharged from the superior water quality while (TDS). TDS indicates how salty pool and the pool is topped also saving water and energy. the pool water is and can also up with fresh drinking water Water quality is arguably affect the clarity of the water. (pool make-up). This occurs the most important aspect in addition to water added Chloramines of aquatic centre operation. for pool make-up after pool Clean, clear and healthy Chloramines (combined water is used in backwashing water attracts bathers and chlorines) result when the filters. maintains bather safety. amino acids from bather Every time pool make-up is sweat and urine in the pool To ensure water is clean needed, water, heat energy water combine with residual and clear, you must filter and chemicals are needed. chlorine (free chlorine). They and disinfect it. Filters By maintaining water balance can be monochloramines, remove particles from the and understanding and dichloramines or water as it circulates through. optimising water treatment trichloramines. Chloramines However, pathogens (micro- in your centre, you will need reduce the amount of organisms) are too small to dilute pool water less often, available free chlorine for to be removed by the filter, saving water, energy and disinfection. so disinfection is required. chemicals while maintaining Chloramines are a major water quality. Disinfection problem for indoor pools. Turbidity Disinfection kills pathogens High chloramines can and prevents them from being cause eye and throat Turbidity is a measure of passed from bather to bather. irritations in bathers and the suspended material Chlorination is widely used create unpleasant odours. in the water and may to disinfect pool water. It not Chloramines also corrode cause it to look cloudy or only kills the pathogens at the handrails, ladders, exposed discoloured. The lower the time of treatment, but leaves steel structural elements and turbidity, the more effective residual chlorine (free chlorine) HVAC components. In outdoor the disinfection. Effective in the water, helping to keep pools, ultra violet light from filtration removes suspended the water free from pathogens. the sun destroys chloramines material and improves by photolysis and photo- disinfection. Chlorination is generally oxidation. achieved by adding sodium or calcium hypochlorite to the water. Some aquatic centres supplement chlorination with ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation or ozone treatment for extra protection.

50 Chapter 14 – Saving water from treatment 2

Water treatment Sodium hypochlorite Liquid sodium hypochlorite is classified as a dangerous good chemicals in Australia This is the most common Class 8 corrosive. Pools using sanitising agent. Liquid The most common types of sodium hypochlorite must sodium hypochlorite, (sodium pool disinfection used comply with occupational hypo) is delivered to the pool in Australian pools are: health and safety regulations by automatic dosing pumps. that apply to its delivery, • sodium hypochlorite Sodium hypochlorite dissolves storage and use. These (liquid) in the water to form a requirements are set out • calcium hypochlorite solution of hypochlorous acid in WorkCover New South (granular or tablet). (free chlorine), a powerful Wales, Storage and handling oxidant. Free chlorine acts to These can be supplemented of dangerous goods, code oxidise organic matter and by additional treatments, of practice and Australian kill pathogens quickly. Some such as: Standard AS 3780-1994, of the free chlorine remains the storage and handling • UV light irradiation in the water as a residual to of corrosive substances. • ozone treatment. kill any new pathogens that enter the pool before they can Magnesium salt is emerging infect other bathers. as an alternative chemical treatment in commercial The active chlorine levels for aquatic centres. In the this form of sanitiser are low, past, chlorine gas and around 10–15%. This means dichloroisocyanurate and that relatively large volumes trichloroisocyanurate have are needed to maintain also been used as pool water quality and a sufficient sanitisers, but are now rarely residual. Total dissolved solids used in commercial pools. (TDS) can build up quickly due to the sodium salts. To maintain the TDS at an acceptable level, fresh water must be added to dilute it. Make-up water added to the pool after filter backwashing may already meet this dilution requirement. However, extra backwashes are often performed unnecessarily to add dilution water to the pool.

51 2 Chapter 14 – Saving water from treatment

Calcium hypochlorite Calcium hypochlorite is becoming more popular as a sanitising agent in commercial pools. Over the last ten years, over 300 dry calcium hypochlorite dosing systems have been installed Australia-wide. Calcium hypochlorite comes in tablets or dry granular form. Dry calcium hypochlorite is added into a mixing tank containing pool water and forms a solution. This solution is then introduced to the pool through a feeder. The method of sanitation is the same as for sodium hypochlorite. Earlier commercial dry calcium hypochlorite feeders were based on simple domestic calcium hypochlorite feeders and had problems with the feeder unit clogging up due to scaling. There are at least two newer commercial dry calcium hypochlorite feeders on the market today that use acid dosing to stop the feeder clogging up. The acid dosing can also assist or replace existing acid dosing equipment used to control Dry calcium hypochlorite dosing system at Springwood Aquatic Centre. Over the past the pH component of the 10 years, over 300 similar systems have been installed Australia-wide water balance. Hydrochloric acid may also add to the free Dry calcium hypochlorite liquid sodium hypochlorite. chlorides in the pool. is classified as a dangerous Pools using dry calcium Class 5.1 oxidising agent. Compared to sodium hypochlorite must comply Occupational health and hypochlorite, calcium with the requirements set safety regulations for delivery, hypochlorite is 65% active out in the WorkCover New and very stable. The lower storage and use differ to those South Wales, Storage and proportion of calcium salts for sodium hypochlorite. Some handling of dangerous goods, means that TDS builds up pool operators find it easier code of practice and Australian more slowly than for sodium to comply with the regulatory Standard AS 4326-2008, hypochlorite and less dilution requirements for dry calcium the storage and handling water is needed to mitigate it. hypochlorite than those for of oxidizing agents.

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Magnesium salt introduced contaminants Ultraviolet (UV) being transmitted from bather treatment system Suppliers of this new way to bather. By supplementing of sanitising pool water claim UV light is an effective water chemical treatment benefits in water savings and disinfectant and sanitiser. (chlorination), chemical water quality. It is already In pools, UV is used to use can be reduced. Other accepted in some domestic supplement chlorination. common benefits of both pool markets and is now It destroys the proteins, are that treatment: appearing in commercial enzymes and DNA of micro- pools. This system uses an • has greater disinfection organisms that may not have electrolytic chlorine generator effectiveness against been completely oxidised to create sanitiser from a bacteria and viruses by chlorination. UV also blend of magnesium chloride compared to destroys these compounds and other trace elements. chlorination alone by photolysis and photo- oxidation. It is particularly In Australia, there is limited • has no effect on pH or useful in killing chlorine- detailed and independent water balance resistant pathogens such information available to • does not contribute to TDS as Cryptosporidium and support the claims by • reduces chloramines. other bacteria and viruses. suppliers. Manufacturers claim that due to the presence of magnesium hydroxide, a good coagulant, in the treated pool water, there is improved filter efficiency. This results in: • reduced filter backwash frequency • reduced turbidity • reduced chloramines • improved clarity. In addition, manufacturers claim that the use of magnesium mineral salt eliminates skin, eye and nose irritations associated with the use of sodium or calcium hypochlorite. Supplementary treatment Both ozone and UV can be used in pool water treatment, but must be used in conjunction with chemical treatment. This is because, while they are powerful disinfectants, they do not leave a residual disinfectant in the water to prevent further UV systems like this one at Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre effectively disinfect and sanitise water

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The selection and systems. Aquatic centres with All traces of ozone must be performance of a UV system indoor pools should consider used or removed from the depend on water flow rate, UV treatment. water before it reaches the UV energy dose, water pool to prevent it coming into Ozone temperature, turbidity, contact with bathers. water hardness, and level Ozone is a colourless gas There are disadvantages of suspended solids. These (chemical formula O ). Ozone is 3 that limit the use of ozone in can reduce the transmission a relatively unstable toxic gas commercial pools in Australia. of UV light through the and decomposes to re-form These include: water, reducing UV’s ability oxygen. It is a powerful oxidiser, to disinfect. This may also acting on pathogens and • the size and cost of the lead to deposits of organic organic waste in pool water to treatment system matter on the UV lamp. break them down quickly. • the complexity of its set Medium pressure, Some additional advantages up and operation polychromatic lamps are of ozone include that it can: • high ongoing operational and maintenance costs best for swimming pools. • sterilise in turbid They can handle variable flow conditions (unlike UV) • increased energy use rates and transmit UV light • sterilise close to 100%, when • potential health effects at a wide wavelength range. used with inlet filtration of from human exposure This increases the variety and less than 40 microns. to ozone gas. type of contaminants UV can oxidise. Better UV systems An ozone plant requires an Water treatment have a range of power settings ozone generator, compressor, comparison table and automatic lamp sleeve refrigeration dryers, controls cleaning. and a switchboard. Water Table 5 compares different needs to be cooled and water treatment chemicals UV is now a standard feature treated with ozone. The water and technologies and shows of most new and refurbished is then re-heated to break what to consider before using centres and is being down the ozone before it is or installing these. increasingly fitted to existing introduced back into the pool.

Table 5 – Water treatment comparison table

Feature Treatment Residual Chloramine TDS chemical Sanitise Considerations sanitation reduction contribution Sodium Yes Yes No High • Class 8, corrosive agent hypochlorite • Comes in bulk liquid form • Short shelf life, especially when exposed to light • Lower percentage of active chlorine so it has a higher impact on TDS

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Feature Treatment Residual Chloramine TDS chemical Sanitise Considerations sanitation reduction contribution Calcium Yes Yes No Low • Class 5.1, oxidising agent hypochlorite • Comes in dry granular form (10 kg bags) or tablet form • Stable long shelf life • Higher percentage of active chlorine so it has a lower impact on TDS • Dosing systems with automatic acid cleaning are best Magnesium Yes Yes Likely High • Comes in dry granular salt form (10 kg bags) • Stable long shelf life • Has a higher impact on TDS, but this is required for its normal operating range (3,000-4,000 ppm) • Can be used for irrigation if diluted 5:1 • May filter to 4-5 μ due to enhanced flocculation by magnesium hydroxide Ultraviolet Yes No Yes No – • Medium pressure (UV) (secondary) does not polychromatic lamps treatment contribute are best for use in aquatic system centres • Choose systems with a self cleaning function • Operates poorly under turbid conditions Ozone Yes No Yes No – • Installation, operation (secondary) does not and maintenance costs contribute are high • High energy use • Operates well under turbid conditions

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Chapter 15 Saving water in filtration and make-up systems

Filter backwashing and operation of the filters Pressure filters accounts for up to 40% of during backwash. Pressure filters (Figure 15) total water use in aquatic are the most common filters centres. Unnecessary filter Filter types for commercial pools and are backwashing wastes water, There are a number of filter operated at medium and high energy and chemicals because types and filter media on the rate pressure. They involve of the need to heat and treat market. The main filter types two to four filter vessels the incoming make-up water. used in Australian aquatic in parallel, each about two centres are: Water filtration is an essential thirds filled with filtration part of pool water treatment • gravity filters media in layers of different in aquatic centres. Pool water • pressure filters particle sizes in the range is continually circulated • pre-coat filters of 0.5-1 mm. Water is forced through the filters to capture through the filter bed and • vacuum filters. contaminants. These include exits through the laterals organic matter, such as hair There are advantages and (the perforated pipes at the and skin, small particles, disadvantages to each type, bottom). The most common such as sediment, dirt and which are summarised in media used in pressure leaves, oily residues from Table 6. Table 6 also shows the filters is sand. sunscreens and lotions, typical volume and frequency It is the rate of flow through and harmful bacteria. used by a 50 m pool to backwash filters. The volume the media (usually sand) Backwashing unclogs the that matters. Medium rate filters by pushing dirt and used for each cycle and each year varies, depending on filters operate in the range contaminants out. This involves backwash frequency, bather 20-30 kL/m²/hr while high reversing the flow of water load, location (indoor or rate ones operate at through the filters. Filters need outdoor), the condition of the 30-50 kL/m²/hr. High rate to be backwashed regularly to: media and circulation rate. filters are usually limited • keep them working to clubs, hotels and private Gravity filter efficiently pools where bather load is • maintain water quality Gravity filters are slow rate relatively light. Public pools and appearance filters that rely on gravity to with high bather loads and push water through the filter a high proportion of children • maintain bather health media, typically sand. These operate medium rate filters and safety. are mostly found on older as the lower flow rates provide The backwash water then 50 m outdoor Olympic pools. longer contact time for the flows into a holding tank Gravity filters are large and water with the media and and is discharged to the require significant amounts of better filtration. Medium rate wastewater system in a backwash water to clean the filters are larger than high controlled manner. The sand. The only cost effective rate pressure filters, but not as duration, frequency and option for improving the water large as low rate gravity filters. volume of water used in each efficiency of a gravity filter is backwashing cycle depend to replace it with a more water on the filter type, filter media efficient filter type.

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Filter access point Air bleed

Inlet

Sand

Sand access point FIlter laterals

Outlet / backwash inlet

Figure 15 – Pressure filter

Pressure filters, like this one at Springwood Aquatic Centre are the most common commercial pool filters

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Pre-coat filters is used to coat a filter sock added. Filter media removed or filaments. At the end Pre-coat filters (Figure 16) in the backwash must also of the filter cycle, the filter provide a very high level of be collected and separately media is ‘bumped’ off the filtration that creates water of disposed of. Some pre-coat filter filaments and discarded. low turbidity and high clarity. filters need the filter socks Diatomaceous earth (DE) is Operating pre-coat filters replaced each 12 to 18 months. the most common pre-coat is more complex and labour There are alternative filter filter media, however perlite intensive than for gravity sock types that may last and cellulose fibre are also and pressure filter types, longer, and filter filaments used. Filter media comes as because the filter media is are now entering the market a fine powder, which is mixed lost after each backwash that remove the need for filter with water to form slurry that and new media needs to be socks completely.

Air bleed

FIlter access

Outlet / backwash inlet

Filter candle

Filter sock

Inlet

Drain for filter To waste media removal

Figure 16 – Pre-coat filter

Image right – This pre-coat filter at Des Renford Aquatic Centre uses perlite filter media. The filter filaments don’t need filter socks, saving money and time

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Vacuum filters the need for filter cleaning in a plant room. Vacuum and increases the effective life filters are ideal for replacing Vacuum filters are a low of the filter from 1–2 weeks gravity sand filters. The old rate, open tank filter. Water to between 8–15 weeks. filter structure can even is pumped into one end of a be used to accommodate filter tank and drawn through Vacuum filters can filter down vacuum filter tanks cost the tank by pool water return to 3–5 microns, depending on effectively. pumps. The tank has a bank the filter media. To clean the of removable filter elements filters, each tank is drained Filter comparison table coated with filtration media, to a holding tank (7-10 kL) Table 6 compares different commonly dry cellulose and the filter elements are types of commercial water fibre. The element coating hosed down (1-2 kL). Cleaning filters and explains what is automatically topped-up requires much less water than to consider before using through a dosing hopper that for backwashing gravity and or installing these. is manually filled with the pressure filters. Filter tanks filtration media. This reduces usually take up less space

Table 6 – Water filter comparison table

Filter type Features Backwash Water use Filter Filter Considerations or filter per cycle cycle media renewal (kL) Gravity Backwash 50 to 100* 1-2 weeks Sand • Old technology • Water inefficient Medium Backwash 30 to 50* 1-2 weeks Sand • Filter laterals fail over and high Zeolite time, but are difficult pressure Glass to inspect • Filter effectiveness falls if backwash practices are poor or flow rate is too high. Pre-coat Filter 15 to 20* 3-5 weeks DE • Normal filter socks are renewal Perlite replaced every 12 months Cellulose • New sock type is longer lasting (5-10 years) and may extend the filter cycle • Filter filaments don’t use filter socks at all. Vacuum Filter 10 to 15* 10-15 Cellulose • Filter element socks are renewal weeks DE replaced every 7-10 years Perlite • Manual cleaning of filter elements is required (about one hour every 10 to 15 weeks)

* Based on 50 m pool

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Case studies Vacuum media filtration in Victoria

Waves Leisure Centre in Kingston, Victoria replaced the medium pressure sand filters on its indoor 50 metre and leisure pools with vacuum media filtration. The retrofit increased the filter cycle from one week to 10–12 weeks, saving 26 kL of water a day. Croydon Memorial Pool replaced the gravity sand filter on its outdoor pool with vacuum media filtration. The filters need to be cleaned every two to three weeks due to wind blown debris and ducks entering the pool. Only 10 kL of water is used each time to clean the new filters, compared to 100 kL for the old filters. This saves Croydon Memorial Pool 90 kL of water each time the filters are cleaned. (Photos courtesy Ian Coombes Australia).

