Disinfection of swimming pool water

Results from this study, which has investigated the impact of the treatment technologies of chlorination, ozonation and UV irradiation on pool water quality are reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of these technologies in an unbiased way using a unique protocol, and to calculate a mass balance across the pool system. Data refer to a protocol based on operation of a 2.2m (cubed) capacity pilot swimming pool, which allows the comparison of technologies applied with reference to the propensity to generate the chlorinated disinfection by-products (DBPs) of chloramines and trihalomethanes (THMs). The protocol makes use of a specially developed body fluid analogue (BFA), containing simulant endogenous organic matter, with a soiling analogue consisting of commercial humic acid (HA). Using this analogue, levels of organic carbon (OC) and chloramines similar to those recorded in real pools have been obtained, along with somewhat lower levels of THMs. Results revealed conventional chlorination leads to steady-state TOC and DBP levels following an equilibrium period of 200-600 hours, with concentration values which are dependent on BFA loading rate. Following equilibration nitrate is the only DBP accumulating in the pool water, accounting for between 4% and 28% of the ammoniacal nitrogen loaded into the pool depending upon the operating conditions (primarily the Cl:N ratio). Both UV irradiation and ozonation, the latter combined with downstream adsorption, provide a similar efficacy in reducing chloramine levels, with their effect on THM and nitrate formation being highly dependent on the pH level and chlorine dose rate. This study builds on previous experimentation by including a more rigorous analysis of ozone-GAC with respect to DBP formation, a unique analysis of UV irradiation and a more comprehensive mass balance calculation of C, Cl and N across the pool. The study has established that no accumulation of carbon takes place in the pool, contrary to postulations made in previous published studies, and that the balance between the chloramines and THM DBPs is significantly affected by the HA loading.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo