International water expert Dr Ole Gronborg to speak at SPLASH! New Zealand

World renowned expert in swimming pool disinfection by-products, Dr Ole Gronborg, is to speak at the upcoming SPLASH! New Zealand in Wellington.

The third exhibition of SPLASH! New Zealand will take place on August 17 and 18 at the innovative and interactive Te Papa (New Zealand’s national museum). This is a change from the previously planned venue, so that SPLASH! New Zealand will now be side-by-side with JAWS (Just Add Water Seminar) – the New Zealand Recreation Association’s annual aquatics conference.

Dr Ole Gronborg will be presenting a seminar on newly discovered ways to reduce the production of disinfection by-products in indoor aquatic centres and swimming pools, based on new European science.

Chlorine by-products such as chloramines and trihalomethanes in indoor pools are known to adversely affect bathing comfort and more importantly, swimmers’ health. Trihalomethanes and chloramines are formed when human water pollutants combine with chlorine. New Danish science demonstrates that human skin cells, ranging in size from 10-30 micron, dissolve in sand filters and are the primary cause for the unwanted chlorine by-product formation. A new water treatment system removes the skin cells on a continuous basis, reducing the organic load in the pool.

The system, now installed in 30 Scandinavian public indoor pools, reduces chlorine demand by more than 40 per cent; reduces backwash water usage by more than 60 per cent compared to sand filters, and reduces energy consumption by more than 50 per cent. Dr Gronborg will explain how the technology was developed, the scientific work performed in cooperation with the Danish government and research institutions, and will answer questions.

Dr Gronborg will be extending his time in Australasia after the Better Water Seminars in Brisbane and Sydney to head over to New Zealand and join the extensive seminar program including workshops and presentations by Paul Jacobson, Hugh Smith (Pentair), Graeme Abbot (Hamner Springs), Max Williams (My Red Zebra) and many others.

For more information on SPLASH! New Zealand or to register for the seminars, click here or email Melanie Robertson.