Commercial Pool --- Multiple problems/questions

[xJustin]

I operate a large commercial pool (guessing ~100k gallons, 20 years old) and the problems have been compiling over the last 4 years or so, I'm hoping to get everything sorted out and back to normal this year.


First off, we are starting from scratch by draining the entire pool and power washing then repainting it.

We use some type of granulated shock, and the pool is shocked every morning during pool season, and it almost seems as if we can't keep enough chlorine in the pool. We have 4 sand filters, running off of 2 pumps, and 2 chlorinators tied in. It usually seems like one chlorinator will completely empty in a day, and the other has barely eroded any tablets at all. We even put 2 or 3 tablets in each of our six skimmer baskets trying to add more chlorine into the pool.

Bather load is high end.. probably about 60 people a day, growing to around 150 a day on the weekends. Although we have it stated in the rules that no street or gym clothes are allowed in the pool, our attendants aren't strict on this. Could this be contributing to our problems in the filters and overall chemical levels?

Also, there is a constant mud-like coating on the bottom of the pool, it clouds up the water a light brownish color when you brush it. I'm going to try to tie socks on all the returns when we fill the pool back up to make sure its not coming from the filters. It could also be from the granulated shock, we try to put the shock in a bucket of pool water and mix it up, but there is always a sludgy bit of granules left in the bottom that gets in the pool. Not sure why it wont completely mix up.

As for our filters, how often should the sand be changed? In my knowledge, they are still running the same sand as they were 20 years ago. Any kind of maintenance you can do to help clean out the existing sand if I'm not supposed to change it out?

Aside from that, I'm curious as to a complete maintenance schedule for the pool, how often to backwash/how to know when backwashing is complete/etc.




Thanks in advance!

[PoolDoc]

Hi Justin;

I'm one of the few here who have experience with the sort of pool you're describing. In fact, working with owners and managers of pools like yours has been my day-job for almost 30 years. In fact, I originally started PoolSolutions.com, to help my customers . . . but I quickly discovered that they weren't as interested in their pools as I was . . . and that they weren't about to come home, and learn about pools on their own time.

So, I switched gears, and started helping homeowners, who ARE interested in their pools.

I could teach you what you need know, but you'd have to want to learn what I have to teach and it will be a lot of work. Like I said, my experience has been that folks in your situation just want to solve today's problem RIGHT NOW and then move on to something else. That's why, when I work with pools locally, they pay me to do it for them: I contract to train their staff, set up and maintain their feed systems, and supply whatever chemicals and expertise are needed. As you might imagine, the charge for all this is not cheap.

But, I'll go with you, one step at a time. If you keep up, I'll keep going.

For starters:

1. You don't need to change your sand, unless it's badly contaminated. It doesn't "wear out". It may need to be cleaned, or supplemented, but you'd have to open your filters to tell.

2. You can't do ANYTHING correctly, without accurate test results - and guess strips don't count. With a 100K pool and a bather load of 160 per day, you need to test chlorine at least 4x per day, pH 1x per day, and other stuff (alkalinity, calcium, CYA) 1x per week. Order (3) Taylor K-1000 and (1) K-2006 testkits -- more information is on this page: Get the Right Testkits for your Pool

3. Do a bucket test on your fill water: Take a CLEAN white 5 gallon bucket, and an fill it with the water you're planning to put in your pool. Add 1/2 cup of bleach, and a 1/4 cup of of baking soda, mix, cover, and let it stand for 24 hours. Then, see what's on the bottom. Tell me.

4. Inventory your equipment: pumps, filters, feeders, and tell me make, model, & size of each.

5. Inventory your chemicals -- what you have, and what you plan to use -- brand name AND chemical ingredient. "Some type of granular shock" is not enough info.


Once you have this info, post it, and I'll respond!

Good luck!

[xJustin]

Thank you for the quick and helpful reply! I'll get a more accurate list and some pics of everything tomorrow at work.


I appreciate this so much.

[xJustin]

Sorry for the delayed reply, our 1 months old and a full time job seems to wreak havoc on my to-do list.

I went ahead and snapped pics of everything, so I'll be uploading them onto here in the next 30 minutes or so, to
http://s1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh515/xJussstin/

Also, I took measurements of the pool and came up with 135k gallons.

[xJustin]

Bump

[aylad]

Hi Justin,

I think pooldoc's still waiting for your chemical list....

[PoolDoc]

Nah. He gave me that info. I'm just running low on "round tuits":

[aylad]

Ah...I know the feeling!!

[xJustin]

That's understandable, just making sure I had everything together that you needed! No hurries

[xJustin]

Update:


Pool cleaned out, and pressure washed.

New tile being installed the last couple of days.

Corporate approved 30 gallons of rubber based DARK blue paint to repaint either just the floor of the whole pool, or the entire deep end.

Ordered water meter to be installed on fire hydrant near the pool for refilling, (won't have access until the water company comes out to install their meter)
Once that is complete I will be able to perform the bucket test. I'm worried if I do it beforehand from the pool fill valve, that the water could be completely different than that of the fire hydrant.


Aside from that are there any changes we need to make before refilling?
Any hints/tips/pointers on painting?
Any procedures we should take on the pump/filtration system before or during refill?