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Filter media Zeolite removes impurities • reduced pool odour, eye from the water by: and skin irritation There are various types of filter media available. The • absorption - conventional • increased filtration most common media used in filtration where particles efficiency, particle capture, pool filters are: are physically trapped by removal the filter media • longer lasting than sand as • sand hardness is more uniform. • adsorption - where organic • sand alternatives Glass (zeolite and glass) and other substances are physically attracted to and • pre-coat media Glass also has several claimed form weak bonds with the advantages over sand. In (diatomaceous earth, surface of the filter media perlite and cellulose fibre). Australia, glass media is (it has a surface area of made from selected recyclable Sand around 500 m2 material. At this stage, For the predominant pressure • ion exchange - where there is limited detailed and type filters, sand is by far the ammonium ions in the independent information most used media; it is cheap pool water are exchanged available to support claims and well understood. It can with sodium ions on the by suppliers. filter to 15 microns. However, surface of the zeolite. An Aquatic Commercial its hardness is variable which This prevents combined Industries Report impacts its effectiveness chlorines forming. (No GL-98-1) on a commercial over time. Zeolite media needs to be pool in Washington (USA) Sand alternatives regenerated yearly to remove determined that glass the ammonium ions from improved clarity by 25% to The main alternatives for the surface of the zeolite. 0.27 NTU (Nephelometric replacing sand media in Regeneration maintains Turbidity Unit) compared to medium and high pressure the ability of the zeolite to 0.4 NTU for sand. Backwash filters are zeolite and glass. remove impuritives through water use was reduced by 23% At this stage, there is limited adsorption and ion exchange. and the filter required 20% less detailed and independent Regeneration involves taking glass by volume to fill. information available to the filters offline and soaking support claims of benefits by The Waste & Resources Action them with a 20% salt solution suppliers. In Australia, there Programme (UK) conducted using sodium chloride (NaCl) have been mixed reports operating trials of the ability for 6-12 hours overnight. After on the performance of these of glass versus sand media to this has been done, the filter media compared to sand. remove solids from effluent. is backwashed as normal. A local survey of several current In all cases, glass proved equal users all reported good but Some of the claimed benefits or superior to sand. unquantified results for both of zeolite include: Some of the claimed zeolite and glass media after • easy installation benefits are: six months to two years of use. • lower density than sand • easy installation Zeolite (so less by weight is required) • lower density than sand, so Zeolite is derived mostly from • reduced chemicals less by weight is required volcanic rock and is common required to treat the water • reduced chemicals in water purification and • enhanced performance required to treat the water wastewater treatment. of chlorine by reducing turbidity

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• increased filtration less than 1 ML a year for filter generally longer. It is also efficiency (particle capture backwashing. The DE used lighter than DE so less by and removal) in swimming pool filters is weight is required. Exposure • longer lasting than sand as processed with a fluxing agent to the dust should be limited hardness is more uniform. at very high temperatures to avoid eye and respiratory Pre-coat media to produce flux-calcined DE. irritations. This form of DE can contain Cellulose Pre-coat media include DE, cristobalite, a highly crystalline perlite and cellulose. These form of silica. DE is coming Cellulose fibre can filter to media are relatively new to the under increasing scrutiny three microns (similar to DE). commercial market so current because of OH&S issues When used in vacuum media levels of use are low. They have associated with crystalline filtration, it uses significantly proven abilities to filter down silica. DE use is quite labour less water for backwashing to 3-5 microns, resulting in intensive and operators must (only 10% compared to that of pool water with improved: be well trained. a typical sand filter). Compared • appearance to DE, it is cheaper and easier Perlite to use and has none of the • clarity associated OH&S issues. • ability to remove harmful Perlite is a volcanic rock that organisms. has been treated with heat Filter media to form a fine white porous Diatomaceous earth (DE) powder. It can filter to three comparison table Diatomaceous earth (DE) microns. It can capture more Table 7 compares different (naturally occurring or dirt and contaminants than types of filter media and synthetic DE) can filter to DE because of its porous shows what to consider before 3-5 microns and uses typically structure, so filter cycles are using or installing these.

Table 7 – Water media comparison table

Filter Features media Commonly Filter Lifetime Considerations used in capability of media Sand Gravity, 15-20 μ 5-10 years • Media subject to mud balling if medium backwash practices are poor. and high • Grading and uniformity of media rate filter is important for performance. Zeolite Medium 3-5 μ 10 years • Chloramines are controlled by ion and high exchange, so filter media needs rate filter to be regenerated yearly to maintain chloramine control Glass Medium > 8 μ 5-10 years • Grading and uniformity of media and high is important for performance. rate filter • Some evidence of fewer and shorter backwash events compared to sand media.

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Filter Features media Commonly Filter Lifetime Considerations used in capability of media DE Pre-coat 3-5 μ Duration of • Respiratory and eye protection filter filter cycle must be worn • Media must be collected and disposed of after each filter cycle Perlite Pre-coat 3-5 μ Duration of • Respiratory and eye protection filter filter cycle must be worn • Media must be collected and disposed of after each filter cycle Cellulose Vacuum 3-5 μ Duration of • Respiratory and eye protection filter filter cycle recommended • Media biodegradable.

External factors that the filter is removing dilute the pool water for from the pool water. A sight chloramine and TDS control Apart from the choice of filter glass should be installed in and maintain water quality and type of filter media, there the discharge line and the or balance. If the filters don’t are other factors related to operator should immediately need backwashing, it is better water treatment that affect stop backwashing when the to bleed off concentrated water quality and water use. backwash water becomes clear. pool water and add dilution These are: For slow gravity sand water in a slower, controlled • filter backwashing type filters: manner. This minimises the practices impact on pool temperatures • backwash recycling • allow the system to settle and water balance. systems for 30 minutes before backwash Other important pool operator • bather cleanliness practices include manually • use the circulation rate to • make-up water control. removing dirt, leaves and other trigger the backwash cycle. large solids as soon as they Filter backwashing practices For other filter types: are detected, and cleaning the For convenience and simplicity, • use the filter pressure to strainers regularly. filters are often backwashed determine filter backwash Backwash recycling systems to a schedule and for a set frequency. duration. Best practice filter Some pool owners have • use water quality (using operation is to backwash only installed complex systems the sight glass) to when necessary. When the to treat and re-use the determine the duration pressure drop across the filter large volumes of backwash of the backwash cycle. exceeds the manufacturer’s water required for filter recommended limit (ie demand Filter backwashing uses pool backwashing. Costs to driven event), the filter should water to backwash, which install a backwash water be backwashed. The pressure then needs to be topped up recycling system can exceed drop is a good indicator of the using fresh water. Often, the costs of upgrading or amount of sediment/solids backwashing is used to replacing existing filters, with

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comparative water savings. Bather cleanliness Make-up water control In addition, it is easier to Water must be added to the avoid using water through Dissolved fats from natural pool for a variety of reasons. efficient filters and good filter body oils and skin lotions These include water losses management than to treat affect the efficiency of filters. due to backwash, evaporation, and re-use backwash water. These oils and lotions are captured within the filter and splash, bather carryout and The drinking water cost reduce the capacity of the leaks. Discharged water is savings achieved from filter media to remove other automatically replaced with backwash recycling systems impurities. Encourage bathers fresh water through the are often offset by the to shower before entering balance tank, by a float or additional energy and the pool. This improves filter solenoid operated valve or operational costs of the performance and extends the manually through the use backwash water treatment time between backwashing of hoses and manual valves. system. These systems are and filter media changes. rarely cost effective as the financial payback of the system can exceed the life of the equipment.

Minimise your water use before considering recycling systems, like this backwash water recycling system at Warringah Aquatic Centre.

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Float valves Place solenoids where they Best practice pool make-up can be easy inspected and Float valves (or ball valves) To better control and weekly maintenance can be are valves controlled by a understand pool make-up performed. The power supply floatation device. As the level water: must be checked regularly to of water falls or rises in the ensure solenoids are working. • use quality, correctly balance tank, so does the installed float valves and float. The valve is opened or Automatic valves and inspect and maintain closed gradually in response base flow them weekly to this. Float valves respond When there is a constant quickly to changes in water • do not use manually drop in the water level in the levels and add water to the operated valves or solenoid balance tank, indicating a pool at a rate proportionate to valves for pool make-up leak, the make-up response the demand. This minimises • do not use hoses for pool of float and solenoid valves the impact of water pressure make-up in the balance tank varies. For changes on the pipes, float valves, make-up is also • fit a submeter to the amenities and kiosks. continuous, showing up as a pool make-up and set Float valves should be robust base flow in monitoring data. up monitoring and high and of good quality. They use alerts. For solenoid valves, should be installed so they make-up only occurs when are not affected by turbulence the solenoid reaches the from the pool return or the low level sensor. Pool make-up water. This may make-up shows up as high require protective baffles flows of regular frequency around the float. Position and duration. Depending on them for easy inspection the leak size, water waste and weekly maintenance. can be masked by other Solenoid valves pool operation water use in monitoring data. The use Solenoid valves are also used of solenoid valves makes it to control pool make-up from difficult to identify leaks. the balance tank. A solenoid and high and low level Manual valves and hoses sensors operate the valve. Pools often use hoses or Once the water level drops manually operated valves for to the low level sensor, the pool make-up. Valves and taps valve opens fully to add water are operated by pool staff and to the pool. This can result in can be accidentally left on, a large and sudden impact wasting water. It is also hard on the water system causing to manually match water water hammer, a drop in supply with demand, pressure and reduced flow which causes unnecessary in other areas of the water use. aquatic centre.

66 2 2 Chapter 16 – Evaporation

Chapter 16 Evaporation

Around 70% of the heat energy lost by pools is due to water evaporating. For indoor pools, a further 27% of heat energy is lost through the ventilation system.

Evaporation rates are affected Evaporation rates are by and can be reduced by: also higher at higher temperatures. It is important • controlling relative to ensure pool water temperatures of the pool temperatures are set as low and the surrounding air as possible while maintaining • controlling humidity of the bather comfort. The table surrounding air below shows recommended • reducing pool wave and pool temperatures for a range splash action of pool activities. • reducing wind across the pool surface Table 8 – Recommended pool temperatures for a range • using pool covers of pool activities • heating, ventilation and Recommended Activity air conditioning (HVAC) temperature systems. Active swimming, training 25-27 °C Relative temperatures or playing water sports Evaporation increases by Passive swimming, learning 27-29 °C up to 10% for every 1 °C to swim classes temperature difference 30 °C Hydrotherapy pools only between the pool and the surrounding air. This water loss also contributes to a 10-15% increase in energy loss. To reduce evaporation and heat losses from the pool water, keep the air temperature in the surrounding pool hall: • below 30 °C • within 1 °C of the pool water temperature.

Shading pools helps reduce evaporation

68 Chapter 16 – Evaporation 2

Humidity Humidity is the amount of Example water vapour in the air. Drier An indoor 25 m pool with eight lanes, heated at 28 °C air with low humidity absorbs with a pool hall temperature of 29 °C and a relative more water and increases the humidity of 60% will: evaporation rate, while moist • lose 550 kL each year through evaporation air at higher humidity (around 70-75%) releases moisture, • waste over 300,000 kWh each year in heat energy. causing condensation. These losses will cost the centre around $10,000 a year depending on the heating system, energy sources and Pool water contains a high utility charges. concentration of oxidising chemicals. In indoor pools, air If the relative humidity dropped to 50%, these losses with high humidity causes and costs would increase by at least 30%. pool water to settle on pool hall surfaces, causing corrosion. In addition, sweat Pool wave and Wind across the on skin does not evaporate as effectively, which affects splash action pool surface temperature regulation in In indoor wave pools, the Wind also increases bathers, causing discomfort. surface area of the water evaporation. On windy days, A balance is needed between exposed to the air increases. water evaporated to the air low humidity where excessive This increases the loss is blown away from the pool evaporation occurs and high of water and heat to the and dry air replaces it. This humidity where corrosion and surrounding air. encourages more evaporation to the dry air. For outdoor patron comfort are concerns. To manage wave pools more pools, a 10 km breeze across A relative humidity around the efficiently: 50-70% range is considered a the surface of a pool can good compromise. However, • reduce wave action increase water and heat loss the maximum and minimum frequency two to three times. Under humidity should be tailored to • reduce wave action normal conditions, an outdoor the particular climate of the duration Olympic pool can lose six indoor pool. When adjusting • limit operation to kilolitres of water (9,500 kWh) humidity controls, make sure weekends and holiday a day. Moderate winds can you consider the occupational periods. more than double these losses. health and safety of your staff. When protecting a pool from wind, consider: • the direction of southerly and westerly winds • installing wind breaks next to the pool • installing pool covers.

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Pool covers Table 9 – Advantages and disadvantages of pool cover types

A pool cover limits the Material Advantages Disadvantages exposure of the pool surface to the surrounding air by Slatted • Durable • Expensive providing a physical barrier • Long lasting between the pool surface and • Fully automated the atmosphere. This reduces the water, chemical and heat Solar • Very light • Delicate loss from the pool caused by • Inexpensive • Tears easily evaporation. • Operated by a battery After optimising water operated winch and air temperatures and Insulated • Durable • Heavy reducing wind, the next most vinyl • Long lasting important water and energy savings measure is to use a • Inexpensive pool cover when the pool is • Operated by a battery not in use. Properly designed operated winch pool covers can reduce: To improve the use and effectiveness of pool covers consider: • water losses by 30-50% • installing a system to automatically operate the pool cover • heat losses by 70-90% • linking pools to a monitoring system to measure energy • heating, ventilation and and water savings. air conditioning (HVAC) running costs • the effect of condensation on the building structure, fabric and fittings. High quality pool covers are required due to the varying Australian climate. Table 9 shows common advantages and disadvantages of the major pool cover types. Ideally, the pool cover should be: • Smart WaterMark approved • easy to use and store • easy to maintain • durable.

Use a pool cover when the pool isn’t being used, to limit evaporation and heat loss

70 Chapter 16 – Evaporation 2

Heating, ventilation Useful references: and air conditioning Australian Standard (HVAC) systems AS 3780-1994 The storage and handling of corrosive Heat energy and moisture substances is lost through the pool hall HVAC system and can be Australian Standard recovered by transferring it AS 4326-2008 The storage and to the incoming fresh air. handling of oxidizing agents This transfer reduces energy Department of the and water loss from the pool Environment, Transport hall and also makes it easier and the Regions, 1998. to control temperature and Good Practice Guide 228. humidity in indoor pools. Water related energy savings Thermal wheels and cross- – a guide for owners and flow heat exchangers can managers of sports and reduce the energy needed to leisure centres. Environmental heat incoming fresh air by up Technology Best Practice to 30%. These can recover: Programme, Oxfordshire, UK • latent heat – embedded South East Water, Water in the warm moisture wastage takes a dive, Aquabiz, and given up when it Issue 7, March 2010, p 8-9, condenses. http://www.sewl.com.au/ • sensible heat – heat SiteCollectionDocuments/ energy carried in air Aquabiz/Aquabiz_Version molecules. _7-March_2010.pdf It is important to design The Carbon Trust. 2006. HVAC systems for the Sports and Leisure. Introducing specific conditions of energy saving for business. your aquatic centre. The Carbon Trust, London, UK WorkCover New South Wales, Storage and handling of dangerous goods, code of practice. http://www.workcover.nsw. gov.au/formspublications/ publications/Documents/ storage_handling_ dangerous_goods_code _of_practice_1354.pdf

Part 3

Aquatic centre efficiency Part 3 of Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres is aimed at facility managers and aquatic centre managers. It describes practical steps to reduce water and energy use in amenities, kitchens, water features and gardens. It also has recommendations for renovating or building a new aquatic centre. 3 Introduction

Introduction

After fixing leaks and addressing water use in your swimming pool, you should look at water use in other areas of your centre. Figure 17 (seen previously) shows the water use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre. Forty-two per cent of water is used in areas other than swimming pools and leaks. Thirty-five per cent of water is used in amenities and includes water used for backwashing filters. Wasting water in amenities and kitchens also wastes the energy used to heat the water.

4% Other (including kiosk) 2% Urinals

6% Toilets 3% Cleaning

7% Basins

36% Make-up (including backwash)

20% Showers

22% Leaks

Figure 17 – Water use breakdown of a typical aquatic centre shows 42% of water is used in areas other than swimming pools and leaks.

74 Chapter 17 – Amenities 3

Chapter 17 Amenities

Amenities include showers, toilets, basin taps and urinals and account for 35% of water use in aquatic centres. This means there are great opportunities to save water with low cost, easy to implement measures, with a short payback.

Amenities are used frequently in public facilities like aquatic 7% Urinals centres. Reducing water use in amenities means for each 57% Showers individual use, a small saving 17% Toilets can be made, adding up to large overall savings. Figure 18 shows a breakdown of water 19% Basins use in amenities. By improving the water efficiency of amenities, you can cut water use by about 25%. Showers Showers make up 57% of water Figure 18 – Breakdown of water use in amenities. Slow showers use the most water use in amenities. Hot water for showers makes up six per cent of overall energy use. Bathers should have pre-swim showers. Pre-swim showers reduce dirt, oils and sweat entering the pool on the bather. Showers should only be used after pool use to rinse off chlorine and other chemicals. Discourage patrons from using aquatic centre showers for their daily domestic showering. By addressing water use in showers, both water and energy savings can be made. Here are a number of tips to help you reduce water and energy use in your showers.

Install vandal proof housings over basin tap flow restrictors to prevent theft

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−− Do you have a larger version of this image?? Chapter 17 – Amenities 3

Retrofit or replace Install timed showers Charge for showers showerheads Many aquatic centres are If patrons are paying for Earlier showerheads typically installing push button timer showers, they are more likely have a flow of 15-20 L/min, showers to keep showers to be water wise. Some aquatic especially in older facilities. short. Push button timer centres charge patrons to use By installing flow restrictors, showers work by limiting the showers in amenities. Charging an aquatic centre can reduce duration of a shower. After the for timed showers can also the flow in showers to less button is pressed, water flows be used as a community than nine litres a minute. for a set period of time, usually education tool and a revenue one to one and a half minutes. generator to fund water Early showerheads should After this, patrons must press efficiency measures. be replaced with WELS the button again to continue 3 star rated showerheads Some patrons may not have their shower. that use 7.5-9 L/min. More a pre-swim shower if they information on WELS star Showers can also be set have to pay for it. Pre-swim ratings can be found at the up so a patron is required showers help reduce dirt, oils end of this chapter. to push and hold a button and sweat entering the pool down to operate the shower. with the bather. To encourage Install vandal proof fixtures However, this option may pre-swim showering when The high use and availability make having a shower charging for showers, it may of showers and taps in difficult for elderly patrons. be helpful to provide one amenities makes them free shower near the exit If you do install push button susceptible to vandalism of change rooms. timed showers, consider that and increased wear and tear. some patrons do not like This means they break more having warm showers. To over often, causing leaks. Plumbing come this, install at least one fixtures should be inspected cold-water only shower to weekly to identify and fix leaks. accommodate all patrons and Consider installing vandal avoid complaints. proof showerheads and push button taps to reduce the frequency of breaks and vandalism. Basin tap flow regulators can easily be fitted with vandal proof housings to prevent theft.

Image left – Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre uses vandal proof showerheads to prevent theft and reduce wear and tear

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Case study Showers at Warringah Aquatic Centre

Warringah Aquatic Centre now charges 20 cents for one minute timed showers. To limit patron complaints, they coupled the introduction of timed showers with a community education campaign. Warringah Aquatic Centre committed to reinvesting revenue raised from showers into further sustainability projects. Patrons are more willing to accept paying for showers, because Warringah Aquatic Centre demonstrated commitment to water efficiency.

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Basin taps Retrofit or replace taps In aquatic centres, hand basins make up seven per cent Flow can easily be restricted of water use in amenities, and have flow rates of up to to six litres a minute or less 20 L/minute. Heating hot water for use in hand basins by retrofitting flow regulators accounts for 1.2% of overall energy used. or replacing taps. Fixtures should have a minimum WELS 3 star rating. WELS 5 or 6 star rated taps are available and recommended for hand basins. Hand basin taps and pressure- compensating aerators with flow rates down to as low as 1.7 L/min are available. Install push button taps Push button taps in hand basins operate the same way as they do in showers (see ‘timed showers’). They stop water loss from patrons accidentally leaving the tap on and limit the duration to around 10 seconds. Install sensor activated taps Sensor activated taps can also limit the duration of hand washing and can improve washroom hygiene. Sensor taps activate when a sensor detects movement, usually by hands in front of the sensor or a person standing under a sensor. When an object is detected, water flows until the object is removed. There is no need for people to touch taps after they have washed their hands. Install sensor activated or push button taps to limit how long taps run for and help stop people leaving taps on Sensor taps require regular inspection to ensure the sensor units work well, cut off when not required and are not falsely triggered by bathroom traffic or light movement. If sensors are not adjusted and maintained properly, they can use more water than standard taps.

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Toilets Vacuum toilets Flusherette systems Toilets make up to 17% Vacuum toilets can also be Where your centre uses of water use in amenities. used for amenities connected a flusherette tank and Replacing just one 11 L single directly to wastewater individual toilet flush flush toilet with a WELS 5 star systems. Water use is about valves, make sure the valves rated 4.5/3 L dual flush toilet half a litre each flush. are properly tuned and maintained to limit the can save 140 kL of water a A vacuum system needs flush volume to less than year and $484 in water and a pump to create the vacuum. 5.5 litres. The pressure in the wastewater costs (2010-11 One pump can service a flusherette system piping pricing). number of toilets and can be varies depending on the located in a different room or Retrofit or replace toilets distance from the tank. Adjust in the ceiling space. The amount of water used in and maintain individual flush older single flush toilets can Vacuum toilets look similar valves to account for the be reduced from 11 L to nine to traditional flushing toilets pressure difference. and installation costs are litres a flush by installing a Set the flush duration to comparable. cistern weight or adjusting around three seconds, as this the float down. Reducing the is usually a five to six litre flush in older single flush flush (dependent on supply toilets to less than nine litres pressure). Flush valves should a flush is not recommended shut-off completely, with no because old toilet pans need excess water dribble. enough water to properly flush the pan and prevent pipes from being blocked. Replacing older single flush toilets with low-flow dual flush toilets is the best option. If you are buying new toilets, they should have a minimum WELS 3 star rating. WELS 5 or 6 star rated toilets are available and recommended. If you are using very low flush toilets (such as 4.5/3 L dual flush models), consider how steeply the pipes drain. Pipes with a low gradient may become clogged with very low water flows. Check with the toilet manufacturer for installation advice.

Replace existing single flush toilets with low-flow dual flush toilets

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Urinals normal bathroom traffic. waterless urinals when Inspect and adjust sensors, so replacing amenities or fitting In aquatic centres, urinals they only trigger a flush when out new buildings. make up seven per cent someone stands in front of or of water use in amenities. Ensure all plumbing and on the raised platform or has There are various types of building work meets the used the urinal. urinals. Cyclic flushing or relevant Australian standard automatic flush urinals waste Replace batteries in urinal and code to avoid future a lot of water and should be sensors regularly, as flat operational and maintenance immediately replaced with batteries can lead to constant problems. sensor or manual flushing flushing. Consider replacing To know more, refer to Sydney systems. When installing battery-powered sensors with Water fact sheet Waterless urinal sensor flush systems, those that require connection urinals, which describes the make sure manual to an electrical supply. different types of waterless shut-off valves are included, Routinely maintain and adjust urinals available and how so malfunction does not sensors to function correctly to install them successfully. cause continuous flushing. and maintain their water You can obtain a copy of Urinal sensors can waste water efficiency. Use highly efficient Waterless urinals from your if they malfunction, or if they urinals with a WELS rating Business Customer Services are incorrectly set to detect of 5 or 6 stars, or consider representative or from sydneywater.com.au Pressure and flow problems Many aquatic centres are concerned about patron comfort when replacing showerheads with low-flow alternatives or retrofitting them with in-line flow restrictors. Older styles of low-flow showerheads do not compensate for pressure differences with reduced flows, resulting in patrons complaining about lack of water pressure. Loss of water pressure in plumbing fixtures usually occurs in fixtures towards the end of a series or bank of showers. To maintain water pressure evenly in the showers, install constant flow regulators in all fixtures at the same time. This ensures every fixture has exactly the same flow rate. This Replace or retrofit conventional urinals with low-flow urinals and regularly maintain is called a balanced system. and adjust flush valves and sensors

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Constant flow regulators include a rubber O-ring that expands and contracts as the pressures rise and fall, providing constant and accurate flow through the fixture. Thermostatic mixing valves You may not be able to restrict some fixtures to less than four to six litres a minute. This is because Install flow restrictors on all non-regulated fixtures and repair or replace them as part they may have thermostatic of an active maintenance program mixing valves (TMVs), also known as temperature Staff amenities Maintaining amenities moderating valves. TMVs Maintaining staff-only An active maintenance require flows of between toilets and taps can be a low program is essential to detect six and 20 litres a minute. priority for maintenance staff, and repair leaks and broken because they are not subject amenities. Good maintenance TMVs mix hot and cold water to public scrutiny. Leaks waste is often the cheapest and together to achieve a constant money wherever they are. most effective way to be water temperature of water from efficient. Develop an inspection fixtures. Reducing flows If you don’t fix leaks and timetable and make sure staff through TMVs to below six inefficient equipment in know how to report leaks and litres a minute could scald staff areas, it shows a lack other problems. patrons with hot water or of commitment to water prevent any flow of hot water efficiency. Perform these key actions for amenities maintenance: to the basin or shower. The Sydney Water’s Save It stickers hot and cold water may have are a good way to encourage • Ensure toilets, urinals, taps different pressures and the staff to report leaks to and showers are regularly water with the higher pressure plumbing or maintenance staff. inspected for leaks. will always dominate. Printed stickers are available • Replace rubber cistern Additionally, some systems for business customers seals and tap washers at are designed for high flows and artwork is available at least every two years to to keep warm water circulating. sydneywater.com.au avoid leaks. If the warm water flow is • Check that urinal sensors restricted, it could lead to a work correctly and do build up of bacteria in ‘dead not trigger a flush when legs’ of piping. Staff and patrons customers are only using may need to run a tap for a long basins or entering toilet period before the desired water cubicles. temperature is achieved. • Check that solenoid valves on urinal cisterns are not leaking. • Install flow restrictors on all non-regulated taps.

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WELS ratings explained WELS is the Water Efficient Labelling and Standards program. WELS gives products a star rating based on their water efficiency. WELS ratings are available for taps, toilets, showers and urinals. The ratings are taken from AS/NZS 6400:2005 amendment 3 2006.

Table 10 – WELS ratings for showers

Rating Specification (L/min) 0 Star > 16 1 Star > 12 and =< 16 2 Star > 9.0 and =< 12 3 Star > 7.5 and =< 9.0a 4 Star > 6.0 and =< 7.5a 5 Star > 4.5 and =< 6.0a 6 Star > 4.5 and =< 6.0 and fitted with bonus features (eg automatic shut-off)a

a subject to finalising industry force of spray test

Table 11 – WELS ratings for tapware

Rating Specification (L/min) 0 Star > 16 1 Star > 12 and =< 16 2 Star > 9.0 and =< 12 3 Star > 7.5 and =< 9 4 Star > 6 and =< 7.5 5 Star > 4.5 and =< 6.0 6 Star =< 4.5

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Table 12 – WELS ratings for toilets

Average Rating Full Half (L/flush) 0 Star N/A N/A N/A 1 Star =< 9.5 =< 4.5 =< 5.5 2 Star < 9.5 =< 4.5 =< 4.5 3 Star =< 6.5 =< 3.5 =< 4.0 4 Star =< 4.7 =< 3.2 =< 3.5 5 Star =< 4.7 N/A =< 3.0 6 Star =< 4.7 N/A =< 2.5

Table 13 – WELS ratings for urinals

Rating Specification (L/single stall or L/600 mm of continuous length) 0 Star > 2.5 serving a single stall or 4.0 for two stalls 1 Star =< 4.0 serving two stalls or equivalent continuous widtha 2 Star =< 2.5 serving single stalls or equivalent continuous widtha 3 Star =< 2.0 serving single stalls or equivalent continuous widtha 4 Star =< 1.5 serving single stalls or equivalent continuous widtha 5 Star =< 1.0 serving single stall stalls or equivalent continuous widtha 6 Star =< 1.0 serving single stall or equivalent continuous widthb a must be fitted with demand-driven or smart-demand operation b must be fitted with demand-driven or smart-demand operation with a urine sensing device

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Chapter 18 Kitchens and kiosks

The main areas of water use Hot water • using a microwave oven. in kiosks are: Only use this method of If the hot water system thawing food if you intend • basins and sinks supplying your kitchen or to cook meat immediately, • hot water kiosk is not located close to as the microwave can start • food preparation, including the kitchen, install a separate the cooking process. thawing food hot water system closer to your kitchen, or install a ‘ring Food safety standards in New • pre-rinse spray valves main’ or thermal loop system South Wales require kitchens • dishwashers and and insulate the hot water to minimise the amount of glasswashers supply line. time foods (such as meat) are • icemakers kept between 5°C and 60°C. One aquatic centre kitchen Defrosting food under running • cleaning. was wasting 52 L of water water is likely to put food into Even in busy kiosks it is every time they turned on this temperature zone. important to report leaks the hot tap. Because their hot and undertake regular water system was located on Pre-rinse spray valves maintenance. One leaking the other side of the centre Pre-rinse spray valves are used hose in a kitchen audited and the supply line was not to remove food scraps and by Sydney Water wasted a insulated, it took a long time grease from dishes before they kilolitre a day. for the hot water to reach the go into the dishwasher. They kitchen. Basins and sinks are used instead of rinsing Food preparation dishes under running taps. Install separate sinks for Standard pre-rinse spray hand washing and food Do not use running water to valves use a lot of water. preparation. Basins used for thaw frozen food. This can use A Sydney Water study hand washing should have up to six kilolitres of water estimated that pre-rinse spray flow restrictors on taps, as a day, and can allow food valves in Sydney use 5,900 ML described in the previous poisoning organisms to grow. of water every year. This is chapter. If taps are only used To save water and reduce similar to supplying about to fill pots and pans and to health risks, thaw food by: 23,000 houses with water fill sinks for dishwashing, for a year. flow can be maintained at • placing frozen food in nine litres a minute. Use an a refrigerator the night Older pre-rinse spray valves efficient pre-rinse spray valve before using it. This have a spray nozzle similar to rinse plates rather than a enables the food to thaw to a showerhead and use kitchen tap. Regularly inspect while remaining cool, between 10 L and 15 L of kitchen taps for leaks. retaining good texture water a minute. They don’t and remaining free of have a strong jet of water and contamination from are slow to clean. Efficient bacteria and toxins valves use only six litres of water a minute – 40% less than older models.

Image left – Use an efficient pre-rinse spray valve to rinse plates before they are loaded into the dishwasher

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Smart Rinse valves have a Cleaning kitchens Sink-to-sewer waste nozzle with a high pressure, and kiosks disposal units blade-shaped spray. The high Sydney Water does not water pressure and cutting These recommendations can allow sink-to-sewer disposal action means that dishes are cut the amount of water used units (also called in-sink cleaned quickly and effectively. for kitchen cleaning: food waste disposal units Smart Rinse valves generally • Use a sink strainer or dry or garbage grinders) in deliver water between 40°C waste arrestor to trap food non-domestic buildings. For and 60°C. This means 60% of scraps before disposal. more information, see Part 5, cost savings are from reduced • Scrape food off plates Managing your wastewater. energy use. before using a pre-rinse Inspect all pre-rinse spray spray valve. valves regularly and replace • Sweep and mop the floor them if the fittings are worn. instead of hosing it down Worn nozzles reduce pressure with water. and spray angle, waste water and increase washing time. Check with your supplier to ensure you are using the right design of spray rinse valve for your job. Ice making machines Ice making machines can use a lot of water and energy. Make sure your machine is not oversized or set to make more ice than needed. Air-cooled ice machines are far more water efficient than water-cooled models. Scrape food scraps from plates and cooking equipment into the bin before Water-cooled machines rinsing them in the sink may use less energy. If you do choose a water-cooled machine, make sure it uses an evaporative condenser to cool, and not a ‘one-pass’ system. One-pass systems are very water intensive.

Sweep and mop kitchen floors instead of hosing them

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Chapter 19 Cleaning your aquatic centre

The floor surface of pool halls, public areas and amenities are either tiles or concrete. Generally, water is used to clean and wash these surfaces. Most cleaners have little training in using water efficiently when cleaning. This contributes to high water use. Cleaning large surface areas is very labour intensive. Without the cooperation of staff and cleaners, lots of water can be wasted. To minimise water used in cleaning, follow these steps: • Monitor and analyse water use during cleaning periods. • Inspect or audit cleaning practices. • Identify areas that need improvement. • Educate and train staff on how to use water If hoses must be used for cleaning, make sure they have water efficient trigger nozzles efficiently when cleaning. • Set targets and Develop a cleaning schedule to sweep or wash away dirt responsibilities for water together with staff. This and debris. This wastes a lot use by cleaners. should include clear roles of water. If water must be • Issue policy instructions and instructions for staff used to clean hard surfaces: and where, when and how banning the use of fire • use commercial high often cleaning equipment hoses and open hoses. pressure water efficient such as hoses should be used. • Provide regular monthly trigger nozzles on hoses feedback on performance These steps will help change • sweep and mop dirty areas and progress against targets. the cleaning behaviour of instead of hosing contractors and staff, making • Use incentives and • use a commercial floor them responsible for efficient recognise cleaning staff scrubber that recycles the use of water while cleaning. for good work. cleaning water Review these regularly to ensure continual improvement. • use high pressure water efficient water brooms In Sydney, aquatic centre staff to combine sweeping and often use large open-ended washing. hoses instead of a broom

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Chapter 20 Water features

Water features can be a Water feature • Install a wind sensor that focal point of architecture or maintenance can automatically turn off landscaping. Well designed water features that are and maintained water Good maintenance is one of prone to wind drift. On features use little water. the easiest ways to save costs: gusty days, manually turn off the fountain, as wind Leaks, excessive splash, • Read water meters sensors don’t always work evaporation and wind drift regularly and record water well in these conditions. increase the amount of use to identify leaks and water used by water features. excessive water use. • Use a gate valve in Good design, monitoring • Instruct your water preference to a ball valve and regular maintenance are treatment contractor to on the top-up line and set essential to ensure your water telephone you to discuss it so that the feature tops features do not waste water. any water waste or leaks up slowly. If a problem detected in their monthly causes the top-up to run Water feature design inspections. Ask them to continuously, less water Use these tips to maximise highlight leaks in their will be wasted before water efficiency in water monthly reports. the problem is detected and fixed. features: • Regularly check level sensors Table 14 shows the water use • Individually submeter and float valves. These are for a range of water feature supply lines to water often the cause of waste. types. features. Water features with lots of splashing can sometimes • Install fountains behind make poorly designed float windbreaks or in areas valves in the balance tank sheltered from wind to bob up and down and cause reduce wind drift and top-up waste. evaporation. • If you plan to use trees as windbreaks, choose their location and their species to reduce the number of leaves that fall into the water feature. • Use shading and lighter coloured stones in water features to limit evaporation. • Use rainwater and stormwater in water features as an alternative to drinking water.

Avoid water features with excessive splashing or spray, as these use more water

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Table 14 – Water use for a range of water feature types

Type of water feature Water use Small, well designed and maintained Less than 1 kL/day to 3 kL/day Poor design and construction, no Up to 200 kL/day maintenance or monitoring Poorly maintained with regular dumping Sydney Water has seen examples where and/or overflow of water water use has increased by up to five times

Cleaning water features Reduce cleaning frequency and use biocides to stop microbial growth in the water. Ensure chemicals chosen cannot corrode the water feature’s plumbing. Bromine is often used to stop microbial growth in water features because it has lower odour than chlorine. Bromine corrodes brass and copper pipes so PVC piping is recommended. PVC is also less expensive than copper. Detergents or foaming agents can damage rubber seals and cause leaks. They can also create a film on water level sensors, which causes overflows. Anti-foaming agents are effective if applied quickly. If foam is left to build up, all the water must be dumped and replaced.

Locate water features away from windy and sunny areas to limit evaporation

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Chapter 21 Gardens and sports fields

You can save water and improve the appearance of gardens and sports fields by improving soil and making the best of irrigation.

