Caring For Aquatic Facilities
From prolonged shutdown due to COVID-19 to reopening, some advice on how to remain vigilant
By Jean Leathers
Photos: Courtesy of White Pine Aquatic Center
With many aquatic facilities in prolonged shutdown due to COVID-19, staff members face ongoing maintenance issues to ensure that pools and their environments do not decline. Left unattended, culprits like rust, mold, and algae can wreak havoc on facilities not in use.
Three experts in pool design and construction discuss what operators need to do during prolonged closure and what to consider when reopening: George Deines, Studio Director at Counsilman-Hunsaker; Mike Gartland, Principal and mechanical engineer of Counsilman-Hunsaker; and Eric Roberts, CEO and architect of Knit. Both firms have specialized expertise in aquatic facilities and have collaborated on numerous projects.
What maintenance recommendations do you have for pool operators dealing with prolonged aquatic facility closures?
According to Gartland, “Because indoor pool environments are often corrosive, it’s important to minimize exposure of equipment in the area.” He recommends removing, rinsing, and, when possible, storing all pool and deck equipment, including lane lines, ladders, handrails, and other potentially corrosive pool-equipment items.
In addition to the equipment, Roberts adds, “Any time indoor building equipment and surfaces are exposed to chlorine, there is the possibility of corrosion. For example, handles and door frames may rust, so daily maintenance—even when temporarily shut down—are important. Wiping down handrails and other metal surfaces daily can prevent deposits and rust.”
This is true also for any plumbing in the building. For example, gaskets and washers need to be exercised by running water to keep them from becoming brittle and cracking, leading to leaks. Traps need to be refreshed to keep gases from entering the building from sewage. Roberts says, “You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you have to replace flush, shower, or sink valves when you reopen because you didn’t run your systems once a week during shutdown.”
To keep air quality harmonized between bringing in outside air and expelling chlorinated air, the team agreed that HVAC systems should be kept on 24/7. This is especially important if the natatorium is adjacent to a gymnasium or fitness area.
Despite rounding into summer, pools/natatoriums that are in cold-weather regions, such as mountain facilities, experience a risk of structural damage to the buildings if proper temperatures are not maintained in the natatorium/pool. Freeze-thaw cycles can cause damage around the building envelope and ultimately lead to structural issues. Keeping natatorium temperatures high in cold-weather regions is critical.
According to Gartland, “For seasonal pools exposed to freezing temperatures, we recommend removing, cleaning and storing all equipment (skimmer baskets, fixtures, ladders, etc.), and going through a winterization process, which may include draining, blowing out, and capping the pipes to winterize the plumbing to and from the pool to prevent cold temperatures from causing damage.”
Some pool operators have wondered if draining pools can save on costs. It’s not recommended because the majority of indoor pools have Diamond Brite or plaster surfaces, and these materials need to be submerged. Facilities that are seasonal are usually designed for pool drainage, but for indoor facilities, pools are typically better off filled and maintained.
One possible cost savings that facility operators can experience is reducing the number of disinfectant residuals allowable by local/state codes. If the pool typically maintains a 2.0 or 3.0 ppm residual, it may be reduced to 1.0 ppm (if allowed by local/state code). This can reduce chemical costs. The chemicals you have in storage can become less potent over time. Liquid chlorine has a 12-percent potency, and Cal-Hypo tablets are 67 percent. These chemicals have a technical lifespan, so check with manufacturers to ensure you know the potency of stored chemicals.
While facilities are closed, it’s prudent to cover pools for two reasons. First, this will help with maintaining the chemicals in the water and water evaporation. Second, and more importantly, covering the pool is a safety precaution. Since the pool is not being attended by lifeguards, covering the pool can protect against accidents.
During prolonged shutdown, some pool operators are taking care of projects not related to the pool, for example, office space or lifeguard rooms, readying things for proper social distancing when facilities reopen. According to Roberts, “There are retrofits that can help reduce contagion from high-touch areas, such as anti-microbial handles that can be heat-mounted on toilet stems or shower handles. Facilities can minimize touch points by installing kick pedals to doors or elbow extensions to open doors.”
“In addition to projects, we’re also recommending that operators attend to management issues, such as looking at Standard Operating Procedures, budgets, evaluating emergency-action plans, and so on,” says Deines.
Additional recommendations include:
• Pool recirculation pump(s) should remain operational 24/7, and where permissible per local/state code, be turned down to 75 percent of designed flow rate.
• For indoor pools, the HVAC/DX system should remain operational to maintain negative pressure in the natatorium.
• Daily inspection of the pool and its related systems should be done by a certified pool operator. Chemical quantities should be inspected and procured. The filter may require backwashing, particularly if outdoors, and depending on the loading and type of filter system.
• Prior to reopening, a certified pool operator should do a full inspection of mechanical and chemical-treatment systems.
What can facilities managers do when reopening to ensure patrons feel safe?
The key to reopening facilities is communication. “If I’ve learned anything during this crisis, it’s that people need leaders to be definitive about what they are doing and what they are going to do,” Robert says. “In this case, it could be your pool operator clearly stating how the facility will be reopened. This is what gives people confidence—someone in charge with a sound plan that they are going to adhere to. Even if the plan, once adopted, needs to be adapted, having a clear strategy will help your visitors feel safe to reenter your facilities.”
Another recommended measure for informing visitors that safety is first and foremost is to post on your website the proactive measures you are taking to ensure safety. People may be concerned that the virus may be transmitted in the pool as a waterborne illness. Dispelling this idea is paramount when reopening. A suggestion is
to post the following statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website:
“There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water-play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.
“While there is ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, it is important for individuals as well as owners and operators of these facilities to take steps to ensure health and safety:
• Everyone should follow local and state guidance that may determine when and how recreational water facilities may operate.
• Individuals should continue to protect themselves and others at recreational water venues, both in and out of the water—for example, by practicing social distancing and good hygiene.
• In addition to ensuring water safety and quality, owners and operators of community pools, hot tubs, spas, and water-play areas should follow the interim guidance for businesses and employers for cleaning and disinfecting their community facilities.”
While pools already have their own cleaning lists, facilities managers will be facing more stringent COVID-19 requirements. These will include regular disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, shared equipment such as kickboards, and common areas such as lifeguard rooms and restrooms. Posting these cleaning lists will also help visitors to feel more comfortable about returning to the facility.
What advice do you have about reopening facilities?
“What we are seeing so far is that facilities are opening for shorter periods of time and limiting the number of guests permitted in the facility at a time,” Deines says.
While it’s difficult to predict when aquatic operators will begin reopening facilities, here are ideas and suggestions that Roberts, Deines, and Gartland shared.
• Allowing certain populations to enter the facility at specific times, for example, swim teams. Once practice is over, the facility can be sanitized before the next population enters the facility.
• Opening for lap swimming and placing swimmers in every other lane.
• Providing smaller water-fitness classes and spacing participants every 6 feet.
• Limiting the overall number of people allowed in the facility at any given time.
• Asking people to shower at home before and change at home after.
White Pine County Aquatics Center in Ely, Nev., was a project jointly completed by Counsilman-Hunsaker and Knit. Kristi Lynch-Rozich, Aquatics Director, says the facility is preparing to reopen for lap swimming and therapy only. Classes, swim-team practice, and open swim will remain closed.
The facility will be open five hours in the morning and four hours in the evening. Swimmers must call in to make a reservation for a one-hour swim. To accommodate lap swimmers, locker rooms have been clearly marked for proper distancing. Based on the size of the locker rooms, three men and three women can use the respective facilities at a time. Lockers, shower stalls, and restrooms are roped off to maintain a 6-foot separation. This also helps in cleaning and sanitizing the space each hour.
The city of Henderson, Nev., Parks and Recreation Department operates 10 aquatic facilities—four year-round locations and six seasonal pools. Angela Summers, Recreation Services Manager, highly recommends developing a reopening plan during the shutdown. “Our plan went from 10 pages to 32 pages in length on how to handle the new situation we’re all facing.”
The reopening plan is in phases, based on the governor of Nevada’s current order. During Phase 1, all pools are closed.
Phase 2 begins when permission to reopen aquatic facilities is granted by the state. Patrons entering the facility may have to answer COVID-19 screening questions and have their temperature taken, based on state guidelines. Plexiglass shields have been installed at the check-in station with markers on the floor for 6 feet of separation. The facility is providing hand sanitizer and wipes to use on equipment. Face coverings are encouraged for staff members and will be provided. All staff members receive hand-washing and physical-distance training. In addition, signs and verbiage in multiple languages will be placed throughout the facilities to help keep patrons safe and well-informed. Phases 1 and 2 limit the number of people allowed in the facility. Phase 2 limits the number of people in the facility to under 50. The city has created a plan that provides a reservation system for one hour, one person per lane lap swimming, and allows for shower time before and after swimming. Between sessions, custodial crews spray to decontaminate, and staff members wipe down services and areas of use regularly. Private rentals may be available for groups under 50 people, with proper social distancing.
Phase 3 allows for open swim. “We have 317,000 residents, and we want to see our citizens getting back into our pools for their health and well-being.” Once Phase 3 is approved by the governor, open swim will be reinstated with proper social distancing.
The city continues to work on strategies using recommendations from Star Guard Elite, the Southern Nevada Healthy District, CDC, and state and local protocols.
Closure of aquatic facilities poses challenges for pool operators. Ongoing maintenance is critical to protect the pool, its environment, and pool-related equipment. Because of closure, however, there are also some opportunities, such as upgrades, retrofits, and planning. Having a solid reopening plan that can be communicated clearly will ensure that visitors feel safe and understand how to engage when pools reopen.
Jean Leathers, Principal of Practice Clarity, is a strategic business consultant who helps architects build business. Reach her at Jean@practiceclarity.com.