Water Supply and Drainage Systems For Swimming Pools

Water supply and drainage systems are key elements for ensuring the safe and comfortable operation of swimming pools. Their importance is difficult to overestimate, since the quality of water, the safety of visitors, and the durability of the pool itself depend on their proper functioning.

Requirements for water supply of swimming pools

The water supply to swimming pools must meet several strict requirements to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors:

• Water quality: water must be clean, clear, and meet sanitary standards. This includes filtration, disinfection, and maintaining the correct chemical balance (pH and chlorine levels). Water must meet the requirements of SanPiN "Drinking water".
• Volume and frequency of water exchange: the water in the pool must be renewed regularly. The frequency of water exchange depends on the type and size of the pool, as well as the number of visitors.
• Temperature conditions: water must be maintained within a certain temperature range for the comfort of bathers. This is especially important for indoor and children's pools.
• System reliability: water supply must be uninterrupted, with backup sources in case of failures. Systems must be resistant to emergencies and easy to maintain.

Water supply sources

The choice of water supply sources for swimming pools depends on several factors, such as the location of the facility, availability of resources, and water quality requirements. The main types of sources include centralized and autonomous systems. Each of these sources has its characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

Centralized water supply systems

Centralized systems are connected to city or municipal water supply networks. They supply the pool with water that has already undergone preliminary purification and complies with established sanitary standards.

Advantages:

• Consistent water quality: Water from centralized systems generally meets high-quality standards.
• Reliability of supply: Centralized systems provide an uninterrupted supply of water, which is especially important for public and commercial pools.
• Ease of use: The lack of need for your water treatment system significantly simplifies the operation of the pool.

Flaws:

• Dependency on external suppliers: Any problems in the city water supply network can lead to interruptions in the water supply to the pool.
• Cost: Fees for water consumption from a centralized system can be high, especially for large pools.

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Autonomous water supply systems

Autonomous systems use local water sources such as artesian wells, boreholes, rivers, or lakes. These systems often include water treatment plants to ensure the required quality of water for the pool.

Advantages:

• Independence: Autonomous systems allow pools to be independent of municipal water supply networks, which is especially important in remote areas.
• Water quality control: In-house water treatment systems allow for better control of water quality, adapting it to the specific needs of the pool.
• Long-Term Savings: While the initial cost of installing an off-grid system can be high, it can pay for itself by eliminating ongoing water bills.

Flaws:

• High initial costs: Installing a stand-alone water supply system requires significant capital investment.
• Maintenance and Operation: Stand-alone systems require regular maintenance and monitoring, which can increase operating costs.
• Risk of resource depletion: Water sources such as wells and boreholes may become depleted or change in quality over time.

Technologies and methods of water purification in swimming pools

Basic cleaning methods include:

Mechanical filtration:

• Sand filters: Remove large particles and suspended matter from water.
• Cartridge filters: Retain fine contaminants and provide finer cleaning.
• Diatomaceous Earth Filters: Use diatomaceous earth powder for ultra-fine filtration.

Chemical cleaning:

• Chlorination: An effective disinfectant that kills bacteria and viruses.
• Bromination: An alternative to chlorination, suitable for indoor pools due to lower odor.
• Ozonation: Purifies water by oxidizing organic matter and microorganisms.

Ultraviolet (UV) cleaning:

• UV lamps disinfect water by destroying the DNA of microorganisms, which prevents their reproduction.

Combined methods:

• Using several technologies simultaneously: for example, mechanical filtration together with chlorination and UV purification to ensure maximum water quality.

Equipment for water supply of swimming pools

When designing a domestic and drinking water supply system, hidden piping is usually used. The process pipeline that supplies water to the pool bowl is assembled from steel pipes with welded joints. Embedded elements placed in the bottom and walls of the pool bowl are made of stainless steel.

New modern systems of industrial water supply can include plastic pipes with socket joints, sealed with rubber seals. This significantly increases the capacity of the water supply system and increases its service life.