The amount of water you Improving soil Different soil profiles need to use in gardens depends on the: The most reliable and cost effective way to improve soil • soil type and quality is to improve topsoil. Studies • plant or turf type by Sydney Water found some • location sports fields in Sydney were not irrigated during the • garden size. drought and were still well Good soils capture rain better, grassed because they had reducing how much you need good topsoil depth. to irrigate. Different soils Clay To survive on rainwater alone, have different water holding sports fields in eastern Sydney capacities. need at least 170 mm of topsoil, and in western Sydney they need at least 200 mm of topsoil. You can also improve the soil’s ability to hold water. In sandy soil, add manure or small amounts of clay to bind the Compacted sand particles. Clay soil can be improved by adding manures or composts. This helps to separate the fine clay particles and allows water to infiltrate more quickly.

Water repellent

Image right – Using mulch around plants helps the soil retain water by reducing evaporation Good soil profile

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Maintaining your soil For best results, apply mulch Water Wise Rules affect between 50–70 mm deep how you can use water on Regularly aerate soil and reduce to insulate roots from heat landscaped areas. compaction to maintain good and suppress weed growth. quality turf. Clay loam soil Avoid fine textured mulches Irrigation systems typically needs more frequent because they tend to remain Professionally installed aeration than sandier soil to wet for longer and weeds can irrigation systems with soil avoid compaction. Sandy soil is become established within moisture sensors ensure more prone to compaction if it the mulch. water is applied evenly at a contains a lot of organic matter. Efficient watering rate that matches the soil’s Aeration can be achieved by absorption capacity and in For gardens, water the base extracting cores of soil. Ensure sufficient amount to fill the of plants and not the leaves that aeration extends below soil profile. (except ferns). This provides the depth of compaction. water directly to the roots Automatic irrigation systems are most effective Mulching gardens where it is needed most and reduces evaporation and if adequately calibrated to Mulching around plants leaf burn. You can also save an appropriate irrigation helps to retain water in water by irrigating early in the schedule. If you do use an the soil. Good mulch adds morning or late in the evening. automatic system, make sure organic matter, stabilises soil it has rain and soil moisture A good landscape/irrigation sensors, so that water is only temperatures and reduces assessment will recommend applied when needed. All evaporation from the soil a site-specific irrigation systems must be inspected surface by up to 70%. Mulch management plan. This regularly to make sure that can also inhibit weed growth. will improve irrigation sprinkler heads and timers Poor mulches can cause water efficiency, reduce the are working properly and not repellence. To avoid this, make risk of waterlogging, cut wasting water. sure mulch is composted over-watering and avoid before it is applied. unnecessary water charges.

Inspect irrigation systems regularly to make sure sprinkler heads and timers are working properly

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Plant selection and 20 mm high so that the roots maintenance are able to grow deep into the soil profiles and make use of The types of plants and turf the stored water. Maintain this you select will affect how length by cutting only the top frequently you need to water. third of the leaf area. In dry Extra time spent selecting conditions, leave the clippings plants for your landscaping on the lawn to keep moisture will be repaid in better in the ground and cycle survival and growth rates, nutrients back into the soil. and a more attractive site for people to visit. Consider the following points when selecting plants: • Group plants together that have similar water requirements. • Match the plant to the conditions in which they will be living. Do not use plants native to rainforests or creeks if you want them to grow next to surfaces that reflect heat and light, receive full sun, or next to vents that expel hot air. For information on selecting the right plants for your Select plants that are native to your area and can handle the specific environmental conditions of your centre area and soil type, visit the Sydney Water website sydneywater.com.au or contact your local council. Selecting turf Make sure that good quality topsoil is 170-200 mm deep so that deep-rooted turf species, such as Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo, can draw on deeper water reserves during droughts. Buffalo grasses (such as Palmetto) are slow growing and do not need mowing as often as other lawn grasses. Don’t mow your lawn too Water resilient plants are a great way to save water in your garden and still have it short. Leave grass at least looking great

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Chapter 22 New and renovated aquatic centres

Resource efficiency starts with good design. Making your aquatic centre sustainable will save dollars later.

Make sure water and energy into pool deck design. This will intensive materials that efficiency is included in reduce the physical labour transmit a lot of heat – such the initial design brief to required to use pool covers as aluminium. architects, designers and and make their use more likely. Make sure your centre is developers. Energy efficiency facing the best direction to Sustainability can affect maximise daylight and reduce almost every aspect Specify energy efficient the amount of heat gained on of building design and equipment for all parts of hot days. Design features like your design consultants, your new centre. This includes louvres, large eaves and high builders and subcontractors heating and air conditioning, performance glass facades need to understand your lights, lighting displays, fridges, can cut solar heat gain. High requirements. freezers, vending machines windows and double glazed and cooking equipment. windows can let in light Water efficiency A well-designed centre can with little heat. The cooler Specify water efficient take advantage of smaller and your centre, the smaller and equipment for all parts of your more efficient cooling and cheaper your cooling systems new centre. This includes taps, heating systems. Make sure can be. This will save water, toilets and showers, as well as your architect thinks about energy and money over the big items such as swimming heating and cooling from the entire life of your centre. pool filters and pool covers. start, so centre design and Landscaping Install submeters in key layout can support efficient Reduce the amount of hard locations in your centre and systems. Alternative cooling outside surfaces with features data cables to transport systems can use less energy such as gardens, rooftop information to a central and increase the amount of gardens and absorbent location. fresh air you can vent into the centre. paving. This will reduce Think about where you can stormwater run-off and catch rainwater and place Install solar hot water improve its quality. It will rainwater tanks. What about systems and photovoltaic also reduce your centre’s stormwater harvesting cells on your roof to generate impact on the surrounding systems? Is it possible to your own electricity. environment, and improve re-use greywater? Installing Use environmentally friendly the quality of any stormwater plumbing for alternative water and sustainable building you capture and re-use. systems is generally easier and materials wherever you can. What kinds of landscaping cheaper to do during building Use locally made building are you going to use? Can than afterwards. materials that have low it handle the extremes of Consider installing an embedded energy and good hot, cold and dry weather automatic pool cover system, thermal mass – such as clay likely to be experienced at with pool cover storage built bricks – instead of energy your centre? Are the plants

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you choose native to your Incorporate waste recycling KPIs for new centre local area, and how are you systems into the design of performance planning to preserve any your centre. Paper, metal, native vegetation on your plastic and glass collection It may be useful to set specific site? Landscaped areas and will be easier, safer and KPIs when renovating or green roofs can reduce the more effective if clean and designing a new centre. amount of heat reflected safe collection and storage For example, you may specify around your site and reduce facilities are available. Perhaps a 15% reduction in water and heat loads on your centre. you could also incorporate energy use compared to your a compost system or worm Waste unrenovated centre, or specify farm to recycle organic waste. that the centre must meet Reduce the amount of Site access best practice benchmarks construction waste generated. for water and energy use per Can you design your new Think about site access. Is square metre, bather centre so you incorporate your centre easy to get to by or patron. elements of the existing public transport, by foot and centre and recycle building by bike, as well as by car? Is Useful documents materials? Can you design access safe and easy for all AS//NZS 6400:2505 your centre to reduce the patrons and staff? amendment 3 2006, Water amount of excavation needed Is there easy access to large Efficient Products – Rating on-site? This will reduce the plant and equipment for and Labelling amount of spoil generated maintenance and repair? and make environmental management of the building site easier.

Part 4

Alternative water sources Part 4 of Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres is aimed at council and aquatic centre sustainability officers and facility managers. It includes information on using alternative water sources in aquatic centres. Sydney Water recommends you minimise your demand for water (using the steps in Chapter 5), before you consider alternative water sources. 4 Introduction

Introduction

It is not always necessary to use drinking water. Depending on the end use of water and the quality required, alternative water sources may be used. This could be rainwater, wastewater, bore water or recycled water. Using alternative water sources can be complex and costly. Figure 19 shows options for water efficiency in order from simplest and most cost effective to more complex.

Avoid

Reduce

Projects Projects more more Re-use complex expensive

Recycle

Figure 19 – Options for water efficiency projects

Consider options for water efficiency in the following order: • Avoid using drinking • Re-use water if you cannot The following chapters water where possible. For reduce the amount of outline potential uses for example, instead of using water being used in alternative water sources a hose to clean path areas, a process. Try to use in aquatic centres. Risk use a broom. water more than once management guidelines • Reduce the amount of by treating and re-using for aquatic centres using water used in amenities. filter backwash water, alternative water sources and For example, use efficient harvesting rainwater or a risk assessment matrix can low-flow showers (refer to using bore water. be found in Appendix 1. Chapter 17). • Recycle water by treating and using wastewater.

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Chapter 23 Rainwater

Rainwater harvesting provides a readily available alternative water source. Using rainwater can reduce demand for mains drinking water and reduce stormwater discharges from your site.

Rainwater collected from Rainwater can be harvested for The Australian Bureau of roofs generally has low levels use in pool make-up and filter Meteorology can give you of pollutants. This makes any backwashing, provided it is average yearly rainfall data required treatment simple and treated to a sufficient standard and mean number of rainfall inexpensive, and increases the before human contact. days for your region. You can opportunities for re-use. visit their website at Rainwater must be used www.bom.gov.au The bigger and cleaner your regularly to ensure tanks roof catchment area, the are emptied frequently Alternatively, Sydney more likely you will be able and have enough room to Water has a rainwater to implement an effective capture more rainwater when tank calculator available at rainwater re-use scheme. needed. This also increases sydneywater.com.au. This the effectiveness of tanks in will help you calculate the Using rainwater reducing stormwater flows most cost-effective tank size Harvested rainwater can be from your site. If you use based on your roof area and used for: rainwater regularly, it will demand. maintain water quality in the • pool make-up Once you have selected your tank, and treatment systems tank size, consider: • toilet flushing can be kept simple and • washing machines inexpensive. • where the tank will be • water features located – preferably near How much rainwater existing downpipes • garden irrigation can you catch? • power supply • outdoor cleaning and vehicle cleaning. To make the most of your • pumps rainwater tanks, it’s important • plumbing NSW Health advises against to get the right size tank for • backflow prevention using rainwater for drinking your needs. To calculate the • costs when an alternative mains appropriate size tank, you will water source is available. need to know: • maintenance requirements Guidelines are available in • regulatory and plumbing • the size of the roof area the NSW Health document requirements. Rainwater Tanks Where Public from which water can Supply is Available. be collected • rainfall and climate data In most aquatic centres, water for your area for drinking and cooking is only a small percentage of total • where water will be used water used, so it is generally • how much water you need. not cost effective to treat rainwater to drinking quality.

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Rainwater quality The inlet and overflow of Regulatory the tank should have mesh requirements The quality of rainwater covers and strainers to stop collected depends on the mosquitoes and other insects If rainwater is going to be location in which it falls, the from getting into the tank used for toilet flushing, surface onto which it falls and and breeding. This improves in pool make-up or filter the standard of storage tanks. water quality and stops your backwashing, it will probably The roofs of aquatic centres tanks from causing a public need top-ups from mains may collect contaminants health nuisance. water. In this case, you like dust, leaves, vegetation, need to install a backflow Rainwater collected from bird faeces and occasionally prevention device at the paved areas, including dead animals. Keeping property meter to ensure forecourts, footpaths, car roofs clean with regular the rainwater cannot parks and roads, generally maintenance will improve the contaminate the mains contains far more pollutants. quality of collected rainwater water. More information on This is typically referred to as and reduce the likelihood backflow prevention can be stormwater. of gutters and collection found in Part 4 of this guide. systems becoming blocked. Rainwater treatment Plumbers should complete A first flush device also The greater the degree this work following the NSW improves rainwater quality, as of human contact and Code of Practice Plumbing the first flush contains most the higher the chance of and Drainage and meet pollutants. This device sits ingestion of the rainwater, the specific technical between the roof downpipe the more effort required to requirements for rainwater and the rainwater storage manage water quality and tank plumbing detailed in tank and disposes of the first treatment systems. Guidelines for the installation rainfall runoff collected by of rainwater tanks on your roof. As the first flush Little or no treatment of residential properties: part 1 contains most pollutants, water is needed if roofs and plumbing requirements. a properly sized first flush tanks are well maintained, the diverter is very effective at water is free of contaminants, You should also contact improving the quality of and it is to be used for your local council to discuss collected rainwater. outdoor uses and toilet regulations that apply to flushing. Some centres may installing rainwater tanks, To maintain water quality, it’s choose to treat rainwater stormwater re-use systems, a good idea to exclude roof further, especially if it is to be and greywater or blackwater areas that: used indoors, to minimise risk re-use systems. In New South • have frequent public or to patrons. Wales, property owners vehicle access can install tanks of up to Treatment systems are likely 10,000 L without development • have unpainted lead to be needed if rainwater is flashing, copper roofing approval, providing set required for more sensitive conditions are met for: materials or bitumen paint uses and many people are • are exposed to likely to come into contact • siting and plumbing contaminants, such with it, or if there is a high • installing first flush as bleed from hot chance of ingestion. diverters water heaters and air • mitigating noise from conditioners, and emissions pumps from flues and chimneys or • controlling mosquitoes. nearby industrial processes.

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To find out about these Equipment and Useful references conditions, contact your cleaning local council and review NSW Health NSW Health the conditions in State You can improve the quality Private Water Supply Environmental Planning Policy of stored rainwater, minimise Guidelines 2007, No. 4 at www.planning.nsw. the need for complex www.health.nsw.gov.au/ gov.au/planningsystem/ treatment systems and keep public-health/ehb/water/ sepp1.asp costs down by: private_supplies.html Larger tanks or tanks that do • cleaning your gutters EnHealth, Guidance on the not meet these conditions regularly use of rainwater tanks 2004, www.enhealth.nphp.gov.au/ usually need local council • installing an adequately council/pubs/pdf/rainwater development approval. sized first flush device _tanks.pdf Costs and benefits • removing sludge from tanks every two to three Environmental Protection of rainwater tanks years as required. and Heritage Council (EPHC), Rainwater harvesting is a Australian Guidelines 21 For Tanks, gutter systems, pipe Water Recycling: Managing popular way to save drinking work and warning signs water, although it is usually Health And Environmental should meet Australian Risks (Phase 2) Stormwater less cost effective than other standards. measures for reducing water harvesting and reuse, 2009, use, such as leak reduction To use tank water, you need www.ephc.gov.au/sites/ and improved efficiency. to install pumps to ensure default/files/WQ_AGWR enough operating pressure. _GL__Stormwater If rainwater is used for You should include these _Harvesting_and_Reuse purposes such as toilet costs in the overall cost of _Final_200907.pdf flushing, pool make-up or rainwater tank installation. filter backwashing, it can NSW Health, Use of Rainwater reduce mains water use. Your plumbing contractor Tanks Where a Public Water Rainwater harvesting can also or hydraulic engineer can Supply is Available, reduce stormwater discharges advise you. www.health.nsw.gov. from large sites, which can au/ policies/gl/2007/ ease some of the negative GL2007_009.html environmental effects of urban stormwater. Installing a large rainwater harvesting system in a new aquatic centre may reduce or remove the need to build an on-site detention system for stormwater.

104 Chapter 24 – Wastewater 4

Chapter 24 Wastewater

Wastewater can be a valuable and reliable alternative source of water. It needs careful management and treatment before it can be re-used as it contains a range of contaminants.

Wastewater is generally Wastewater is a combination • decide on the treatment described by three different of blackwater and greywater, processes you will use, and terms: as well as trade wastewater ensure they will remove from commercial and contaminants and make Greywater includes industrial activities. Treated water safe for users and wastewater from hand wastewater must not be used the environment. basins, showers and in pool make-up. laundries. Greywater may Preventing hazardous be contaminated by human Re-using greywater contaminants from going waste. Filter backwash into a greywater system is the wastewater may also be Greywater with high levels of best way to ensure greywater regarded as greywater. Its pathogen contamination and quality. This can be done by: oils and grease can be used treatment and re-use is more • excluding kitchen waste, for below ground irrigation complex, because it may because of high levels of with little treatment. be alkaline and can contain oil, grease and bacterial However, with a high level large amounts of sediments, contamination from food of treatment greywater can fats and water treatment waste (unless your system be used for above ground chemicals. More information is specifically designed to irrigation and indoor uses, about using filter backwash handle this) water and a risk assessment such as toilet and urinal • excluding laundry water matrix are provided in flushing. when items soiled with Appendix 1. Before using greywater: faeces or vomit are washed, Blackwater (domestic • identify the contaminants as they have high levels of wastewater) is wastewater in your greywater bacterial contamination from toilets and bidets • calculate how much • ensuring household and that is heavily and directly greywater you generate garden chemicals are not contaminated with human now and how much you disposed of into greywater, waste and solid materials, can potentially generate because chemicals such as toilet paper. • decide on intended uses can harm soils and the Blackwater is likely to have for greywater, such as environment. high levels of bacterial irrigation or toilet flushing contamination and can be It is important to communicate highly infectious. Recycled • determine how much with aquatic centre staff blackwater must not be used contact people will have and cleaners to help them in pool make-up. with re-used greywater understand what they can • identify any environmental put down the drain and when risks associated with water must be diverted to the greywater re-use wastewater system.

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If you plan to use greywater Greywater must be diverted harmful bacteria are reduced, for irrigation, ensure the to the wastewater system if making greywater safe for receiving soils can hold the there is a known source of uses where there is more volume of water. To find out faecal contamination or an human contact. the water holding ability of outbreak of infectious disease your soils, you may need a among users of the aquatic Using blackwater suitably qualified consultant centre where greywater is and wastewater to carry out a soil assessment. sourced. The amount of greywater There are two types of devices Diversion devices can be generated on-site can commonly available to re-use operated by gravity or pump. sometimes be insufficient to greywater: Pump devices have a surge fulfil demand for re-use water. tank that controls the amount It may be more efficient to 1. Greywater diversion of greywater sent to irrigation. use blackwater or wastewater. devices. The surge tank should not be While these wastewater 2. Greywater treatment used as a storage tank. streams are more heavily devices. contaminated and need more Greywater treatment systems Greywater diversion devices treatment, having access to a A treatment system must be larger amount of wastewater If you are confident that your used if greywater contains may be more cost effective. greywater system does not kitchen wastewater, or if Recycled blackwater must collect kitchen wastewater you want to use greywater not be used in pool make-up. or contain heavy pathogen for toilet flushing, washing Centre owners can either use loads, you can use a greywater machines or unrestricted the wastewater generated diversion device to divert garden irrigation. greywater to below ground on-site, or access nearby irrigation. A complete greywater wastewater mains. Accessing treatment system may wastewater from nearby Below ground greywater include: mains is known as sewer irrigation systems must mining. If businesses are be installed at least 10 cm • greywater septic tanks accessing wastewater from underground to reduce • aerated wastewater Sydney Water’s mains, they human exposure to potential treatment systems need approval from Sydney pathogens. • intermittent sand filters Water and their local council. Diversion devices are not • soil filters Centres that want to sewer allowed to store greywater • wetlands. mine should discuss their because harmful pathogens plans with Sydney Water can grow in storage tanks These processes remove to make sure the project is and unpleasant odours can pollutants including solids, possible and the existing develop. Any greywater that but only the aerated wastewater infrastructure is not used for irrigation wastewater treatment system can cope with the proposed must be disposed of to the removes harmful bacteria. project. If the project is wastewater system. To avoid Disinfection is needed where possible, Sydney Water will waterlogging your soil, don’t there is human contact provide initial development apply greywater after rain. with re-used greywater. and construction approvals. Diversion devices must have When secondary treated a screen to remove any large greywater is disinfected using pollutants, such as lint or active disinfectants, such as twigs, which could clog spray chlorine, bromine, ozone or systems or pumps. ultraviolet light, the levels of

106 Chapter 24 – Wastewater 4

Costs and benefits Regulatory requirements Recycled water schemes should meet the Australian Wastewater can provide a In NSW, local government Water Recycling Guidelines: regular source of alternative approval is needed to install Managing Health and water. Well-run systems can and operate wastewater Environmental Risks greatly reduce demand on maintenance systems. This (2006) and the Interim mains drinking water supply. also applies to greywater NSW Guidelines for the re-use systems. Your local Given the costs of setting up Management of Private council may give approval a well-run wastewater re-use Recycled Water Schemes. under the Local Government system, it’s important you Refer to www.waterforlife. Act 1993 and Regulations. have an accurate idea of nsw.gov.au/recycling/ The NSW Office of Water and how much wastewater you guidelines for a full list of NSW Health may advise local will be collecting, and how appropriate water recycling councils about applications. much you will be using. If you guidelines. make your aquatic centre as Local government approval is Risk management and water efficient as possible, not needed if an environmental treatment you can keep the size of any protection licence is already in water re-use scheme small place under the Protection of To manage the risks of filter and reduce your capital and the Environment Operations backwash water, greywater or operating costs. Act 1997. recycled water systems and to gain approval to install and operate one, follow the steps in the table below.

Table 15 – Risk management protocol for use of recycled water

Action Detail Conduct a risk assessment Risk assessment will identify likely health and environmental risks in the sources of wastewater and its intended uses. This will guide the design of a treatment system that will produce appropriate quality water that is safe for users and the environment. A risk assessment matrix for different types of pools can be found in Appendix 1. Include multiple barriers Multiple barrier treatment systems can produce optimum quality water and provide multiple points at which pollutants can be removed. The types of barriers used will depend on the contaminants in the source water and the sensitivity of its intended uses. Examples of barriers include: • restricting your wastewater sources to avoid hazardous pollutants • filtering wastewater with a membrane • chemical treatment • restricting access to recycled water • installing signs.

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Action Detail Disinfect to remove Wastewater should be disinfected to ensure all harmful harmful bacteria bacteria are removed. Substances such as chlorine and bromine provide residual disinfection that prevents regrowth of harmful bacteria for some time. UV and ozone disinfect, but do not provide residual disinfection. Identify the critical control Critical control points are steps or procedures in your recycled points water system, which are essential to eliminate a water quality hazard or reduce it to acceptable levels. Numerical limits should be set for each critical control point so that managers of the water system can monitor it, ensure that it is operating correctly and take corrective action if necessary. Develop a system A system management manual should be developed so that management manual everyone involved with the system knows how it works, who is responsible for managing it, how to respond to alarms or malfunctions and how to report on system performance. A draft system manual should be submitted to your local council with your initial application. It should be updated when the results of system testing and validation are known. Test the system If your local council gives approval to install the system, the performance of the system must be tested over 12 weeks to make sure it is working correctly and producing water of an acceptable quality. During this time, treated water should be disposed of to the wastewater system. After approval to operate is given, an additional four weeks’ testing is needed to make sure it is operating as expected. Set alarms Critical control points in the system should be monitored continuously. Alarms on critical control points should be established, so that system operators are alerted if water quality targets are not met, or if parts of the system stop operating. Water from the system should be immediately diverted to the wastewater system. Responsibility Clear responsibility should be given to a person or organisation to manage the system. Signage Install signs and colour code plumbing pipes and fixtures. This will help prevent human contact with recycled water and operate as an additional barrier. Conduct regular plumbing compliance checks to detect cross connections. Comply with plumbing If your wastewater re-use system is in Sydney, notify Sydney requirements Water of any changes to your plumbing. Sydney Water will review your system to make sure there are no potential health threats or impacts on the drinking water system. Talk to your Sydney Water Business Customer Service representative to make sure there are no changes to your customer agreement.

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Useful references Water for Life – recycling guidelines www.waterforlife.nsw.gov.au NSW Government Department of Water and Energy, Interim NSW guidelines for management of private recycled water schemes, May 2008, www.waterforlife.nsw.gov.au Environmental Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), National Water Quality Management Strategy – Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 1) – November 2006, www.ephc.gov.au/sites/ default/files/WQ_AGWR_ GL_Managing_Health_ Environmental_Risks _Phase1_Final_200611.pdf NSW Health, Advisory Note 4 – Sewage Management Facility Accreditation Criteria Based on the Final Application of Treated Effluent and Risk of Disease Transmission, 2006, www.health.nsw.gov.au/ resources/publichealth/ environment/water/ adnote4_pdf.asp Environmental Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), Australian Guidelines 21 For Water Recycling: Managing Health And Environmental Risks (Phase 2) Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies, 2008, www.ephc.gov.au/sites/ default/files/WQ_AGWR_ GL__ADWS_Corrected_ Final_%20200809.pdf

109 4 Chapter 25 – Groundwater

Chapter 25 Groundwater

Groundwater, sometimes Groundwater can be used The type of treatment known as bore water, may be to flush toilets and urinals. depends on the particular an alternative source of water Groundwater is used for toilet properties of the groundwater for some aquatic centres. It and urinal flushing, at Des you extract and the sensitivity is found in the cavity spaces Renford Aquatic Centre at of its uses. or in the fractures of rock Randwick. formations beneath the Regulatory Before using groundwater earth’s surface. This can be consider: requirements of good quality, suitable for The NSW Office of Water • how much groundwater drinking, domestic use, stock regulates access to you need and irrigation. groundwater in New South • if groundwater can deliver Using groundwater Wales. Before you sink a bore, a sustainable amount you must first obtain approval One of the most common of water and a licence from the Office uses of groundwater is • what treatment it may of Water. A licensed driller irrigation. Some aquatic need must construct all bores. centres in Sydney have • other land uses in the There are embargoes in licences for groundwater groundwater catchment extraction. place for commercial use of and the potential for groundwater in some areas The quality of groundwater contamination around Sydney. These include can be variable, and the costs • what approvals you need the Botany Sands aquifer to access it depend on the before drilling a bore and in the Eastern Suburbs and depth at which it is found and using groundwater. around Botany Bay, and local geography. Groundwater quality the Hawkesbury sandstone The NSW Office of Water aquifer in the Blue Mountains keeps a groundwater The quality and properties and parts of the Southern database of registered of groundwater affect the Highlands. These embargoes bores in NSW. The Office of range of end uses available. do not allow the Office of Water can give you general It is important to note that Water to accept new water information about the likely quality varies from one site licences. Contact the Office quality of water, based on to another. of Water for details about embargoes. nearby bores. The common dissolved solids It is important to consider the found in groundwater include effect of groundwater on soil dissolved iron, manganese quality as it may contain high and hydrogen sulphate. You levels of dissolved salts. Some should also investigate the soils may be more sensitive groundwater’s pH and if it than others, so it’s a good idea is likely to cause corrosion to organise a soil analysis. or scaling if not treated before use.

Image right – Des Renford Aquatic Centre in Randwick uses groundwater for flushing toilets and irrigation

110 4

Part 5

Managing your wastewater Part 5 of Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres is aimed at council and aquatic centre sustainability officers and facility managers. It can help you manage your wastewater better and comply with trade waste and backflow prevention requirements. 5 Chapter 26 – Sewerage Usage Discharge Factor

Chapter 26 Sewerage Usage Discharge Factor

Wastewater usage charges apply to non-residential properties (Sewerage Usage Discharge Factor). The charge applies to each kilolitre of wastewater discharged to the wastewater system. It is found in your water bill as a percentage of the combined volume of drinking and recycled water used and discharged into the wastewater system.

The SUDF includes all discharge to the wastewater system, that is liquid trade waste and domestic wastewater and, in some cases, first flush stormwater from open areas. SUDF usually varies from 70% to 95%. For aquatic centres using alternative water sources SUDF may be calculated differently. Business customers can request a review of their SUDF. This involves monitoring the flow to the wastewater system over one year. Contact your Business Customer Services representative for assistance.

114 Chapter 27 – Volume measurement 5

Chapter 27 Volume measurement

It is important to accurately measure the volume of backwash wastewater discharged to the wastewater system. This will help you understand if your sewerage usage discharge factor is correct.

Ask your Sydney Water wastewater passes through in Sydney Water’s Flow Business Customer Service the magnetic field it produces measure for trade waste representative how you can a voltage, which is used to fact sheet, available at measure your wastewater calculate volumetric flow. Refer sydneywater.com.au discharge more effectively. to Figure 20 for an illustration Magnetic flow meters There are also consultants of a magnetic flowmeter. require yearly service and who can assist you for a fee. These meters are ideal for: calibration and generally • wastewater and dirty A magnetic flow meter, do not work with: located on the discharge line, water monitoring • hydrocarbons is a recommended volume • applications with low measuring device. Magnetic pressure drop. • distilled water flow meters calculate However, there are • many non-aqueous volumetric flow and have specifications that need to be solutions. no moving parts. As the followed. These are detailed

Magnetic coil

B=Magnetic Field

D=Internal Pipe Diameter

Flow V=Velocity Electrodes E=Voltage

Magnetic coil E VBD

Figure 20 – Magnetic flow meter

115 5 Chapter 28 – Trade waste

Chapter 28 Trade wastewater

Trade wastewater is any liquid damage due to harmful 1. Deemed customers are: and substances in it, produced substances from trade • those considered by by an industrial or commercial waste sources Sydney Water to have activity at a business and • assist Sydney Water to meet ‘deemed processes’ disposed of through the relevant environmental and • allowed to discharge small wastewater system. In some other regulations cases, trade wastewater quantities of wastewater • assist treatment plants contains high concentrations to the wastewater system to process wastewater of substances that could harm without negotiating and produce recycled people or the environment, a Commercial Trade water and biosolids of corrode or block sewer pipes, Wastewater Permit, but guaranteed quality create odours, or cause they must meet specific hydraulic and treatment • encourage waste standards of pre-treatment problems at Sydney Water’s minimisation, cleaner and other requirements wastewater treatment plants. production and water • excluded from trade efficient practices in the wastewater charges. Trade wastewater is different commercial and industrial to domestic wastewater, sectors. 2. Commercial customers are: which comes from toilets, For more information, please • those with standard sinks, showers, basins and refer to Sydney Water’s commercial processes as washing machines within Trade Waste Policy at defined by Sydney Water households. sydneywater.com.au. • retail food outlets, Sydney Water has a Trade Customers who need to motor vehicle and small Waste Policy, the objectives discharge trade wastewater photographic, printing and of which are to: into the wastewater system X-ray processes • protect the health and must first obtain written • required to apply for safety of all people permission from Sydney a Commercial Trade working in and around Water. Depending on the Wastewater Permit. These the wastewater system by type of customer, a consent processes have prescribed applying strict standards or permit will be provided by pre-treatment requirements for harmful substances Sydney Water. These describe and standard charges. • protect receiving the conditions in which 3. Industrial customers are: environments from Sydney Water will accept • those which include food harmful substances that trade wastewater. manufacturing, metals may be in wastewater Types of trade waste and surface coating, treatment plant effluent waste processing, waste as a result of trade customers treatment and disposal, oil wastewater There are three types of trade refineries and oil recycling • protect the wastewater waste customers: deemed, • required to sign an system and wastewater commercial and industrial. Industrial Trade Waste treatment plants from Consent with Sydney Water

to discharge wastewater.

116 Chapter 29 – Trade waste in aquatic centres 5

Chapter 29 Trade waste in aquatic centres

Kiosks and kitchens If the aquatic centre has a kiosk that prepares hot food and/or a commercial kitchen discharging into the wastewater system, it requires a Commercial Trade Wastewater Permit. Pre-treatment may be required to ensure that oil, grease and food solids are removed from the wastewater before it is In-floor bucket traps capture food scraps, cutlery and cleaning cloths that may have discharged into the wastewater fallen on the floor. They prevent these items from entering the grease arrestor and system. Sydney Water does not encourage thorough cleaning practices allow sink-to-sewer disposal and lotions, and harmful These principles consider units (also called in-sink food bacteria. However, treated waste disposal units or garbage the available capacity of the pool water also contains grinders) in non-domestic wastewater system and ensure buildings. levels of chlorine and chlorine that large particles, particularly disinfection by-products and sand and grit, are captured and For more about grease Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). removed before discharge. arrestors, in-sink and in-floor bucket traps, Smart Rinse Aquatic centres require Backwash water holding a Trade Wastewater Permit spray valves, foot or knee tank and controls sensor controlled taps or to from Sydney Water to request marketing material, discharge pool backwash A backwash water holding email businesscustomers@ water to the wastewater tank is used, before sydneywater.com.au or call system. This covers: wastewater is discharged 13 20 92. • wastewater treatment into the wastewater system. Figure 21 shows a typical • volume of treatment Swimming pools backwash water holding tank. and discharge Swimming pools have filters This tank has three • flow rate of discharge major benefits: to remove contaminants to sewer from the pool water. To • magnetic flow meter 1. It allows sand and grit keep the filters working type and location, for in the backwash water efficiently, they must be verification of discharge. to settle out. backwashed regularly to flush 2. It improves the quality out contaminants and dirt. Sydney Water is prepared of the wastewater. Contaminants can include to accept swimming pool organic matter such as hair backwash to the wastewater 3. It controls the rate and skin, small particles such system providing a number of discharge to the as sediments, dirt and leaves, of principles for managing wastewater system. oily residues from sunscreens wastewater are maintained.

117 5 Chapter 29 – Trade waste in aquatic centres 5

The typical acceptable flow rate excess backwash pumping the wastewater system to the wastewater system is and five per cent for sludge or stormwater. A low level two litres a second. If a higher containment capacity. cut-off switch is required discharge rate is needed, Shape of backwash water to maintain the sludge consult your Business Customer holding tank containment capacity. Services representative. Sydney Maintenance of backwash Water will assess your request The shape of the backwash water holding tank and determine if there is water holding tank must sufficient capacity in the encourage the settling of At a minimum, the tank wastewater system. suspended solids to form should be de-sludged sludge. It may have either a regularly, preferably every six Size of backwash water sloping floor or a conically months. However, check the holding tank shaped base to enhance settling tank monthly as the frequency The tank must be sized to of solids and their removal. of de-sludging is different for capture the largest backwash A high level cut-off switch each system. This depends cycle of the pool plus 15%. must be fitted to stop the on the size of the tank, This includes 10% to account backwashing cycle and frequency of backwashing for any overflows in case of prevent any overflow to and water quality.

Control box Pumps 1 off duty / 1 on duty

High level sensor

Low level sensor From pool filter backwash Pit access

Gully

Sloping pit floor Dry basket trap Plain view Wastewater system Pumped discharge Baffle < 2 litres /sec From pool filter Tundish backwash Gully

Ground level

Dry arrestor pit Sloping pit floor Solids capture

Elevation

Figure 21 – Key features of a typical backwash water holding tank Image left – Swimming pools have filters that remove contaminants such as hair and skin, sunscreen, dirt, leaves and bacteria, leaving clean water

119 5 Chapter 30 – Backflow prevention

Chapter 30 Backflow prevention

Backflow is water flowing in through a series of events as Because aquatic centres reverse to its normal direction. outlined in Figure 22 below. use chemicals to treat It occurs when water pressure swimming pool water, these To protect Sydney Water’s in the water main is reduced chemicals have the potential water supplies, all water or the customer is using to contaminate the drinking services must meet the water at a higher pressure water supply if backflow requirements of the NSW Code than the pressure supplied by occurs. To protect Sydney of Practice for plumbing and Sydney Water. This can cause Water’s drinking water drainage and Australian/New water to flow back into the supply, you must install Zealand Standard for plumbing drinking water supply system a backflow prevention and drainage Part 1: Water from a potentially polluted containment device. services (AS/NZS 3500.1). source. Backflow can occur

Event 2 Reverse pressure is created by a drop in water pressure. Dangerous chemicals can then be drawn into the drinking water supply through a hose (also known as a cross connection). Event 1 Water pressure is reduced because of a break in the water main.

