Beyond Chlorine Ian Robinson & Timothy Petsch

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Beyond Chlorine Ian Robinson & Timothy Petsch"

Natalie Mathews
5 years ago
Views:

Beyond Chlorine Ian Robinson & Timothy Petsch Ian B. Robinson United Kingdom 1980-1984 Higginson & Harris Apprentice lithographic retoucher, planner and platemaker, 4 year apprenticeship.

1 Beyond Chlorine Ian Robinson & Timothy Petsch Ian B. Robinson United Kingdom Higginson & Harris Apprentice lithographic retoucher, planner and platemaker, 4 year apprenticeship. Completed apprenticeship with The Clifton Studio, and gained C&G 518 in Graphic Reproduction Clifton Studio / Plan-it 1984 Managed overflow studio for Clifton Studio, Plan-it General advertising, POS material Speedscan Production manager for studio, general advertising, POS material Graphic Origination Production manager for studio, specialising in record industry Rob-Art & Elite Music Repro Ltd. Founded company with sales rep from Graphic Origination, set-up specialising in record industry, clients EMI, Polygram Group, Island Records. Taken over by PRS Group in Reacta Graphics Sales Director / Business Development Director. Headed up sales team, worked with top five advertising agencies, BBH, WCRs, AMV, CDP, Leagas. Timothy S. Petsch Experience & Education History GM, Sanez Supply, Stavanger, Norway VP, Bank of America, Southern California, Mergers & Acquisitions Present Managing Director and co-founder of TMI Salt Pure Corporation. Timothy has 20 + years in the Commercial Recreational Water industry. Timothy is an active CPO Instructor. TMI is a CPO instructor company specializing in training and certifying Commercial Pool Operators with two instructors on staff Trained in advanced hydraulics Trained in advanced chemistry control (including software programming) Numerous ongoing industry training seminars for products and chemistry have been completed through the years Timothy has had numerous speaking engagements regarding water chemistry and sustainable products. Scheduled to speak at the World Aquatic Conference in Seattle in Oct, 2011 National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

2 Expertise Since 1991 Timothy has been consulting in the Aquatics industry. He has designed programs which remotely monitor and control hundreds of aquatic sites all over the United States with the goal of improving efficiencies in cost systems and aquatic management specifically as it applies to water quality and sustainability. Timothy has been a leader in recognizing the need for commercial pools to embrace sustainability, and TMI Salt Pure Corporation is one of the first Sustainable Aquatic companies in the United States. Timothy continues to apply his forward thinking with numerous products under test and in the pipeline to reduce energy consumption and create a more natural and sustainable environment for aquatic facilities. New Products Timothy recently formed an alliance with Ian Robinson of WDP Group with the intent to bring the BacSan family of products to the USA Market. This product group is particularly appealing to Timothy because it brings a new level of sustainability to the water treatment industry in general. Abstract The benefits and history of Chlorine shows that it has been a big factor in extending our life expectancy. It has long been used to treat drinking water and pool and spa water. The CDC has been active in investigating RWI and the prevention of RWI has been focused on providing a sufficient chlorine concentration to ensure safe pool and spa water. The disadvantages associated with such concentrations of chlorine in recreational water have generated wide spread media and research as well as generating huge costs to address the associated problems including expensive ventilation systems and UV equipment, as well as health effects such as lifeguards lung and the long term effects on competitive swimmers. Newer findings include the hazards of biofilm and cost of removing them, along with their impact on swimmers health. What is needed is a "sanitizer" that is more effective than chlorine WITHOUT the "bad" side effects of chlorine. PoolSan which is a saturated acidic complex ionic aqueous solution containing Copper, Silver, Zinc, Aluminum and Gold, may be the next option for Recreational water? National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

3 BEYOND CHLORINE? Presented by Timothy Petsch of TMI & Ian Robinson of WDP Did you know? Chlorine discovered by Carl Scheele 1910-Purification of drinking water techniques developed using compressed liquefied chlorine gas - by U.S. Army Major Carl Darnall Shortly thereafter, Major William Lyster of the Army Medical Department used a solution of calcium hypochlorite in a linen bag to treat water. Disinfection of swimming pool water Micro-organisms pollute swimming pool water Every swimmer adds 1 million to 100 million microorganisms to the water The water itself also contains microorganisms After oxidation a disinfectant must be added to the water to kill pathogenic microorganisms National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

