December 2006/January 2007

The voice of the Wet Industry

SanitisationNew ideas and

time-proven certainties

Access equipmentFor people with disabilities

Business risks and opportunities

SPLASH! | 3

Contents

contents

30

38

64 48

INDUSTRY NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

What’s up in the pool and spa industry

INDUSTRY CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Key dates to keep in mind

INDUSTRY AWARDS (NSW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

List of state winners

INDUSTRY AWARDS (SA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

List of state winners

INDUSTRY MOVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Who’s going where

NSPI LAUNCHES WATER BABY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

National course in water maintenance

POOLRITE GETS WATER WISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Ross Palmer talks about the Magna Pool System

A FEW HOURS STUDY TO SAVE A LIFE . . . . . . . . . . .24

Everyone should know CPR

A DRY ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Water and climate issues

SOAKING IN SUCCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Jeff Stibbard’s advice on improving sales

SWIMMING WITH THE DRAGON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Tracey Wood looks at doing business in China

SPLASH! EXPO NEW ZEALAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

The industry trade show moves across the Tasman

SANITISATION, NEW AND OLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Tried and true methods, plus new ideas

RESPECTING WATER IN THE USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Christina DiMartino eyes water issues, Stateside

SPLASH! COMMERCIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

News and features from the commercial sector

FORGET THE WATER – RECYCLE THE POOL . . . . . . .62

The relocatable FINA pool

ACCESS ALL AREAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Disabled access ideas and necessities

WATER-WISE WATER WORLD FOR GOLD COAST . . .68

Dreamworld launches a new water park

PRODUCT RELEASES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

The latest equipment, materials and technology

SUBSCRIPTION FORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

ADVERTISERS INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

SPLASH! | 5

This month’s cover

Ian Thorpe is more than just a great competitor; when he swims he is the em-

bodiment of human interaction with water. Unfortunately, we may not witness

that physical poetry again.

The fi rst time I saw him swim was at the Barcelona World Championships. I was

expecting to see him power up the pool, leaving other swimmers in his wake. But it

was the others who powered, arms furiously attacking the water; white spray fan-

ning behind them. All the while, Ian seemed to stroll, as if he was at a training ses-

sion. He made no aggressive arm movements; left no great disturbance in the water.

But somehow, without appearing to try, he was a body length ahead of everyone

else. When he touched the wall, he had time to turn around and check the clock

before the others stretched out to the fi nish, panting.

The ease with which he swum belied the truth. The race was the tip of the iceberg

– the 90 per cent beneath the water was his endless training sessions, personal com-

mitment and perseverance against the odds. We’d all love to move through life the way

Ian moves through the water, with seemingly no effort but great success. “Seemingly”

is the operative word, however. Only hard work made the Thorpedo possible.

In the end it was illness that played a part convincing him to retire. Illness, disease,

bacteria – these are also our enemies in the pool industry, and the various weapons

against them are discussed in this issue’s article on sanitisation. We had a good deal of

input from various sources for this article, and welcome more input on this vital topic.

We also look at the big red dragon in our neighbourhood – China. Who can’t be

excited by a market of 1.3 billion people? But is it practical to think of doing business

in, or with, China? Is it an opportunity, a threat, or a bit of both?

Chris Maher

Editor

editorial

Welcome to SPLASH!

Swimming Pool Lifestyle And Spa Hi-tech

Published by

The Intermedia Group Pty LtdABN 940 025 83 682Suit 39, Level 1, 100 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009 AustraliaPh: (02) 9660 2113 Fax: (02) 9660 4419

Managing Director: Simon Grover

Managing Director Interpoint Events: Simon Cooper

Editor: Chris MaherPhone: 0412 048 639Email: chrismaher@intermedia.com.au

Advertising Manager: David McLeodPhone: (02) 8586 6135Email: david@intermedia.com.au

Production Manager: Jill Lehmann

Graphic Designer: Ben Akhurst

Contributing Writers: Christina DiMartino, Tracey Wood

Circulation and subscription Manager: Chris BlacklockPhone: 1800 651 422

Printed by: Graphic World

CopyrightAll material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers.