Event 3 Dangerous chemicals enter the drinking water supply and come out of neighbouring showers and taps. This can cause serious or fatal injury.

Figure Event 22 – Backflow 2 from aquatic centres could potentially contaminate the drinking water supply There is a cross connection between the drinking water For example cross connections can occur when: supply and a contaminated source • metal in solution or chemicals used for production in metal 120 There is a risk to public health if there is a cross connection processing or chemical plants comes into contact with the between your water supply and a contaminated source. water supply If there is a pressure drop in the water main, a vacuum could • chemical injectors, irrigation systems and garden hoses be created in the water supply system. Under certain conditions are connected to the water supply at market gardens this creates a siphoning effect and draws liquid from a • hoses are left running in a planter or container with contaminated source back into the drinking water supply. liquid chemicals, such as fertilisers A number of different property types pose a particular • there is a connection between the scrubber and rinse cycle risk to public health through cross connections. pipes at car wash facilities that allows recycled water into These include: the drinking water supply. • chemical plants Event 3 • pest controllers A nearby property uses the drinking water supply • market gardens • golf courses/sporting ovals A dangerous chemical (or contaminant) may remain in the water main until it reaches nearby properties. • caravan parks When this water is used for drinking, showering or other • greywater treatment systems purposes, occupants could be seriously or fatally injured. • metal processing plants • paint manufacturers • laundries • nurseries • residential properties with rainwater storage.

2 Chapter 30 – Backflow prevention 5

Backflow prevention The three hazard ratings containment device identified by AS/NZS 3500.1 are: A backflow prevention • High hazard – any containment device ensures condition, device or practice that the drinking water which, in connection with supplied by Sydney Water the water supply system, cannot be contaminated can cause death. by any actual or potential cross connections from a • Medium hazard – any customer’s property. condition, device or practice which, in You must have a backflow connection with the prevention containment water supply system, can device on all water supplies endanger health. entering the property, • Low hazard – any condition, regardless of the supply type device or practice which, or metering arrangements. in connection with the All backflow prevention water supply system, is containment devices must a nuisance but does not be installed at your property endanger health or boundary, on the outlet side cause injury. of all master water meter(s) suppling the property. In cases The property owner must also where there is no master provide zone and individual meter, the containment backflow protection from device must be on the water hazards within their property, supply where it enters the as specified in AS/NZS 3500.1. property boundary. For more information on The hazard rating of the backflow prevention, visit processes carried out on your sydneywater.com.au property determines what type of device you must install. Consult a licensed plumber with backflow prevention accreditation to determine your property’s needs.

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Appendix 1

Risk management for using alternative water sources Appendix 1 of Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres is aimed at aquatic centre managers and pool operators. It gives information and risk assessment matrixes for using alternative water sources for pool make-up in aquatic centres. A Introduction

Introduction

More expectations are being placed on aquatic facilities and the community to conserve water and live more sustainably.

When alternative water The regulation has Whether alternative water sources are used for pool provisions for: sources are being used or not, make-up, pool operators must pool operators must control • disinfecting water in pools have a risk management microbial risks to bathers. process in place to ensure the • maintaining pool The microorganisms that health and safety of patrons surrounds present a risk to bathers are: and the public. Water quality • inspecting pools and the associated risks of • closing pools when there is • bacteria (such as using alternative water sources a risk to public health. E.coli, coliforms and must be reviewed each year. pseudomonads) The NSW Health Public • protozoans (such as This appendix outlines Swimming Pool and Spa Pool Cryptosporidium parvum, the health risk of using Guidelines assist swimming and Giardia lamblia). alternative water sources pool operators to meet the at aquatic centres in New requirements of the NSW Bacteria can be easily South Wales. It provides a risk Public Health (Swimming Pools controlled in swimming assessment matrix and some and Spa Pools) Regulation pools if: controls to reduce these risks 2000. NSW Health is currently • appropriate water balance to acceptable levels. reviewing the guidelines to and residual disinfection create two new documents: The alternative water sources is maintained at all covered in this appendix 1. NSW Health Draft Guidelines times (the level of free include: for Disinfecting Public chlorine with regard to • bore water Swimming Pools and Spa the sanitiser, pH and other Pools specifies the required chemical parameters) • rainwater disinfection and treatment • water is continuously • stormwater for public swimming pools circulated through the pool • filter backwash water and spa pools operations. and filters • greywater sourced 2. NSW Health Draft Public • the pool and filters are from showers/washing Swimming Pool and Spa Pool being regularly cleaned machines Code of Practice explains (including periodic • Class A recycled water swimming pool operation disturbance to or cleaning available from a local water including disinfection and of any zones with poor authority’s recycling plant. treatment, pool chemistry circulation). and risk assessment. NSW Government Protozoans are harder to regulation Health risks associated control than bacteria as with water use in they are generally chlorine Public health requirements for resistant. These types of pools are set out in the NSW aquatic centres microorganisms are seen Public Health (Swimming Pools The largest risk to public health as a major microbiological and Spa Pools) Regulation 2000. in swimming pools and aquatic contamination risk from centres are microorganisms. alternative sources of water used in pool make-up.

124 Chapter 31 – Factors affecting microbial risk A

Chapter 31 Factors affecting microbial risk

Figure 23 shows the factors decisions being made with aquatic centre in order of affecting the microbial water savings and re-use increasing microbial risk. content of a pool. These are: in mind. An Olympic sized pool is usually the deepest pool • inherent – the type and Type of pool with the smallest bather design of the pool and it’s load and the greatest equipment The pool size reflects the ability of the pool capability for dilution. • operational – the operation to dilute any introduced A toddler swimming pool of the pool such as water contaminants. The more or wading pool is usually balance and levels of diluted the contaminants the shallowest pool with disinfection are, the less likely they are the highest bather load. • introduced – the to reach bathers before Often, a toddler pool may not cleanliness of bathers and coming into contact with have its own disinfection and the quality of the pool the sanitiser or filter. The filtration system, sharing it make-up water. following relationship has with a larger, deeper pool. In Inherent factors been identified for inherent this case, this risk hierarchy microbial risk: still applies. Bathers are The inherent factors affecting exposed to contaminants microbial risk to a pool relate • The smaller the pool while in the pool, and each to the type of pool, its design depth, the higher the risk pool has a different level and its associated equipment. associated with the pool. of contaminants based on Although little can be done • The larger the bather bather load and depth. about these factors except loading on a pool (ie the through a retrofit or an number of bathers per Learn-to-swim pools, general upgrade, understanding the unit volume), the higher purpose and leisure pools risk that inherent factors the risk. Figure 24 shows usually have a similar depth. present leads to better the types of pools in an The difference between the

Microbial risk

Inherent Introduced Operational

Pool Pool Pool Pool Pool type design & user make-up operation equipment water

Figure 23 – Factors affecting microbial risk in an aquatic centre

125 A Chapter 31 – Factors affecting microbial risk

risk of each pool is related to water balance for the specific Pool users the bather load. Hydrotherapy conditions of each pool. Microorganisms can be present pools are medium risk pools Modern pools use more on bathers’ bodies, including with a risk rating between efficient filters with faster faecal matter, and introduced general/leisure pools and turnover rates. Deeper, larger to the pool accidentally. They learn-to-swim pools. pools are generally equipped are transferred to other bathers Pool design and with better filtration, when they are ingested. disinfection and pump Bathers that are not toilet equipment systems, improving their water trained (babies and toddlers) or The pool design also quality control. Upgrade old bathers that have poor urinary influences the level of filter systems before using or bowel control (the elderly microbial risk. Bathers are alternative water sources. and disabled) increase the exposed to contaminants This will give you better risk of pool contamination by after they have been control over water quality microorganisms in two ways: introduced to the pool by and microbial risk and may 1. Urine in a pool uses up other bathers and before help you reduce water use by free chlorine, reducing the they have been treated by improving water efficiency. available free chlorine to the residual sanitiser or have Protozoans can pass through kill microorganisms. passed through the filter. filter media, but are usually 2. Faecal matter can contain Smaller pools, particularly removed with dirt and other protozoan parasites such wading pools, can lose their contaminants during filter as Cryptosporidium parvum free chlorine disinfectant backwashing. To minimise and Giardia lamblia. levels (residual sanitiser) more filter breakthrough, maintain To limit accidental rapidly than deeper pools due all pool filters regularly contamination, toddlers to their higher concentration and check for signs of filter and patrons who have poor of contaminants. Where filter breakthrough. Filter efficiency urinary or bowel control systems are not independent, can also be improved in some should wear specially free chlorine disinfectant cases by filter aids, such as designed swimming pants, levels may be sufficient for coagulants and flocculants. use toilet facilities before the deeper pool but not the Introduced factors entering the pool, and take shallower pool, due to the regular toilet breaks. Develop difference in concentration Introduced risks are an isolation and treatment of contaminants in each microorganisms that may procedure for faecal pool. Install a separate filter enter the pool from bathers contamination events and system for each swimming and when make-up water is train staff. Also, discourage pool. This will help you control added to the pool. toddlers from taking

Olympic General Learn to Toddler leisure swim

Low risk Medium risk High risk

Figure 24 – Microbial risk for various swimming pool types

126 Chapter 31 – Factors affecting microbial risk A

mouthfuls of pool water. for the microorganism to Water treatment systems Discourage patrons from reach another bather, and the need to be designed to using the pool for two weeks length of time it is exposed to address the quality of the after suffering any gastro- the disinfectant may not be source water specifically intestinal illness. enough to kill it. In pools with for its intended end use. a low bather load, the contact The treatment system and Often, bathers do not know time with the disinfectant resulting water quality need they are infected. They can is higher, so the risk is lower. to be validated. Sufficient introduce faecal matter to Figure 25 shows the types controls (such as using a the pool accidentally, on their of swimming patrons in an multi-barrier approach and bodies and on dirty hands (not aquatic centre, in order of an online monitoring system) washing hands after changing increasing microbial risk. ensure that each batch of nappies or going to the toilet). treated water achieves the Or they can unintentionally Pool make-up water desired water quality before carry it into the pool on their introduction into a pool. feet. Advise patrons to shower The water quality and before using the pool, to microbial risk of alternative change nappies in the change water sources need to be room instead of beside the considered before it is used in pool, and to wash their hands pool make-up. For example, after changing nappies or individual Cryptosporidium going to the toilet. particles (known as oocysts) can be trapped by matter Once the microorganism has caught in the pool filter. been introduced into the Because of this, backwash pool, there is a risk it may be water can contain the ingested by other bathers. Cryptosporidium parasite. This Pools with a higher bather water needs to be treated to load have a greater risk of drinking water quality before introducing microorganisms it can be used in the pool, but to other bathers. This is needs only limited treatment because it does not take long if used for toilet flushing.

Non toilet trained infants

Incontinent persons Increasing Pool user Persons with gastro-intestinal infections microbial risk

Immuno-compromised persons

General population

Figure 25 – Microbial risk for various swimming patron types

127 A Chapter 31 – Factors affecting microbial risk

Source

Treatment of source Pool make-up water

Treated water quality controls

End use of treated water

Figure 26 – Considerations for assessing microbial risk for various pool make-up water sources

Figure 26 shows what Operational factors • a large volume of pool to consider when you are water is required for thinking of using alternative Pool operators need to accurate analysis maintain water balance water sources for pool • the sample of water make-up. to make sure disinfection is effective. Water balance may not be an accurate Disinfect alternative water parameters and filter system representation of the pool sources before delivery into effectiveness should be (Cryptosporidiosis can the pool. The disinfection checked each day. Maintaining result from the ingestion effectiveness also needs correct water balance and of as few as one viable to be considered when disinfection control in the pool Cryptosporidium designing a re-use system. water is more effective than parvum particle). Limit microbiological testing Alternative disinfection microbiological testing for to bacterial indicators of faecal treatments include ozone, ensuring water quality. contamination such as E. coli. and ultraviolet (UV) light. This is because: Use a UV or ozone to system • tests only indicate the To destroy any remaining to supplement chemical microbiological quality protozoans in the pool and disinfection and of the pool water at the to combat Cryptosporidiosis, to reduce chloramines. time of the test conduct super chlorination • tests take a long time and weekly or fortnightly. the microbiological quality Super chlorination also has of the pool water may the benefit of reducing/ change while testing occurs minimising any combined chlorines.

128 Chapter 31 – Factors affecting microbial risk A

Summary of • Develop an isolation and NSW Health has also advised microbial risks treatment procedure for pool operators of steps faecal contamination to reduce risks to bathers In summary, the microbial events and train staff. using showers and toilets. risks of swimming pools • Use a UV or ozone For details, refer to NSW increase as the pool depth system to provide extra Protocol for Minimising the become shallower and disinfection and reduce Risk of Cryptosporidium bather load increases. chloramines. Contamination in Public Figure 27 summarises the Swimming Pools and Spa • Adopt regular super factors affecting microbial Pools 1999. chlorination of the pool on risk in swimming pools. a weekly/fortnightly basis. To reduce the risk of a Irrespective of the source and Cryptosporidiosis outbreak: treatment of pool make-up Advise patrons: • understand the risks of water, the risk of microbial • not to swim within two using alternative water contamination in a pool can weeks of having diarrhoea sources for each type of pool be managed by taking the or vomiting. following steps: • carefully evaluate • not to change nappies collection or treatment • Ensure water treatment near the pool and to use processes if alternative complies with the a change room to wash water sources are used for requirements of the NSW their hands after changing pool make-up Public Health (Swimming a nappy. • prepare a risk assessment Pools and Spa Pools) • that non-toilet trained and management plan for Regulation 2000. and incontinent bathers using alternative water • Operate and maintain are to wear specially sources the disinfection system designed swimming pants. • monitor make-up water to the manufacturer’s • to use toilet facilities quality before it is recommendations. When before entering pool. disinfection problems introduced into the pool • to take toddlers for occur that are unable • monitor patron behaviour regular toilet breaks to be resolved, seek the that can threaten pool during pool use. assistance of specialist pool water quality. disinfection consultants.

Olympic General Learn to Toddler leisure swim

Increasing risk

Increasing bather load

Figure 27 – General hierarchy of microbial risk in pools, based on pool type, pool design and equipment, and pool users

129 A Chapter 32 – Managing risks of using alternative sources of water

Chapter 32 Managing risks of using alternative sources of water

Drinking water can be replaced with an alternative water source. The source of the water determines the best use with the lowest risk.

Alternative sources of water: characteristics that limit where • Rainwater must be it can be used. Characteristics introduced into the pool • Bore water such as hardness and pH may through the balance tank • Rainwater affect the water balance in the or overnight to make sure • Stormwater pool when bore water is used it has enough time for (not recommended for pool make-up. treatment before it comes for pool make-up) into contact with bathers. Assess the quality of bore water • Filter backwash water • Rainwater should be added before using it as an alternative to the pool before the pool • Greywater sourced to drinking water. Make sure filter to minimise any risk from showers/ the quality of the bore water of dirt contamination in the washing machines (not is suitable for the end use. recommended for pool pool. Consider installing a make-up) Collected rainwater filter between the rainwater tank and the pool. • Class A recycled water Rainwater can be collected • Design rainwater collection available from a local and used to replace drinking with a first flush discard water authority’s recycling water for the following system. In between rain plant (not recommended applications: events, dirt, dust, leaves for pool make-up) • Toilet flushing and rodent/bird droppings Bore water • Garden watering can build up on the rain collection area. When • Wash down of pool Provided that the bore water it rains, the build up is surrounds source can supply water that is washed off first. The first close to drinking water quality, • Pool make-up flush system diverts the bore water can be used for the Additional information about dirty water containing built following applications with using rainwater can be found up contaminants to the little pre-treatment: in the NSW Health Rainwater stormwater system, instead • Toilet flushing Tanks (2007) brochure. of the rainwater tank. • Do not use collected • Garden watering Rainwater tanks require rainwater within two • Wash down of surrounds periodic maintenance. hours of a rain event due • Pool make-up The use of rainwater as pool to potential disturbances The quality of bore water varies make-up is low risk, provided in the rainwater tanks. from place to place and may that the rain collection • Ensure water treatment change over time. As well as system is designed and complies with the microorganisms, bore water maintained to the following requirements of the NSW may have physical or chemical recommendations: Public Health (Swimming