4 Fecal Related Illnesses Cryptosporidium (Crypto) Giardia Shigella Escherichia coli (E. coli 0157:H7) Norovirus Adenovirus Hepatitis A Non-Fecal Related Illnesses Pseudomonas aeruginosa Swimmer s ear (otitus externa) Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires Disease) Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Molluscum Contagiosum Plantar warts Athlete s foot You wouldn t drink the water you bathe in. Why would you drink the water you swim in? National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

5 Why not wash your hands? Protect the water you swim in and the health of those you swim with. Keep poop out of the pool by washing your hands. Demands on disinfectants Swimming pool disinfectants must meet certain demands: Should be harmless and non-irritating to swimmers and attendants Must be active in small concentrations and retain their activity for a long time Must be active in the pool itself, because pollutions and pathogenic micro-organisms are constantly being introduced to the water The water has to maintain a residual disinfectant concentration and must be easily traced and measured while safe to use National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

6 Chlorine-based disinfectants are among the most frequently applied disinfectants and oxidizers for swimming pool treatment. Chlorine is usually added as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hypochlorite (OCl-). Chlorine kills pathogenic microorganisms that are present in the water. When too much chlorine is present, it can cause eye and mucous membrane irritation, as a result of chloramine formation. Chlorine Drawbacks Disinfection by chlorination can be problematic Chlorine can react with naturally occurring organic compounds found in the water supply to produce compounds known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The most common DBPs are trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Due to the potential carcinogenicity of these compounds, drinking water regulations across the developed world require regular monitoring of the concentration of these compounds in the distribution systems of municipal water systems. Chlorine Drawbacks Its volatile nature which causes it to dissipate rapidly from the water system Aesthetic concerns such as taste and odor Can affect human health. High chlorine levels can cause eczema and rashes High ph value increases susceptivity to these kind of ailments National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

7 WAHC had following presentations Does Swimming in Indoor Pools Cause Asthma? Effects of UV Disinfection Systems on Swimming Pool Chemistry Factors Affecting Air Quality in Chlorinated Indoor Pool Facilities Hazmat Incidents in NY State Involving Pool Chemicals Investigation of Employee Symptoms at an Indoor Waterpark Reducing Trihalomethane and Chloramines in Pools The Good, the Bad, and the Volatile: Can We Have Both Healthy Pools and Healthy People Volatile Disinfection By-Products from Indoor Chlorinated Swimming Pools Chlorine Chemistry in Pools: Implications for Pool Maintenance and the Indoor Pool Environment Double Feature: Legionella & Recreational Water + Emerging Issues: MRSA Infection Double Feature: Understanding Cryptosporidium + Impact of a Cryptosporidosis Outbreak Double Feature: Understanding Biofilm + Understanding Pseudomonas Elimination of Rashes Associated with Indoor Swimming Pools Dechloramination and the ROI of UV in Public Pools and Other Recreational Water Environments MEDIA ARTICLES SWIMMING POOLS AND CHILDHOOD ASTHMA: SUGGESTIVE BUT NOT CONCLUSIVE ASSOCIATION CHILDREN DEVELOP ASTHMA IN CHLORINATED POOLS SWIMMING IN INDOOR POOLS ACCELERATES THE CONCENTRATION OF CHLORINATION CONTAMINANTS IN SWIMMERS CHLORINE PRODUCT ABSORPTION IN SWIMMERS IS GREATEST VIA THE SKIN EXERCISING INCREASES THE TOXICITY OF A "SAFE" CHLORINATED POOL ATMOSPHERE AMOUNT OF EXERCISE IS RELATED TO CHLORINE-RELATED CONCENTRATIONS IN THE BODY YOUNG SWIMMERS AT GREATEST HEALTH RISK IN CHLORINATED INDOOR POOLS DENTAL ENAMEL EROSION INCREASED IN COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS IN CHLORINATED POOLS SWIMMING POOL WATER INCREASES EXPOSURE TO CANCER CAUSING TOXINS SWIMMING POOL WATERS CONTAIN MANY DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

