SWIMMING POOL OPERATIONS

1. ( by Rachna Chandan and Gagan Soni: Lecturers BCIHMCT)
   
   Introduction
   
   On many occasions, swimming pools are brought under the purview of the Executive Housekeeper in a hotel. When breakdowns occur, the maintenance department must repair or replace as necessary. The objectives of pool operation must include water clarity, water chemistry control, zero algae growth, and being properly equipped and properly staffed for safe operations.
   
   Control of the safety of the water is considered an operational function and must be maintained and recorded several times daily to ensure that the water is kept chemically safe to swim in and that the pH balance is maintained in a specified, limited range. Algae must be foreseen and properly controlled, as should the condition of the pool areas in general.
   
   Swimming pools can be found in all sizes and shapes. The average 300 room hotel will probably have a heated pool about 25’* 60’, rectangular in shape, with a shallow end at 3 feet band a deep end at 6 feet. It will hold about 30,000 gallons of water. Some have diving boards and some do not. In cold climates, pools are usually indoors.
   
   Pool cleaning Procedure
   There are a few basic procedures to clean a swimming pool. It is beneficial to know the surface composition before starting the cleaning procedure.
   Deck and Cover Cleaning
   Remove as much debris as possible from the pool deck and cover before removing it. A quick sweep or hosing can remove the debris near the pool. If the cover is a floating type without a roller system, it should be folded or placed on a clean surface. Otherwise, when it is put back in place it will drag leaves, grass, or dirt into the pool. If it is a mechanized cover system, any small amount of standing water on top of the cover will slide off it is rolled up. It is better to be careful and avoid abrasive or sharp surfaces as you drag the cover off of the pool.
   Surface Skimming
   Dirt floating on the surface of the water is easier to remove than to remove it from the bottom. The floating debris should be removed off the surface, using a leaf rake and telepole. When the net fills, the debris should be emptied in a trash can or plastic garbage bag. There is no particular method to skim, but the tile line should be scraped, which acts as a magnet for small bits of leaves and dirt. The rubber-plastic edge gasket on the professional leaf rake will prevent scratching the tile. If there is scum or general dirt on the water surface, squirt a quick shot of tile soap over the length of the pool. The soap will spread the scum toward the edges of the pool, making it more concentrated and easier to skim off.
   Brushing
   Brushing removes algae from surfaces of pools. If they are not very dirty, vacuuming can be skipped but brushing the walls and bottom of the pool, starting from the shallow to the deep end is required, directing the dirt toward the main drain so it is sucked to the filter.
   Pool cleaning equipments
   POOL FILTERS
   1. Sand-The Bullet Proof Filter
   Water is pushed through a bed of filter sand and removed through a set of lateral tubes at the bottom.
   2. Cartridge- The Economic Low Maintenance Filter
   Water passes though a filter material and the filter captures the debris. (It is a white powder made from the skeletal remains of microscopic sea creatures.) These filters have to be cleaned once or twice a season by simply hosing them off.
   3. DE-The Water Polisher
   Diatomaceous Earth is mined and is the fossilized exoskeletons of tiny diatoms. They are used to coat “grids” in the filter housing and act as tiny sieves to remove debris.
   TELEPOLES
   Telepoles are made of aluminum or fiberglass. The one you will use most on pools is 8 feet long, telescoping to 16 feet.
   LEAF RAKES Leaf rakes are used to remove the leaf and other debris from the pool. The net itself is made from stainless steel mesh and the frame is aluminum with a generous 16-inch wide opening.
   WALL AND FLOOR BRUSH Wall brush is used to remove the dirt, stains and other material sticking on the interior surface. The wall brush is designed to brush pool and spa interior surfaces. Made of an aluminum frame with a shank that fits the telepole, the nylon bristles are built on the brush either straight across or curved slightly at each end.
   VACUUM HEAD AND HOSE
   Vacuum are used to suck the dirt out of the pool or spa. There are two ways to vacuum the bottom of a pool or spa. One sucks dirt from the water and sends it to the filter. The other uses water pressure from a garden hose to force debris into a bag that you then remove and clean.
   LEAF VACUUM AND GARDEN HOSE
   The leaf master is one which is attached to the telepole and a garden hose, operates by forcing water from the hose into the unit where it is diverted into dozens of tiny jets that are directed upward toward a fabric bag on top of the unit.
   SWIMMING POOL CHEMICALS
   Chlorine is a great cleanser for pools. By keeping the right level of chlorine in the water, algae will find a very hostile environment, as well as any number of bugs and plant life, as well as microscopic germs and bacteria. Bromine is another such germicide, mostly used for Indoor pools, however, as it has less odor, but is slightly more expensive. A more serious approach to pool cleaning is Shock. Shock is a heavy dose of chlorine, among other chemicals. The goal of shock is to completely kill everything in it. Usually when Shock is used, the pool should not be used for a number of hours, if not days.It is very important to consult an expert before using any of these, as they are all potentially dangerous if used incorrectly.
   Pool Chemical Safety
   · Chemicals should never be mixed. Instructions should be read carefully.
   · All the chemical and water levels should be checked to be sure the pool is bacteria free and clean.
   · Chemicals should be stored in a safe place where kids and animals cannot get to them. Some chemicals cannot be stored together.
   Swimming Pool Temperature
   Many, including the American Red Cross suggest 78 degrees for swimming. This temperature is suggested for competitive swimming, not necessarily every day use. The cold water promotes faster heartbeat and heavier breathing in order to keep warm.