Trial leads to acceptance of freshwater pool system
For the past six months, Warringah Aquatic Centre (WAC) has been trialling Australian Innovative Systems (AIS) EcoLine in-line freshwater pool chlorination system through New South Wales based distributor, Poolranger.
Now completed, AIS says the trial has delivered outstandingly positive results, not only in relation to water quality but also to the overall operation and general amenity of the facility.
The WAC is run by Gary Penfold, well known for his many industry roles over the years, including currently being Chair of the Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA).
The popular Frenchs Forest community facility boasts approximately 350,000 visitors annually and has hosted Olympic swimming trials as well as Australian swimming titles.
“The WAC’s indoor 50 metre heated pool was the subject of an innovative, onsite trial which employed the latest in Australian designed and manufactured inline technology in an effort to improve our swimmer and staff experience as well as deliver operational efficiencies for the centre,” says Penfold.
“Specifically, we wanted to see if the new chlorination system could deliver on the manufacturer’s and distributor’s promises. The claims were that it could improve swimmer, spectator and staff safety and comfort; improve air quality; reduce the consumption and cost of chemicals; decrease workplace health and safety risks; and reduce operational costs associated with maintenance and equipment costs.
“I’m pleased to say that the EcoLine chlorinator delivered across all areas and has exceeded our expectations, despite some initial scepticism,” he says.
“It almost sounds too good to be true but we have site-based data to show that the AIS EcoLine system has delivered on all counts. We have outstanding water quality, enhanced amenity and have achieved cost savings across a range of areas all while keeping the pool compliant with health, safety and competition regulations. You can’t ask for more than that.”
AIS CEO Elena Gosse says that like most aquatic centres, the WAC had seen a raft of different products come and go but the EcoLine trial has convinced the centre to adopt the technology permanently.
“EcoLine offers a completely different solution in that the inline system produces chlorine on-site, automatically, as part of a compact unit and at very low total dissolved solids (TDS) levels,” she says.
“As well as delivering superior water quality, our EcoLine technology meets all of the requirements for competition swimming pools for centres such as the WAC.
“Additionally, the WAC has informed us that it no longer has any need for chlorine tanks, bunded areas or chlorine deliveries for the main pool and it has seen a reduction in water dumping due to EcoLine’s ability to help keep TDS levels constant and therefore decrease the need for fresh water top-ups.”
Installer and distributor, Poolranger general manager, Michael Griffin says that maintenance costs aren’t the only saving.
“As well as the chemical and maintenance savings, WAC is expecting a further decrease in plant and equipment costs and an increase in the pool’s concrete lifespan due to the reduction of chloramines in the atmosphere,” he says.
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