Remote monitoring for unstaffed pools.

In the early 1980s, the Lee County Parks and Recreation Aquatics Program was understaffed, underfunded, and under strict regulations requiring clean, safe conditions at each of its pools. Water chemistry at unstaffed pools had to be checked each morning and evening, so technicians drove all over the county to run tests and manually adjust chemical feed rates. There was little time left for vacuuming, cleaning, or troubleshooting. The situation was terrible.

Today, the same aquatics department employs one senior recreation specialist to oversee 10 pools, five of which are unstaffed. He visits each unstaffed pool at least once a week to perform routine maintenance and a basic wet test. At the staffed pools, deck personnel test the water three times daily as required but seldom report any deviations in chlorine residual and pH levels. They do not touch the chemical feed controls, but the pools stay in sparkling clean condition. The aquatic budget projects annual savings of more than $30,000 in labor and maintenance costs. The situation is now great.

How did the Lee County Parks and Recreation Division accomplish this? It improved chemical treatment at every pool by installing automated water-chemistry control systems. These controllers are designed to continuously dispense chlorine and carbon dioxide for disinfection and pH control, eliminating the need for constant manual checks and adjustments.

A New Operating System 

In 1995, the aquatics program upgraded to a computer-based control system at the five unstaffed pools. This unit provides a 24-hour modem link to the pools, so while at another location, the supervisor can check and -- if needed -- modify current conditions with a click of the mouse. Thanks to the annual savings it generates, the system will pay for itself in 18 months.

The Lee County Parks and Recreation staff constantly evaluates new developments that extend their system capabilities. They are currently assessing an alarm-paging option that extends automated maintenance even further. With the new feature, if a problem arises, designated personnel receive a page with a digital readout explaining the problem. The system will page only the person on call, or can be programmed to page a sequence of employees.

Miles to Go, Pools to Keep

The Lee County Parks and Recreation Division presently operates 10 pools throughout the county (see map). The drive between Lehigh Pool, far to the east, and Pine Island Pool, at the western extremity, is more than 30 miles. From there to Bonita, the southernmost pool, is about 25 miles. The smallest pool holds 165,000 gallons, while the largest holds 225,000. All pools are heated year-round to approximately 87 [degrees] F.

Lee County pools are sanitized with liquid chlorine -- instead of gas chlorine -- to minimize safety hazards. Carbon dioxide provides pH and alkalinity adjustment.

An on-site supervisor and one additional lifeguard operate each staffed pool. The five unstaffed pools are used by the high schools and local swim teams, except for eight weeks during the summer, when they are staffed and open to the public. The pools average 125,000 units of service a year, including participants in athletic competitions, swim lessons, kayaking, scuba training, suntan-lotion testing, hydrotherapy, aerobics, private rentals, and open swim.

Downsizing 

Water-chemistry worries dwindled when the automated controllers were installed in 1981, but the unstaffed pools still required daily checks. The aquatics maintenance staff originally included a supervisor and two technicians to check these pools and make weekly visits to the staffed pools.

In 1994, internal reorganization and downsizing reduced the county's aquatics maintenance program. After they were down to two technicians, one quit, leaving the other solely responsible for taking care of general maintenance at the 10 pools. Management chose not to fill the vacated position, deleting a costly vehicle assignment, as well. Aware of the shortcomings of single-handed pool maintenance, the aquatics department prepared to fight for a replacement technician.

Frank Mendoza of Commercial Energy Specialists, a pool products and services provider for the Lee County aquatics program, suggested an alternative. Because the existing controllers, manufactured by Stranco, Inc., of Bradley, Ill., had worked well at all the county pools, Mendoza recommended that the staff try Stranco's new control system and special software program for the unstaffed pools. If it performed as anticipated, one person would be able to manage all 10 pools without sacrificing the quality of any individual facility.

Comparison Shopping

The Parks and Recreation Division analyzed the costs of hiring and retaining a replacement technician for 10 years. With salary, benefits, uniform charges, and vehicle expenses included, the total came to $325,444. It also calculated the cost of installing modem-linked controller units at the five unstaffed pools, including the software, phone lines, modems, sensors, calibrations, service checks, and periodic system upgrades. The total -- projected over the same 10-year period -- was a fraction of the cost of hiring a replacement technician.

Adopting the new control system was a no-loss situation. The county was spared the expense of replacing an employee, and the aquatics program continued to maintain its excellent water-quality standards the whole year.