Also, efficient water supply of pools requires the use of specialized equipment that provides supply, purification, and chemical treatment of water. The main elements of such a system include pumps, filters, and chemical reagent dispensers.

Pumps

Pumps play a key role in the pool water supply system, providing water circulation through filters and water treatment systems. The main types include:

• Circulation pumps: ensure constant movement of water through the filtration and disinfection system, maintaining its cleanliness and quality.
• Water supply pumps: used to supply water from the source to the pool, as well as to fill and top up the water level.
• Drainage pumps: used to remove excess water and drain the pool for maintenance.

Filters

Filters remove mechanical impurities and suspended particles from water, ensuring its transparency and purity. Filter types:

• Sand filters: The most common, remove large particles and contaminants.
• Cartridge filters: Provide finer filtration by capturing small particles.
• Diatomaceous earth filters: Use diatomaceous earth powder for ultra-fine filtration, providing a high degree of water purification.

Chemical reagent dispensers

Dispensers are necessary to maintain the chemical balance of water, which prevents the proliferation of microorganisms and ensures the safety of bathers. The main types of dispensers:

• Chlorine dispensers: Automatically regulate the chlorine level in water, ensuring effective disinfection.
• pH dispensers: Maintain the optimal level of water acidity, which is necessary for comfortable bathing and the effective operation of other chemical reagents.
• Algaecide and Flocculant Dosers: Used to prevent algae growth and improve filtration by aggregating small particles into larger ones that are more easily removed by filters.

Water exchange systems in swimming pools

To maintain water quality and provide comfortable conditions for swimmers in pools, various water exchange systems are used. Each system has its characteristics and is used depending on the type of pool and its operational requirements. The main types of water exchange systems include filling, flowing, and recirculating systems.

Filling water exchange system

The filling system involves periodically adding fresh water to the pool while simultaneously draining a certain volume of old water. This method is easy to implement and does not require complex equipment. In this system, the process water supply must ensure rapid filling of the pool, while draining the water should not take more than 3 hours. This approach works effectively for pools with a bowl volume of 20-50 m³.

Advantages:

• Easy to install and operate.
• Low maintenance costs.

Flaws:

• Impossibility of maintaining high water quality continuously.
• High water consumption, makes the system inefficient in terms of resource conservation.

Flow-through water exchange system

The flow-through water exchange system involves a constant inflow of fresh water and a simultaneous outflow of used water. This system provides a more stable water quality compared to the bulk one. Suitable for pools with a bowl volume of up to 200 m³.

Advantages:

• Constant renewal of water, which ensures high quality and safety for bathers.
• Simplicity of design and operation.

Flaws:

• Significant water consumption can lead to high operating costs.
• Dependence on a constant source of high-quality water.

The flow-through water exchange system is widely used in swimming pools at schools, kindergartens, health centers, saunas, baths, and cottages. When using this system, a complete replacement of water in the pool should be done at least once every 12 hours, and in children's pools - every 8 hours.

Recirculating water exchange system

The reverse or recirculation water exchange system is the most effective and widespread system for modern pools of any type. Water circulates in a closed circuit: water from the pool enters the filtration and purification system, then purified water returns to the pool. This process is continuous, which allows maintaining high water quality.

Advantages:

• The high degree of water purification is due to constant filtration and disinfection.
• Saving water resources by reusing the same water over and over again.
• Possibility of precise control of water parameters (temperature, pH, chemical content).

Flaws:

• The complexity of design and the need to install sophisticated equipment (filters, pumps, automatic control systems).
• High initial costs for installing the system.
• The need for regular maintenance and monitoring.

When using a pool, natural water losses are inevitable, so it is necessary to provide for regular or constant addition of fresh water to the bowl. This helps to reduce the concentration of dissolved substances and finely dispersed contaminants.