8 Combating Chlorine s Drawbacks UV Ozone Superchlorination HVAC systems Surface exhaust systems All in place to get rid of chloramines that PoolSan wouldn t allow to develop in the first place The story so far... The introduction of chlorine into modern society has had countless health benefits & drawbacks. It has been the bastion of disinfection It has also had severe drawbacks A Better Way? PoolSan discovered by retired metallurgist Egon Wegrsotek in South Africa in 1993 ( ) Patent Registered in 1995 Water Treatment Agent ACN Chemicals Pty formed to develop Mineral Ion Disinfectants for Leisure Industry, Commercial Water Treatment and Third World Markets National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

9 What is it? PoolSan is a saturated acidic complex ionic aqueous solution containing Copper, Silver, Zinc, Aluminium and Gold Approximate concentrations :- Copper 4%, Silver <1%, Zinc <1%, Aluminium <1%, Water 72% and Acid 21% The actual formula is a Trade Secret! How Does it work? The microscopic action of these natural mineral ions act in two ways. 1. The algae and bacteria in the water are destroyed through a change in their enzyme processes as the ions break down their DNA structures and cell walls 2. All these charged particles floc together so they can be trapped by a filter or left to settle to the bottom for vacuuming. The ions maintain a stable PoolSan residual in the water until they are used up by the process National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

10 What are the operating levels? Copper is the key indicator when measuring PoolSan Residual PoolSan level is between 0.4ppm (mg/l) 0.8ppm (mg/l) Domestic pool operates between 0.4ppm (mg/l) 0.6ppm (mg/l) Commercial pool & spa operates between 0.6ppm (mg/l) 0.8ppm (mg/l) *WHO guidelines for copper in drinking water 2ppm (mg/l) What else is required? PoolSan Regenerator (Potassium Monopersulphate) Acts as an oxidiser that will destroy organic contaminants such as ammonia and other bather waste However, permonosulphate compounds do not kill or disinfect, they simply control organics and combined chlorine, helping assure that the sanitiser can do its job as a disinfectant Permonosulphates oxidise by using the element from which oxidation derives its name oxygen Oxygen is a pure form of oxidiser They react directly with the ammonia to produce chloride and nitrogen (where chlorine is present in the water) Why call it PoolSan Regenerator? Permonosulphates are particularly effective in increasing the efficacy of the PoolSan copper/silver disinfection system where the following occurs: Potassium monopersulphate has an oxidation potential high enough to maintain silver ions in a high oxidation state even to Ag3+ (Zsoldos & Kowalski, 1970). In a similar way, copper is oxidiesd to Cu3+. This is important for the removal of the ammonium ions from pool water Oxidation S2O8(2-) + 2Cu(2+) 2Cu(3+) + 2SO4(2- ) Reduction 6Cu(3+) + 2NH3 6Cu(2+) + N2 + 6H+ National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

11 Why call it PoolSan Regenerator cont? From this one can see that the sanitising properties of the PoolSan copper, silver and zinc ions are all considerably enhanced by the presence of potassium monopersulphate in the water Organic matter is oxidised but no unpleasant compounds are formed Potassium monopersulphate poses no risk to health on the ingestion of pool water, as its final reaction products consist of simple sulphates and oxygen (Zsoldos et al., 1970) Residual level of PoolSan Regenerator is monitored with DPD4 test reagents, with a target level of ppm (mg/l) active oxygen Introduced into the UK in early 2002 as a swimming pool treatment ACN / Concept Chlorine Free 2005 trial commenced in 3 public pools at Leatherhead Leisure Centre, 25m pool, diving tank and learner pool Rebranded in 2006 as PoolSan environmentally friendly swimming pool treatment Does it work? The Leatherhead trial was monitored in conjunction with the local HSE, EHO and all water testing was undertaken by the HPA in London over a 3 year period Fusion Lifestyle is now managing Leatherhead and are rolling out across their additional sites in the South East of UK. PoolSan is now being used in Health Clubs, Hotels and Municipal Pools & Spas across the UK, Europe and Scandinavia. National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