130 Chapter 32 – Managing risks of using alternative sources of water A

Pools and Spa Pools) Risk associated with backwash for example redirect the Regulation 2000 and water re-use for pool make-up treated backwash water enough free chlorine to a holding tank when Where treated backwash high turbidity is detected. is available to treat water is used for pool introduced rainwater. make-up, apply the following • Divert the first 10% of • Rainwater collected from risk minimisation strategies: the backwash water to the ground is classed as a holding tank to reduce stormwater and has higher • Validate the treatment the contaminant and levels of contaminants. process to ensure it microbiological load on Stormwater is not provides the required your backwash water recommended for use water quality. treatment system. in the pool. • Conduct online monitoring • Operate and maintain of key parameters eg the backwash treatment Treated filter turbidity, free chlorine, pH. system to manufacturer’s backwash water • Visually monitor pool for specifications. clarity and cloudiness. Treated backwash water can • Reduce the inherent, be used for the following • Automatically divert introduced and operational applications, if it is treated to backwash water if any factors contributing an appropriate quality: of the water quality to microbial risk. parameters are exceeded, • Toilet flushing • Garden watering (on-site) Table 16 – Potential risk for re-using recycled backwash water • Watering of local sporting in various applications fields or nearby gardens • Wash down of surrounds Re-use Potential risk • Pool make-up Garden irrigation (off-site) Low The risk of using treated Toilet flushing (on-site) Low backwash varies, depending on Irrigation (subsurface, on-site) Low the intended application and Wash down of surrounds (on-site) *Medium level of treatment. Potential Garden irrigation (on-site) *Medium risk for various applications is shown in Table 16. Pool make-up *High Risk associated with pool size * Actual risk could be lower with sufficient controls or barriers in place and backwash water re-use Table 17 – Microbial risk of backwash water for bathers When using treated backwash water, the microbial risk to Source of backwash water bathers varies, depending on Shallow/ Medium Deep/ the pool depth and the bather small depth/ large load of the source pool and the pool size pool pool end use pool. A shallow pool Shallow Very High High has the highest risk to bathers pool high risk risk risk and a deep pool has the End use lowest risk. Table 17 classifies for treated Medium High Medium Medium the risk considering the source backwash pool risk risk risk of the backwash water. water Deep High Medium Low pool risk risk risk

131 A Chapter 32 – Managing risks of using alternative sources of water

Backwash water re-use risk management table The risks of using treated backwash water are summarised in the following table:

Risk High risk Medium risk Low risk Source Shallow pools Medium depth pools Deep pools of pool such as: such as: such as: backwash • toddler • family • Olympic • learn-to-swim • general purpose • diving • hydrotherapy End use Shallow pools Medium depth pools Deep pools for treated such as: such as: such as: backwash • toddler • family • Olympic water • learn-to-swim • general purpose • diving • hydrotherapy Pool Manual control Automated Automated including pH operation & ORP (or chlorine probe) controls and alerts Pool Breakdown Non scheduled Scheduled preventative maintenance maintenance only preventative maintenance maintenance by qualified combined with staff eg pump servicing breakdown maintenance Pool super Monthly or less Fortnightly Weekly chlorination Backwash Every month Every fortnight As determined by pressure frequency drop across filter or weekly Backwash Settlement or Settlement, filtration Advanced filtration & water filtration only & disinfection disinfection (reverse osmosis treatment and ultraviolet light) Monitoring Monitoring of Periodic monitoring Online water quality of backwash some treated during process monitoring eg particle treatment batches counting/turbidity for Water quality testing process microfiltration, conductivity before discharge for reverse osmosis to pool Automatic diversion to wastewater if needed Overall risk If your re-use If your re-use scheme If your re-use scheme classification scheme matches matches any of the above matches all the above, the any of the above, and does not match any classification is the classification is of the high risks, the Low risk High risk classification is Medium risk

132 Chapter 32 – Managing risks of using alternative sources of water A

From pool Pool filter To pool

Bypass first 10% backwash to Backwash collection wastewater system

Backwash storage

Process by-products Backwash water treatment

Low quality: reject to wastewater Water quality determination

Treatment backwash water tank Non-pool make-up water use Disinfection

Non-pool make-up water use

Figure 28 – Procedure for recovering pool backwash water

133 A Chapter 32 – Managing risks of using alternative sources of water

Pool filter backwash water collection

Backwash water treatment

No Is physical Yes quality acceptable?*

Other suitable uses or In-line disinfection discharge to wastewater

No Are there disinfection safeguards?**

Pool make-up Yes (preferably to largest pool)

Figure 29 – Deciding how to use treated backwash water

* Criteria for determination of physical water quality for re-use in pools • For RO systems, use online monitoring of conductivity. • For other filtration systems, use online monitoring of suspended solids. ** Safeguards for in-line disinfection eg UV • Alarm for lamp failure. • UV intensity measurements (online or regularly checked). • Cleaning of UV tube sleeves when needed. • Yearly replacement of lamps.

134 Chapter 32 – Managing risks of using alternative sources of water A

Black or grey Risks associated with recycled water using greywater Treated black (wastewater The risks associated with source) or grey water cannot greywater include hair/ be used for pool make-up. lint and bacterial contents. You can use treated black or To reduce these risks, the grey recycled water to replace following processes should drinking water for: be applied as a minimum: • toilet flushing (Class A • Use a screen filter to recycled water only) remove any larger • garden/landscape suspended solids from irrigation – where there greywater. is no direct contact with • Greywater must be treated people. within 24 hours. The Australian Guidelines for • Use drip or subsurface Water Recycling: Managing irrigation for gardens or Health and Environmental sports fields. Risks (Phase 1) (2006) provide • Do not use greywater a useful reference for other for irrigating or cleaning uses for recycled water, near the pool. This stops including treated blackwater greywater from being or greywater. transferred into the pool. Risks associated Where greywater is used on a site, it must be contained with using treated within the site boundary. blackwater NSW Health, council and EPA While blackwater can be approvals are required for recycled to drinking water greywater treatment systems. quality, it has not yet been accepted as a full substitute for drinking water where supplies are available. This is because it originates from wastewater. Stringent testing of treated blackwater would be needed to establish its properties, particularly microbiological content, before it is accepted for use in pools by the state or federal health departments.

135 A Chapter 32 – Managing risks of using alternative sources of water

Case study Alternative water use at aquatic centres

Below is an analysis of risks The treated backwash water Chlorine levels and contact and control measures used was mainly added to deeper time in the balance tanks by some aquatic centres for pools with some addition for the treated water varied. alternative water sources. into higher risk shallower Some centres also used pools. When the filter extra treatment, such as UV. Five of the aquatic centres systems of shallow and deep that responded to a Sydney These results show that pools were not independent, Water survey indicated aquatic centres need to: delivery into shallow pools they were using water could not be avoided. • adopt a consistent from other sources. These approach for capturing, centres (plus two other Treatment of backwash storing, treating, Sydney aquatic centres with water varied: validating and using backwash water recycling • Three centres discarded alternative water sources systems) were asked about the first 10% of and their treatment their actual re-uses of backwash water. systems water, their operational practices and how they • Five centres used • prepare a risk manage risk. settlement tanks before assessment and treating and using management plan for • Five centres use treated backwash water. The time using alternative water backwash for pool the backwash water was sources make-up. allowed to settle varied • yearly review the water • One centre uses settled from a few hours to a day. quality produced by backwash water diluted • Two centres used the process at each site with bore water for rainwater to dilute placing priority on garden irrigation. the backwash water – pre-treating backwash • One centre uses treated one before backwash water for use as pool backwash water for treatment and the other make-up water. toilet flushing and after treatment. It is clear that to control sometimes for cleaning. • Four centres used reverse health risks associated • One centre uses osmosis (RO) to treat with using alternate water rainwater (with UV backwash water. Only sources in aquatic centres, treatment) for pool two centres monitored risks need to be assessed make-up. the resulting water and managed well. quality. They measured For most pools, the the conductivity of the backwash came from lower water or the pressure risk deeper pools. Some across the RO membranes. had higher risk sources (This monitoring can be including toddler pools, used to divert the water learn-to-swim pools and automatically to waste, one had a spa pool. if it does not meet the quality needed.)

136 Chapter 33 – Risk matrixes for different types of pools A

Chapter 33 Risk matrixes for different types of pools

These risk matrixes provide a guide to the risk level of different types of pools, the risk factors that are present in each pool and the measures a pool operator can take to reduce the health risk to bathers from alternative water sources. Risk matrix for toddler pools Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures High • Shallow and • Introduction • Use treated backwash Risk small volume of treated water for: eliminated • Mainly backwash −− watering the garden water into toddler and −− toilet flushing baby users toddler pool −− pool make-up for deeper pools • Introduction of • Install a first flush system Low rainwater into to divert the first portion of toddler pool captured water to drain • Ensure there is rodent and bird control on rainwater tank and collection surface to prevent contamination • Disinfect rainwater as a last barrier of protection from biological contamination • Ensure chlorine residual is maintained in toddler pools at all times • Introduction of Recycled water must not be Risk Class A recycled used for pool make-up eliminated water (from • Use Class A recycled wastewater water for: source) into toddler pool −− garden irrigation −− toilet flushing

137 A Chapter 33 – Risk matrixes for different types of pools

Risk matrix for toddler pools (continued) Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures High • Shallow and • Faecal or urine • Advise patrons: Medium small volume contamination −− not to change nappies • Mainly of small near the pool volume pool toddler and −− not to swim within baby users −− Users of two weeks of having pool may diarrhoea or vomiting not have −− that non-toilet trained bladder users are to wear or bowel specially designed control swimming pants −− Users may −− to use toilet facilities change before entering pool nappies pool side −− to take toddlers for regular toilet breaks • Faecal during pool use contamination consumes • Ensure water treatment free chlorine, complies with the NSW which results Public Health (Swimming in higher Pools and Spa Pools) combined Regulation 2000 chlorine levels • Use a UV or ozone system to provide extra disinfection and reduce chloramines • Develop an isolation and treatment procedure for faecal contamination events • Pool does not • Install separate pool filter Medium have its own and disinfection systems on filter and toddler pools disinfection system

138 Chapter 33 – Risk matrixes for different types of pools A

Risk matrix for toddler pools (continued) Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures High • Shallow and • Pool has a • Ensure water treatment Medium small volume higher bather complies with the • Mainly load making requirements of the NSW toddler and it difficult to Public Health (Swimming baby users maintain water Pools and Spa Pools) balance Regulation 2000 • Conduct routine maintenance on pool filter and disinfection systems • Monitor water quality and filter system performance • Shallow • Shade the toddler pool Medium outdoor • Monitor water quality and toddler pools free chlorine levels can lose chlorine from exposure to sunlight. This may reduce the free chlorine level to below minimum • Manual dosing NSW Health Guidelines do not Medium of chlorine – allow manual treatment of poor control pools. A separate treatment of free chlorine system for each pool is in pool recommended for better water balance control • Install an automatic chlorine dosing system • Monitor and control free chlorine at regular intervals, with increasing frequency during high bather loads

139 A Chapter 33 – Risk matrixes for different types of pools

Risk matrix for learn-to-swim pools Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures High • Medium size • Introduction • Use treated backwash Risk • Pool users of treated water for: eliminated range in backwash −− watering the garden water into age from −− toilet flushing six months learn-to-swim −− pool make-up for to adult pool deeper pools learners • Introduction of • Introduce rainwater to the Low rainwater into pool through the filters and learn-to-swim balance tank pool • Install a first flush system to divert the first portion of captured water to drain • Ensure there is rodent and bird control on rainwater tank and collection surface to prevent contamination • Clean and maintain the rainwater tank regularly • Ensure chlorine residual is maintained in the learn-to swim-pool • Introduction Recycled water must not be Risk of Class A used for pool make-up eliminated recycled • Use Class A recycled water (from water for: wastewater source) into −− garden irrigation learn-to-swim −− toilet flushing pool

140 Chapter 33 – Risk matrixes for different types of pools A

Risk matrix for learn-to-swim pools (continued) Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures High • Medium size • Faecal or urine • Advise patrons: Low • Pool users contamination −− not to change nappies range in of medium near the pool volume pool age from −− not to swim within six months −− Users of two weeks of having to adult pool may diarrhoea or vomiting learners not have −− that non-toilet trained bladder users are to wear or bowel specially designed control swimming pants −− Users may −− to use toilet facilities change before entering pool nappies pool side −− to take toddlers for regular toilet breaks • Faecal during pool use contamination consumes • Ensure water treatment free chlorine complies with the which results requirements of the NSW in higher Public Health (Swimming combined Pools and Spa Pools) chlorine levels Regulation 2000 • Use a UV or ozone system to provide extra disinfection and reduce chloramines • Develop an isolation and treatment procedure for faecal contamination events • Pool has a • Ensure water treatment Risk higher bather complies with the eliminated load making requirements of the NSW it difficult Public Health (Swimming to maintain Pools and Spa Pools) water balance Regulation 2000 • Conduct routine maintenance on pool filter and disinfection systems • Monitor water quality and filter system performance

141 A Chapter 33 – Risk matrixes for different types of pools

Risk matrix for learn-to-swim pools (continued) Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures High • Medium size • Pool does not • Install separate pool filter Medium • Pool users have its own and disinfection systems on range in filter and learn-to-swim pools age from disinfection six months system to adult learners

Risk matrix for general purpose/leisure pools Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures Medium • Medium • Pool has a • Ensure water treatment Low to large lower user complies with the • Patrons to volume requirements of the NSW of all ages. ratio than the Public Health (Swimming higher risk Pools and Spa Pools) pools above Regulation 2000 • Pool can be • Conduct routine more easily maintenance on pool filter controlled to and disinfection systems within set • Monitor water quality and points than filter system performance the above pools • Introduction • Use treated backwash Risk of treated water for: eliminated backwash −− watering the garden water into −− toilet flushing general purpose/ −− pool make-up for leisure pool deeper pools

142 Chapter 33 – Risk matrixes for different types of pools A

Risk matrix for general purpose/leisure pools (continued) Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures Medium • Medium • Introduction • Introduce rainwater to the Low to large of rainwater pool through the filters and • Patrons into general balance tank of all ages. purpose/ • Install a first flush system to leisure pool divert the first portion of captured water to drain • Ensure there is rodent and bird control on rainwater tank and collection surface to prevent contamination • Clean and maintain the rainwater tank regularly • Ensure chlorine residual is maintained in the general purpose/leisure pool • Introduction • Recycled water must not be Risk of Class A used for pool make-up eliminated recycled water • Use Class A recycled into general water for: purpose/ −− garden irrigation leisure pool −− toilet flushing • Disinfection • Ensure water treatment Low system failure complies with the requirements of the NSW Public Health (Swimming Pools and Spa Pools) Regulation 2000 • Conduct routine maintenance • Monitor water quality • Filtration • Conduct routine Low system failure maintenance • Monitor filter system performance

143 A

Risk matrix for Olympic pools Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures Low • Large volume • Low user to • No preventative measures Low • Patrons of volume ratio necessary all ages – enables best predominately control of pool adults set points • Low usage of pool by younger patrons reduces contamination • Introduction • Ensure backwash treatment Low of treated system achieves required backwash water quality water into • Ensure water treatment Olympic pool complies with the requirements of the NSW Public Health (Swimming Pools and Spa Pools) Regulation 2000 • Online monitoring of backwash water quality (eg turbidity). Water to be diverted if out of specification • Routine maintenance of backwash treatment system • Regular testing of treated backwash water quality. Water to be diverted and an investigation to be carried out if water found to be out of specification.

144 A

Risk matrix for Olympic pools (continued) Risk Pool Risk Preventative Risk level description factors measures level after preventative measures Low • Large volume • Introduction • Introduce rainwater to the Low • Patrons of of rainwater pool through the filters and all ages – into Olympic balance tank predominately pool • Install a first flush system adults to divert the first portion of captured water to drain • Ensure there is rodent and bird control on rainwater tank and collection surface to prevent contamination • Clean and maintain the rainwater tank regularly • Ensure chlorine residual is maintained in the Olympic pool • Introduction Recycled water must not Risk of Class A be used for pool make-up eliminated recycled • Use Class A recycled water for: water (from wastewater −− garden irrigation source) into −− toilet flushing Olympic Pool • Disinfection • Ensure water treatment Low system failure complies with the requirements of the NSW Public Health (Swimming Pools and Spa Pools) Regulation 2000 • Conduct routine maintenance • Monitor water quality • Filtration • Conduct routine Low system failure maintenance • Monitor filter system performance

145

Appendix 2

Water saving checklist Appendix 2 of Best practice guidelines for water management in aquatic leisure centres is aimed at aquatic centre managers and pool operators. This practical checklist will help you identify practical opportunities for water efficiency in your aquatic centre. A Water saving checklist

Managing your water Yes/No Recommended action

Do you monitor and record Yes No If No, read your meter at least daily, your water use? or install a continuous monitoring system (Chapter 6). Record meter reading information so you can identify changes in water use.

Do you benchmark your Yes No If No, calculate a L/bather or L/patron water use? figure and compare it to other aquatic centres and the benchmarks supplied in this guide (Chapter 2).

Do you know where water is Yes No If No, look at the average water use used in your aquatic centre? figures in Chapter 1 for guidance. Install submeters according to the priorities in Chapter 6 to develop your own water balance (Chapter 8).

Do you know where the Yes No If No, perform a water audit as described best opportunities to save in Chapter 7: water are? • Check for leaks • Check swimming pool operations • Check amenities, kiosks, other areas of your centre and identify where efficiencies can be made • Develop a water balance for your centre (Chapter 8) and see where you are using most water.

Do you regularly review your Yes No If No: centre’s water and energy Use the template provided in the NSW management? Water and Energy Savings Action Plan guidelines at: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ sustainbus/savingsactionplans.htm Compare your results to previous reviews and rate your achievement of critical actions.

Do you regularly review your Yes No If No, establish work procedures so that submeters, or information a member of staff is responsible for from your continuous analysing water use information and monitoring system? knows what to do if water use changes.

148 Water saving checklist A

Do you know how much Yes No If No, refer to the guide’s information water, and associated charges about the true cost of water in Chapter 4. (energy, pumping, chemical, Calculate your centre’s water costs and wastewater discharge), are associated charges. Knowing your water costing your business? costs will help you justify water efficiency projects.

Have you developed a water Yes No If No, look at the results from this management plan? checklist and your water audit, then develop a water balance and a resource management plan (Chapter 9).

Do you have signs, posters Yes No If No, Sydney Water’s Business Customer and stickers in your centre to Program has examples of stickers, encourage water efficiency and posters and shower hangers you can remind people to report leaks? use at sydneywater.com.au

Amenities Yes/No Recommended action

Have you installed submeters Yes No If No, install submeters on supply lines on supply lines to amenities to amenities (Chapter 6). Conduct and hot water supply? routine inspections, monitor water use, and schedule maintenance checks to detect problems before they become large leaks.

Does your centre have any Yes No If Yes, replace with manually flushing cyclic flushing urinals? urinals, automatic sensor units or ultra low-flow or waterless urinals. Refer to Chapter 17 for more information.

Does your centre have Yes No If Yes, regularly check that sensors are automatic on-demand urinal working properly and not detecting sensor flushing systems? unrelated movements. Check that solenoids are operating correctly and replace them if they are faulty or worn.

Does your centre have single Yes No If Yes, replace single flush toilets in high flush toilets? use areas with 6/3 L or 4.5/3 L dual flush models. If toilets are in low use areas, restrict cistern volume and bring forward programmed replacement.

Does your centre have Yes No If Yes, check the flush capacity. Older dual-flush toilets? 11/5.5 L and 9/4.5 L dual flush toilets can be replaced with new 6/3 L or 4.5/3 L flush models.

Are cistern rubber seals on Yes No If No, cistern rubber seals should be toilets replaced regularly? replaced at least every two years to prevent leaks.

149 A Water saving checklist

Do you have a flusherette Yes No If Yes, check the flow rate and flush system? timing. Over time, wear will cause excessive flush volumes. Insert flow regulators into valve bodies to reduce flow.

Do you have flow regulators Yes No If No, install flow regulators to reduce in all hand basins? flow to at least 6 L/min.

Do you have water efficient Yes No If No, install flow regulators to reduce showers? flow to at least 9 L/min or install WELS 3 star rated showerheads.

Swimming pool operations Yes/No Recommended action

Is there a water meter on the Yes No If No, install a submeter and monitor make-up water pipe? water use regularly.

When the pump is stopped, Yes No If Yes, check that the drain valve is does water flow from the correctly set and if there are any overflow drain pipe? leaks. Check if the valve is closed and adequately sealed.

When the pump is stopped, Yes No If Yes, this indicates that the ball float does water flow from the or solenoid valve is incorrectly set. Reset overflow drain pipe while the the ball float valve. water is coming in through the make-up water line?

Do any pumps have packed Yes No If Yes, ensure pumps are inspected gland pump seals? monthly and seals tightened as needed. Also consider replacing the seals with mechanical seals to minimise leaks.

Does your water treatment Yes No If No, make this part of their ongoing contractor clean the duties. Ensure sensors are recalibrated conductivity sensors every every month. month?

Heating and ventilation Yes/No Recommended action systems and centre design

Does your aquatic centre have Yes No If yes, refer to Sydney Water’s Best cooling towers? practice guidelines for cooling towers in commercial buildings to help you minimise cooling tower water use.

150 Water saving checklist A

Have you integrated economy Yes No If No, investigate if this can be done with cycle or fresh air venting into your current HVAC equipment. your heating and ventilation system?

Have you reduced the heat Yes No If No, install energy efficient lighting, load in your centre as far as centre insulation, external shading, high possible? performance insulation, sympathetic landscaping, and heat efficient natural lighting.

Have you considered other Yes No If No, investigate options including HVAC systems? thermal wheels or cross flow heat exchangers. These are viable alternatives to traditional HVAC systems and should be investigated when upgrading or renovating.

Kitchens and kiosks Yes/No Recommended action

Are the water supply lines Yes No If No, install submeters on the supply to your kitchen or kiosk lines to food areas (Chapter 6) and submetered? monitor water use regularly.

Yes No If No, consider installing a separate Is the hot water system hot water system closer to your kitchen, supplying your kitchen or insulating the hot water supply line or kiosk located near these installing a ‘ring main’ or loop system areas? to prevent water waste and reduce energy costs. If No, install 9 or 12 L/min flow Do you have flow regulators Yes No restrictors on kitchen sinks and 6 L/min on kitchen sinks and basins? restrictors on hand basins.

Yes No If No, replace your existing model with Do you have a water efficient a water efficient model. You will save dishwasher? money through water and energy savings.

Do staff operate dishwashers Yes No If No, ensure relevant staff are trained efficiently? in efficient dishwasher operation.

Do staff in kitchens and kiosks Yes No If Yes, install water efficient 6 L/min rinse plates before washing? WELS rated pre rinse spray valves.

Do you check the condition of Yes No If No, inspect pre-rinse spray valves every pre-rinse spray valves? two weeks to check for leaks and worn valves. Worn valves waste water and reduce cleaning efficiency.

151 A Water saving checklist

Do staff in kitchens and kiosks Yes No If Yes, install signs to remind staff leave taps running while they to turn off taps. Consider installing are cooking and cleaning? sensor taps or foot operated taps.

Are kitchen floors hosed Yes No If Yes, consider using mops or down? squeegees instead of hoses. If hoses must be used, ensure they are fitted with trigger nozzles.

Is food ever defrosted under Yes No If Yes, ensure all food is defrosted running water? in a refrigerator, or in a microwave if it is to be cooked immediately.

Fitness centres Yes/No Recommended action

Does your centre have Yes No If Yes, continue with this section. a fitness centre? If No, go to the next section. If No, install flow regulators so that Are the showers water Yes No flow is reduced to at least 9 L/min or efficient? install WELS 3 star rated showerheads.

Do you have flow regulators Yes No If No, install flow regulators so that in all hand basins? flow is reduced to 6 L/min or less.

Outdoor areas Yes/No Recommended action and water features

Do you have a landscaped Yes No If Yes, continue with this section. area or water features?

Do you submeter your Yes No If No, consider installing submeters irrigation supply and water (Chapter 6) to determine your water features? use and identify leaks. This is especially important if you have large irrigated areas or large water features.

Do you improve your soils? Yes No Improving soil quality can improve plant growth and water retention. Refer to Chapter 21 for garden and landscaping tips.

Do you use an alternative Yes No If No, consider using rainwater, bore water source to irrigate your water or treated wastewater for garden? irrigation (Part 4).

152 Water saving checklist A

Cleaning Yes/No Recommended action

Do you communicate with Yes No If No, cleaning staff will need cleaning staff regularly? information about water wise cleaning techniques and the correct way to clean specialised equipment such as waterless urinals. You can use Sydney Water factsheets available at sydneywater.com.au, to communicate with staff.

Do cleaners hose down areas Yes No If Yes, use brooms or mops to clean floors, within your centre? or use rainwater or other water sources if you must use the hose. Ensure hoses have water efficient trigger nozzles.

153 A Glossary

Glossary

Alkalinity The acid-neutralising capacity of water, otherwise known as buffering capacity. It is the sum of the titratable bases in a sample. Australian Drinking Water The guidelines summarise the criteria for identifying Guidelines (ADWG) acceptable drinking water quality. Backflow Flow in a direction against the normal or intended direction, such as the unintended flow of water from a potentially polluted source into a drinking water supply. Backflow prevention A device to prevent the reverse flow of water from a potentially containment device polluted source into the drinking water supply. Backwash The process of cleaning a filter by forcing air and water upwards through it, flushing out trapped waste material. Ball float valve A valve that is controlled by a ball float and used to monitor the level of water in a swimming pool balance tank. This regulates the flow of make-up water to maintain the water level in the swimming pool. Beneficial re-use Recovering used materials to subsequently deliver a net environmental benefit. Biodegradable A substance that can be broken down into harmless products in the environment. Blackwater Untreated wastewater, including water from a toilet. Bleed Removing water from a swimming pool to limit the concentration of total dissolved solids and suspended solids. Chlorination The application of chlorine to drinking water, wastewater, or industrial waste to disinfect or to oxidise undesirable compounds. Chlorine (Cl) A naturally occurring element. To ensure good quality water, chlorine is added to kill bacteria that may cause disease. Residual chlorine must be present to make sure that the water is disinfected. The health guideline value for chlorine residual depends on the type of chlorine used. Coagulation The addition of a coagulant chemical to destabilise the charges of a particulate suspended in water, collapsing the negatively charged ‘cloud’ surrounding the particle so they can settle out. Coliforms (total) Total coliform bacteria are used as a scientific indicator of the quality of drinking water and of the possible presence of disease causing microorganisms. They are measured in colony forming units per 100 mL.

154 Glossary A

Colony Forming Unit (cfu) Unit that represents the number of bacteria. Conservation Managing resources to prevent and reduce wasteful, uneconomical, impractical or unreasonable use of resources. Cross connection Any connection or arrangements between the drinking water supply system, connected to the water main or any fixture that may enable non-drinking water or other contamination to enter the drinking water supply system. Cryptosporidiosis A disease people develop from ingesting Cryptosporidium oocysts. Cryptosporidium (crypto.) Microorganisms in warm-blooded animals that sometimes enter the water supply. Disinfection and treatment processes normally kill or remove them. Dechlorination A process that neutralises the toxicity of chlorine and chloramines (a by-product of chlorine). Desalination The process that removes salt from saline water to produce fresh water. Disinfection Using chemical or physical processes to kill pathogens or organisms that are capable of causing infectious disease. Drinking water Water intended primarily for human consumption, but which has other domestic and commercial uses. Dual reticulation A water supply system that provides two grades of water through separate pipe networks. High quality drinking water is delivered through one pipe network, and recycled water is delivered through the second pipe network. Recycled water is used in gardens, for flushing toilets, and for other non-drinking uses. E. coli (Escherichia coli) A type of thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria, usually present in the gut of warm-blooded animals. It is generally the most specific indicator of faecal contamination. Ecologically Sustainable Development that improves the quality of life, both now and Development (ESD) in the future, and maintains ecological processes. Emission Anything given off (such as gases, heat and odours) as a result of a process. EMP Environmental Management Plan. Evaporation Liquid water converted by the sun to water vapour that returns into the atmosphere as a gas. Faecal coliforms Bacteria in the intestines of humans and other vertebrates and present in faeces.

155 A Glossary

Filtration A process for removing particles from a solution by passing it through a porous structure or medium, such as a screen, membrane, sand or other filtration media. Flocculant A chemical that encourages heavy contaminants to gather together and settle from water more quickly in the treatment process. Flocculation The process of using chemical flocculants. Giardia Microorganisms in warm-blooded animals that may enter the water supply. Disinfection and treatment processes normally kill them. Gigajoule (GJ) A measure of energy equal to a billion joules. Gigalitre (GL) A measure of volume equal to a billion litres. Grease arrestor A pre-treatment device that separates oil, grease and suspended solids from wastewater by gravity, before it enters the wastewater system. Greenhouse gas emissions The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide that is released when fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are burnt to produce energy. Greywater Domestic wastewater from sources other than toilets, such as washing machines and dishwashers. Groundwater Water found below the earth’s surface, usually in porous rock or soil or in underground aquifers (natural underground formations with significant quantities of water). HVAC Heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Individual backflow A backflow prevention device at the water connection protection to a fixture or appliance. Irrigation Controlled application of water through manmade systems to supply the water requirements of plants. Kilolitre (kL) One thousand litres or one tonne of water. Litre (L) A measure of liquid volume. Master water meter A water meter owned by Sydney Water, located at the property boundary on the water supply to that property. Maximum The highest measure recorded. Median The middle reading in a series.

156 Glossary A

Megalitre (ML) Measurement of volume equal to one million litres. One megalitre is about the volume of a one-metre deep Olympic-sized swimming pool. Microfiltration A pressure-driven membrane operation in which very fine particles or other suspended matter is separated from a liquid. It can remove suspended solids, bacteria or other impurities. Membrane pore sizes are slightly larger than those used for ultrafiltration. Microgram Unit of measurement equivalent to 0.001 of a milligram. Microgram per litre (μg/L) Unit of measurement equivalent to 0.001 of a milligram expressed per litre. Microorganisms The organisms that are invisible or only barely visible to the unaided eye. Milligram (mg) Unit of measurement equivalent to 0.001 of a gram. Milligrams per litre (mg/L) Unit of measurement equivalent to 0.001 of a gram expressed per litre. Millilitre (mL) Unit of measurement that is equivalent to 0.001 of a litre. Minimum The lowest recorded reading. Monitoring An ongoing testing program to assess potential changes in circumstances. Mud balling When sand media in a filter becomes coated in sediment, reducing the effectiveness of water filtration. Nephelometric Turbidity Unit of scientific measurement used to show the level Unit (NTU) of suspended material in solution. Non-potable re-use The use of treated wastewater for purposes that do not require water of a drinkable standard. OH&S Occupational health and safety for all worksite staff, contractors and visitors. Organic Animal or vegetable in origin. Osmosis Movement of water molecules through a thin membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Ozonation Using ozone for water disinfection. Ozone A form of oxygen with three rather than the normal two oxygen atoms. A strong oxidising agent. Parasite An organism that relies on a host organism to survive.

157 A Glossary

Pathogens Potentially disease-causing microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, parasitic protozoa (such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and Helminthes (such as intestinal worms). Per capita For each head of population. pH A measure of the alkalinity or acidity of water on a scale from 1 to 14: 1 is most acidic, 7 neutral and 14 most alkaline. Potable re-use Re-use of highly treated wastewater for drinking. Potable Fit or suitable water for drinking. Pre-rinse spray valve A handheld nozzle used to remove food scraps from dishes before they are washed. Rainwater tank On-site storage to collect rainwater for beneficial use. Recycled water Highly treated wastewater for use in industrial processes including cooling towers, irrigation in agriculture, urban parks and landscapes, and household use such as flushing toilets, car washing and watering gardens. It is not for drinking or personal use. Recycling Collecting and reprocessing a resource so it can be used again. Renewable resource A resource that is replenished at the same rate it is used. Reverse osmosis A process where pressure is put on the concentrated side of a liquid system, in which liquids with different concentrations of mineral salts are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Molecules of pure water then pass out of the concentrated solution into the weak or fresh water side. The reverse osmosis membrane is permeable to the solvent, but impermeable to most dissolved species, both organic and inorganic. Risk assessment Process of gathering data and making assessments to estimate short and long-term harmful effects on human health or the environment from exposure to hazards associated with a particular product or activity. Scum Material that floats to the surface of wastewater during treatment, usually removed in sedimentation tanks. Sediment Soil or other particles that settle to the bottom of lakes, rivers, oceans and other water. Sedimentation A treatment process that allows sediment to settle out of water or wastewater. Sewage See wastewater. Sewerage system See wastewater system. Soluble Able to be dissolved in water.

158 A

Solenoid An electro mechanical device that activates a valve. Splash out In swimming pools, the water that can be lost when bathers splash water out of the pool or carry water out when they exit the pool. Stakeholder A stakeholder is any individual or group that can affect or be affected by an organisation’s activities. Stormwater Rainwater that runs off the land, frequently carrying various forms of pollution such as litter and detritus, animal droppings and dissolved chemicals. This untreated water is carried in stormwater channels and discharged directly into creeks, rivers, the harbour and the ocean. SUDF Sewerage Usage Discharge Factor is a measure of the ratio of water going out of your business through the wastewater system compared to water coming in from Sydney Water mains. Suspended solids Particles in water that can be removed by sedimentation or filtration. Sustainable water supply A water supply system that has achieved a long-term balance between capturing and storing supplies of water and meeting the demand of current and future users, including the environment. Thermo-tolerant coliforms A coliform that can survive at higher temperatures than other total coliforms, also known as faecal coliforms. Total coliforms (TCs) Bacteria commonly found in the environment and intestines of warm-blooded animals. E. coli is seen as a more important public health organism indicator. Total dissolved solids (TDS) A measure of the salinity in water. Expressed in mg/L. Typically, conductivity is used as an indicator of TDS. Trade waste Industrial or commercial wastewater discharged to the wastewater system with significant potential contaminants. The volume and concentration of contaminants discharged to the wastewater system is usually limited by trade waste agreements. Trade waste agreements Agreements between Sydney Water and industrial and commercial customers to restrict the amount of toxic and other potentially harmful substances discharged to the wastewater system. Treatment (water) The process of removing contaminants, conditioning and disinfecting water to achieve a desired level of quality.

159 A

Trihalomethanes (THMs) Formed in water when chlorine reacts with small amounts of naturally occurring organic matter and measured in mg/L. Turbidity The presence of suspended material in water that may cause it to look cloudy or discoloured. It is measured in NTUs. Ultrafiltration A high level filtration for water and wastewater treatment that uses very fine pore size membranes to allow selective particles to pass through. It can remove suspended solids, bacteria and viruses. Membrane pore sizes are slightly smaller than those used for microfiltration. Unaccounted for water The difference between water measured when entering the water supply system and customer use. It occurs because of leaks, inaccurate metering and illegal use. UV Ultraviolet light, a high-energy light used for disinfection. Waste Discarded, rejected, unwanted, surplus or abandoned substances. Does not include gas, water, wastewater, and beneficially used biosolids and re-use water. Wastewater The wastewater from homes, offices, shops, factories and other premises discharged to the wastewater system. About 99% of wastewater is water. Wastewater system The system of pipes and pump stations for collecting and transporting wastewater from each property to the wastewater treatment plant or water recycling plant. Water demand Total water use requirements for drinking, agriculture, industry, recreation and gardening. Demand is seasonal and highly influenced by the weather. Water efficiency Preventing and reducing wasteful, uneconomical, impractical or unreasonable use of water resources. Water quality The physical, chemical and biological characteristics in the water. Water re-use Using water more than once, following treatment of wastewater to an appropriate quality standard and delivery to the point of use. WELS Water Efficient Labelling Scheme. As part of the Water Efficient Labelling and Standards Program, WELS gives products a star rating according to their water efficiency. Zone protection Installing a backflow prevention device at the connection point of specified sections of a plumbing system, within a building or facility.

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