Nuts, Bolts, and Computerized Control

The microprocessor-based interactive controller reports the pool-water chemistry on a real-time basis and also records data and events for later downloading or reference. Multiple pools can be monitored and adjusted from computers anywhere in the world, provided the operators log on with the correct access code.

Lee County did not have to purchase high-end computers to run the Windows-based software. The controller data modems transmit at 2400 baud (though faster ones are available), so standard 14.4 or 28.8 computer phone modems are more than adequate for the purpose. The software operates smoothly with a modest 8 MB RAM, available with older PCs and laptops. Installation requires two disks -- floppies, not CDs -- and a few minutes. Computer novices pronounce the program user-friendly.

Installing the controller hardware at the pools proved to be simple, as well. The service technician set it up in the morning, and by that same afternoon it provided very close readings. After a 48hour fine-tuning period, it operated accurately with no further adjustments.

Proven HRR Technology

Today, all pool automation systems in North America are ORP rather than residual-based. The Strantrols used by the Lee County Aquatics Program operate with High Resolution Redox[TM] (HRR), a more sensitive version of the basic ORP measurements first successfully implemented by Stranco in 1983. Computerized water-chemistry control is a natural extension of HRR technology.

Rugged sensors continuously measure the disinfection activity and pH every two seconds in a sample stream diverted from belong the pool filters, then signal the controller to modulate chemical feed based on demand. The standard user-interface panel displays HRR and pH readings. (Chlorine residual in ppm and temperature displays is optional.)

With the "virtual" controllers, these same readings appear on the computer screen when an operator logs on. Depending on the security level granted, the operator may perform several operations:

1) Obtain water-chemistry information on any or all pools

2) Fine-tune water properties within preset ranges

3) Establish operating ranges and access for personnel

4) Select and set all water-chemistry parameters

5) Download water-quality data and produce graphs

6) Set the computer to automatically download at night

An alarm is activated when the water properties fall out of preset ranges. For example, if the chlorine supply runs out, the controller posts a notice on the computer screen describing the problem, then shuts off the pump after a prescribed interval. The supervisor can remedy the situation by contacting the supplier from his office or sending out a small emergency tank until the regular supply is available, avoiding the potential for an unscheduled pool closing.

An Ounce of Prevention

The supervisor can download and print data in a format suitable for monthly reports to Florida's Health Rehabilitative Services (HRS). A quick glance at data recorded and stored by the computer also helps identify and schedule maintenance tasks. The software generates trend graphs covering from a few hours to 365 days, based on parameters selected by the operator. The system also provides a completely automated superchlorination regime that can be customized for each pool.

Totally automated control helps Lee County save on chemical-treatment costs. In 1980, prior to installing Strantrol automated chemistry control, the average annual cost of chemicals for each of the six pools was $5,000. In 1997, despite inflationary influences, the average annual cost of chemicals is still $5,000 per pool -- for 10 pools with fewer employees to maintain them.

Automated control eliminates many safety hazards where pool staff and patrons are concerned. Treatments go in continuously at an accurately determined rate based on actual demand, so there is no need for staff to handle chemicals. Whether on-site full-time or making a visit to an unstaffed pool, employees now have more time to attend to other day-today, week-to-week service and maintenance tasks around the facility.

Because the water chemistry reflects ideal sanitation parameters, bathers do not face health risks, nor do they experience the irritating effects of chemical over- and under-treatment. The water is invitingly clear and refreshing for all swimmers, whether they arrive first thing in the morning or take advantage of extended evening hours.

Dollars and Sense

Using automated water-chemistry control is economically sound, as evidenced by low chemical costs and savings in labor. But other factors come into play, too. Removing safety hazards for both employees and patrons naturally reduces liability concerns. The water provides excellent visibility at all times, a real advantage in crowded pools, and lifeguards are not distracted by chemical-treatment worries.

Employees no longer have to arrive hours before the facility opens to adjust pool chemistry. Unacceptable pool conditions resulting from pump problems or heavy rain can be detected and corrected early, usually by making a few adjustments from the remote computer terminal. Pumps can be turned on or off, and every automated operation can convert to manual if circumstances require it.

Great Water, Great lob 

All aquatic-facility managers search for ways to improve their pools and earn support from municipal and county budgets. The Lee County aquatics maintenance program has demonstrated that well-maintained pools do not require an army of technicians covering miles of road each day. Reliable automation provides superior water quality, even during the intervals of heaviest use, while minimizing the most troublesome pool-related cost: ongoing maintenance.