12 Leatherhead Trials HPA approval (UK Health Protection Agency) TEST PROTOCOL British Standard BSI Code of Practice PAS39:2003 regarding the microbiological quality of public swimming pools Purpose of Leatherhead Trial TO DETERMINE WHETHER PoolSan solution dosage used in conjunction with PoolSan Regenerator (Potassium Monopersulphate) OR PoolSan used in conjunction with a reduced dosage of chlorine PROVIDES A COMPARABLE PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTION TO THE USE OF CHLORINE Leatherhead Swimming Pools 6 lane 25 meter pool Learning pool Water treatment shared/diving tank separate Combined volume = 540 cubic meters Diving tank volume = 330 cubic meters National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

13 Progress to chlorine free All pools have been using PoolSan and a small residual of chlorine as an oxidiser since October 2005 DIVE TANK Since May 2006, the chlorine has been replaced with potassium monopersulphate Baseline Period Testing HPA monthly test result sheets collected for the twelve months prior to the 11 th of October 2005 prior to introduction of PoolSan 11 th Oct, 2005 PoolSan was applied to the diving pool As expected, coliform bacteria appeared to be well controlled, substantiated by the collected data Bather loads From April to September 2005 Average 389 bathers Maximum daily average in June Relative to the aerobic colony count, an average of 8.8 cfu/ml were detected in 10 out of 34 samples collected during this period National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

14 Results Free Residual Cl During baseline period(prior to PoolSan) Free chlorine concentrations were between 1.6mg/l and 2.5mg/l During trial period (using PoolSan + chlorine) Free chlorine concentrations were between 0.3mg/l and 0.5mg/l (with occasional dip to 0.1mg/l) Represents an average drop of 65% - 80% of chlorine usage (vs chlorine gas) Results no chlorine residual In Dive pool, there has been no chlorine residual since 24 th May 2006 as the chlorine in the tank was replaced with potassium mono Chloramines Key element of a reduced chloramine treatment such as PoolSan is the resultant reduced levels of chloramines In the case of the Dive Pool which has been completely replaced by the PoolSan system, CHLORAMINES HAVE BEEN TOTALLY ELIMINATED. National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

15 Bacteria Counts Bacteria counts differed marginally from those during the baseline period and are substantially better than the published results from all public swimming pool samples tested by the UK Health Protection Agency Is it recognised - approved? PoolSan is recognised as a Biocide It has a European Community Classification under the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC (BPD) It falls under Disinfectants and General Biocidal Products Product-type 2: Private area and public health area disinfectants and other biocidal products (PT2) What are the benefits? Chlorine Free Hypo-Allergenic does not cause eye or skin irritations Longer Lasting up to three times longer than chlorine Non-Corrosive prevents scaling of pipes Removes BioFilm within 2-3 weeks of conversion Physically softer water Odourless no more chlorine smells or residue Promotes Sparkling Clear Water Non Toxic, Non hazardous Ozone, Environmentally, User Friendly Controls Bacteria, Algae and Fungi conforming to BSI/PWTAG standards Recycle back wash water grey water use and irrigation Can swim after 15 minutes of dosage National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

16 Can I use PoolSan with Chlorine? PoolSan works very well with chlorine You can supplement chlorine with PoolSan and operate free chlorine between 0.5ppm(mg/l) 1ppm (mg/l) Chlorine will replace the need for PoolSan Regenerator in a commercial pool and domestic if required The two products together will act as a dual sanitizer PoolSan will operate at a level of 0.6ppm (mg/l) in commercial pools In some parts of Europe this is a legal requirement for commercial pools 20 th Century to 21 st Century While chlorine was a champion disinfectant for the 20 th century Is PoolSan going to be the champion disinfectant for the 21 st century? National Swimming Pool Foundation 4775 Granby Circle Colorado Springs, CO (719)

The use of risk management as best practice to reduce outbreaks of recreational water illnesses in disinfected swimming facilities and spas

The use of risk management as best practice to reduce outbreaks of recreational water illnesses in disinfected swimming facilities and spas Roy Vore, Ph.D., NSPF I, CPO Vore & Associates, LLC Email: Roy.D.Vore@gmail.com