December 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 52

OPERATIONS
Avoiding the Smell of Failure
How aquatic facilities can avoid patron conﬁdence pitfalls
By Steve Berens

atrons use all of their senses to judge a facility's safety. When it
comes to aquatics, smell is the first thing they encounter.
In the past, aquatic facilities largely ignored air-quality issues
due to expectations of the times. Times have changed. In order to
keep business alive in this new health-conscious era, aquatic facility operators must prioritize patrons' sense of safety.

When it comes to
aquatic facilities,
smell is the ﬁrst
thing patrons
encounter.

" Nose blindness " doesn't just happen at friends' homes - it also can
happen at aquatic facilities. " Pool "
odor isn't only unpleasant for patrons
- it is harmful to their health too. So,
how can we make our aquatic facilities' air and water quality fresh, welcoming and healthy for new noses?
Leading aquatic facilities, like
the Fort Dodge (Iowa) Community Recreation Center (REC), found
a solution that has eliminated and
prevented " pool " odor and its
" nose blinding " effect.

The Challenge
Home to a six-lane Olympic-sized
swimming pool and a wading pool,
the Fort Dodge Community REC has
served its community for more than
50 years. While welcoming swimmers
over the years, the facility's " pool "
odor became undetectable to staff.
" I thought the water quality was
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Parks & Recreation

great, " says Janet Ellerbrock, Fort
Dodge Community REC's aquatic director. " Combined chlorines
were low and there were few complaints about the air quality. "
For aquatic facility operators,
addressing air quality is a timeconsuming task when the culprit is
not easily determined. While many
patrons assume that " pool " odor
comes from chlorine, it actually is a
result of chloramines, or combined
chlorines. Chloramines occur when
chlorine in the pool combines with
organic substances, like lotions,
sweat and oils. In addition to " pool "
odor, chloramines cause burning
eyes, irritated skin and damage to
swimmers' hair and swimsuits.
At the Fort Dodge Community
REC, a swim coach couldn't ignore the questionable air quality.
While Ellerbrock didn't believe the
air quality needed improving, she
obliged, " just to make him happy. "
However, her choice to indulge one
person would soon benefit everyone at the facility.

The Solution
Despite Ellerbrock's doubts that it
would make a difference, she installed Clear Comfort's Advanced
Oxidation Process (AOP) supplemental sanitation. After seeing the
improvements, she now says, " I

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was totally and completely wrong. "
AOP uses powerful hydroxyl
radicals that instantly oxidize and
sanitize the water. This patented
AOP system is third-party proven
to reduce chloramines and other disinfection by-products by 50
percent to 90 percent, making it a
sensible solution for Fort Dodge
Community REC's challenge.

The Result
" Since putting the system in, I was
proved to be very wrong, " Ellerbrock
admits. " The clarity of our water is
crystal clear and the combined chlorine levels is close to, if not at, zero.
The air even smells and feels fresher. "
In addition to improving the air
and water quality, the AOP system
helped the Fort Dodge Community
REC save time and money.
" Considering the ease of installing the units, very low maintenance
and relatively low cost, " says Ellerbrock, " it has been one of the best
additions to our facility. "

Let AOP Clean Your Air
While chloramines have been difficult for aquatic facility operators
to detect and address, AOP sanitation systems have made it easier
than ever to give patrons fresh, softfeeling and healthy water.
In addition to air quality, adding
AOP helps protect patrons from
Cryptosporidium, lowers chlorine
consumption and addresses issues
that aquatic facilities have become
blind to.
Steve Berens is Chief Executive Oﬃcer of
Clear Comfort (info@clearcomfort.com).

December 2020 - Parks & Recreation

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