DisclaimerThis publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the "Publisher"). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information.All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.Copyright © 2006 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.

Proudly supported by:

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The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the above supporters, nor should any product advertised in SPLASH! magazine be seen to be endorsed by the above.

China is getting excited about swimming in anticipation of

the Beijing Olympics. In Swimming with the Dragon, on

page 30, Tracey Wood investigates the ins and outs of

doing business in the pool industry in China. Image by

Stila Goh/istockphoto.

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SPLASH! | 7

industry news

THE Ozone Layer has acquired the Australian distribution rights for the Del Ozone range.

Additionally, it has picked up the import rights for Pool Check and Exact Meters. The company also distributes Raypak pool heating and Aquatron Ultra-max cleaners in Queensland.

Directors Paul Western and Phil-lip Green are well known within the industry, Western with more than 10 years experience as Raypak sales manager in Queensland and Green with almost 25 years in the industry including stints as SPASA Queensland manager and Poolrite national sales

and marketing manager. The Ozone Layer had been the Del

Ozone Queensland distributor for the past three years. The existing Del Ozone distributors will remain in place, while a new distribution network is being established for Pool Check and Exact Meters.

ASTRALPOOL BUYS HURLCONHURLCON will grow as a major Australian and international supplier following their acquisition by Spanish giant AstralPool, says Hurlcon director, Peter Wallace.

“AstralPool are a major player,” he says. “One of the things they were interested in is that they have a good product range but don’t have a salt chlorinator, and they wanted our gas heaters and loved some of our pumps. So they will be mar-keting these through their 136 branches to other parts of the world.”

AstralPool is part of the Aquaria Group of companies which has 43 factories and 136 branches in 30 countries around the world. The Aquaria Group employs over 3100 people with sales of more than $AU900m.

With a $AU35m revenue last year, Hurlcon is one of Australia’s leading pool equipment manufacturers and has

facilities for injection and rotational moulding, sheet metal fabrication and powder coating on 15 separate assembly lines. Hurlcon manufactures a broad range of residential pool and spa equip-ment including pumps, fi lters, chlorina-tors, gas and electric heaters and chemi-cal monitoring and dosing equipment.

Both Astral Equipment Australia and Hurlcon will operate as separate entities and all current distribution arrange-ments will continue.

Hurlcon will operate in its current structure and all distribution arrange-ments will continue. Both Peter Wal-lace and Brad Weir, former owners and

founders of Hurlcon, will continue to head up Hurlcon’s operations within Australia, which will continue to be run out of Noble Park, Melbourne. All staff will remain.

Peter Wallace says that Hurlcon will look at expanding next year and gain ad-ditional manufacturing facilities.

AstralPool’s aim is to supply the most complete range of products in Australia covering both residential and com-mercial swimming pools with a strong focus on technical support and cus-tomer service.

AstralPool’s commercial pool equip-ment, typically used in competition, municipal, school and resort pools, can now be distributed through Hurlcon’s network and extensive customer base.

Additionally, Hurlcon’s salt chlorina-tors, pumps, heaters and boilers can be exported through the AstralPool world-wide distribution network.

More industry consolidation

An added layer for Ozone

Coogee dives into hypochlorite WEST Australian chemical company Coogee Chemicals has bought out Nufarm’s 80 per cent, $24m stake in Nufarm Coogee, manufacturer of chlorine for the agricultural sector and sodium hypochlorite for the swimming pool industry.

The takeover will take effect July 31, 2007. It will boost Coogee’s revenue by 25 per cent to approxi-mately $200 million.

Ozone Layer directors Paul Western and Phillip Green

8 | SPLASH!

industry news

HANLEY WOOD PURCHASES AQUA SHOWHANLEY Wood has bought the Aqua Show from Athletic Business Publica-tions (ABP). The Aqua Show, founded in 1993, is a 9000 square metre expo serving the pool and spa industry. Aqua Magazine is not part of the acquisition and will continue to be owned by ABP.

The Aqua Show will become part of the Pool and Spa group based in Dallas and will be led by Vice President Rick McConnell with day-to-day operations to be managed by director Donna Bellan-tone. The Aqua Show will be the third event owned and managed by Hanley Wood in the pool and spa sector. Hanley Wood currently owns and manages the International Pool & Spa Expo and the Backyard Living Expo.

