New Technology Protects Guests & Staff in Swimming Pools

(eap) Anyone who regularly visits leisure pools and water parks will be familiar with the characteristically pungent “swimming pool smell”. It arises during water disinfection when chlorine reacts with organic substances such as sweat, urine or skin particles. Among other compounds, in this process trichloramine is produced. This substance is considered a primary cause of irritation to the respiratory tract, eyes and skin. The more urea enters the water, the more trichloramine is formed – and the more intense the typical “swimming pool” odour becomes. The highest concentration occurs directly above the water surface, where bathers and sometimes pool staff are directly exposed as they inhale the contaminated air.

DULCOMETER AirGuard // Foto: Courtesy of ProMinent GmbH To continuously and precisely measure trichloramine concentrations in indoor swimming pool air, the globally active German company ProMinent has now launched a new monitoring system. The “DULCOMETER AirGuard” measures trichloramine levels within a range of 0.00 to 2.00 mg/m³ and, according to the manufacturer, enables compliance with country-specific air quality limits for public swimming pools. If the real-time monitored values increase, the system can automatically communicate with higher-level control systems and, for example, adjust the fresh air supply. According to the supplier, the technology replaces manual laboratory analyses. The system is available both as a permanently installed solution and as a mobile measuring station. ■