In recirculation water supply systems, water from the pool first enters through bottom drains into filters for preliminary cleaning. Then, circulation pumps pump the water into granular filters, which provide deeper cleaning. After that, the water passes through high-speed water heaters and returns to the pool through special outlets. Overflow gutters are used to drain water from the upper layers of the pool, through which some of the water can be directed to the sewer.

The choice of a water exchange system for a pool depends on many factors, including the type of pool, its size, the number of users, and the availability of water resources. A pouring system is simple and cost-effective to install, but does not provide stable water quality. A flow-through system provides constant water renewal but requires large volumes of water supply. A recirculation system is the most effective, providing high water quality and saving resources, but requires significant investment and complex maintenance. The correct choice of water exchange system ensures the safety and comfort of pool users and optimizes operating costs.

Swimming pool drainage systems

In swimming pool buildings, wastewater is formed when water is drained from the bowl, and overflow systems, as well as from toilets and showers. Wastewater from washing floors, disinfecting rooms, and other sanitary procedures is also connected to the drain channels. Therefore, an important part of the engineering support is the drainage system.

Such systems include drains and overflows, sewer systems, and wastewater treatment plants. Let's take a closer look at each of these elements.

Construction of drainage and overflow systems

Drain and overflow systems are designed to control the water level in the pool and prevent it from overflowing.

• Drainage systems: include drain holes located at the bottom of the pool and along its perimeter. They ensure water drainage when partial or complete replacement is necessary, as well as during maintenance.
• Overflow systems: include overflow gutters and channels that are located along the edges of the pool. These systems allow for the automatic drainage of excess water that occurs due to splashing or rising water levels when a large number of people are swimming.

Sewerage systems and wastewater disposal requirements

Sewerage systems are designed to drain wastewater from the pool to places for further treatment and disposal.

• Drainage systems: include pipes and pumps that transport wastewater from the pool to a treatment plant or the general sewer network.
• Sewage requirements: Wastewater from swimming pools contains chemicals such as chlorine and other disinfectants, so it must be treated according to regulatory requirements. The volume of wastewater, its chemical composition, and the requirements for its treatment before discharge into the environment or general sewer system must be taken into account.

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Treatment facilities for swimming pool wastewater

Treatment plants play a key role in ensuring safe and environmentally friendly discharge of wastewater from swimming pools.

• Mechanical treatment: involves removing large particles and suspended solids from wastewater using filters and settling tanks.
• Chemical treatment: uses coagulants and reagents to remove dissolved substances and improve water quality.
• Biological treatment: uses microorganisms to decompose organic pollutants, which is especially effective in removing biological pollution.
• Physicochemical methods: include ozonation, ultraviolet disinfection, and other advanced technologies to ensure a high level of water purification.

The choice of drainage system for a pool depends on its design, as well as the possibility of connecting to a centralized sewerage system. Depending on this, the following types of drainage systems can be installed:

• Connection to the centralized sewerage network
• Autonomous systems with local treatment plants

If the pool can be connected to the municipal sewer system, it is advisable to use a centralized drainage system. In this case, the drains from showers and other household sources should be mixed with the water that is drained after disinfecting the pool and washing its filters. This helps to reduce the concentration of chemical reagents and maintain a normal pH level of the water.

For autonomous drainage systems, wastewater from the pool's internal sewerage system is directed to receiving tanks, where it accumulates and is then fed to local treatment facilities. Correct calculation of the volume of these tanks, taking into account the maximum daily inflow of wastewater and the required reserve, is critical and must be calculated very accurately.

High-quality design and installation of a drainage system ensures stable and trouble-free operation of the pool, as well as compliance with environmental standards during its operation.

Conclusion

In this article, we have described in detail all the features of water supply and drainage systems for swimming pools: requirements for water supply, equipment, and cleaning technologies. If you have any questions or need advice on this topic, you can always contact the specialists at StroyElit. We have been designing and installing engineering systems since 2004 and understand that water quality and reliability of drainage systems are key factors for safe and comfortable operation of swimming pools. Our goal is to provide customers with high-quality solutions that meet all regulatory requirements and environmental standards.