POOL INDUSTRY GOES DUTCH AT AQUATECH AQUATECH Amsterdam is a trade show for water professionals from all over the world. The event was held dur-ing September 2006, with 22,500 square metres playing host to 871 exhibitors.

One Australian company present was Waterco, launching its commercial com-posite hair and lint pot, commercial cast iron pump, commercial Hybrid stainless steel pump, 100mm MPV, 4-bar rated commercial Hydron fi lter, electronic clarifi er and its 7-bar rated Micron com-mercial deep bed fi lters.

JACUZZI BOUGHT BY APOLLOJACUZZI Brands, the global spa and plumbing manufacturer (including Jacuzzi and Sundance spas), announced in October that private equity fi rm Apollo Management will purchase the company for $US1.25b, including the assumption of $US260m outstanding debt. Jacuzzi Brands’ shareholders will receive $US12.50 per share in cash.

The acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions, including the approval of Jacuzzi Brands’ shareholders, regula-tory approval, and the receipt by Apollo of all necessary debt fi nancing. It is expected to close in the fi rst quarter of 2007. Since its inception in 1990, Apollo has invested over $US16 billion in companies repre-senting a wide variety of industries, both in the US and internationally.

PENTAIR’S NEW STRUCTUREPENTAIR announced in September its new leadership structure, appointing Michael V Schrock to the newly created role of president and chief operating offi cer. Schrock, 53, will report to the company’s chairman and chief executive offi cer, Randall J Hogan.

Under the new structure, Schrock will accelerate the implementation of Pen-tair’s operating disciplines, including lean enterprise, aimed at driving improved margins and organic growth. Schrock will also assume responsibility for all of Pen-tair’s operating segments: he will contin-ue to lead the technical products group, which he has led since October 2001, and the company’s fi ltration business, for which he has been responsible since October 2005, while gaining responsibil-ity for the remaining water businesses. Pentair vice chairman Richard J Cathcart will continue to be responsible for global growth, strategy and acquisitions.

PHOENIX LEADS US WITH ZERO CHILD DROWNINGSTHE Drowning Prevention Coalition of Central Arizona has credited a drown-ing prevention campaign with the fi rst child-drowning-free summer in memory. Phoenix, a city the size of Melbourne, had 22 child-drownings during the previ-ous summer.

Many factors came into play, includ-ing the Arizona fencing regulations, free pool fences given away by the fi re depart-ment, the rise of CPR and pool safety classes and a number of public service safety campaigns.

SEMINARS COME ONLINE THE World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC), sponsored by the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF), re-cently held in Austin, Texas, is now offer-

ing its 2006 seminars on the web. Confer-ence attendance was up 18 per cent this year, and much of that growth was due to people accessing the seminars online.

Five symposia featured 36 seminars de-livered by 34 speakers. Conference attend-ees have offered positive feedback about the new fi ndings reported on injury and illness prevention, life-guarding, aquatic programming, aquatic health benefi ts and new industrial technology. These are now available to anyone who purchases access codes to the on-line WAHC from the NSPF. For detail on the individual semi-nars, log onto www.nspf.org and download a WAHC list of seminars.

NEW PRESIDENT FOR NSPFTHE US-based National Swimming Pool Foundation has a new president, P Cory Willis who succeeds Bill Kent. Willis has served as a member of the NSPF board of directors for six years, most recently as treasurer, and chairman of the scholarship and grant committees.

BEACHCOMBER HELPS FIGHT CANCERBEACHCOMBER Hot Tubs held a company wide raffl e to raise money for Cancer Research. Cong Phan and Trang Nguyen won a brand new Beachcomber spa, worth nearly $AU10,000. Every dol-lar from the sale of tickets for the draw went to the Canadian Cancer Society, along with money raised at a bake sale in the factory, and donations made online totalling more than $AU15,000.

ANIMALS IN THE POOLAN Alabama man was lucky he checked the pool before diving in: he discovered an alligator sitting on the bottom. It turned out to be neighbour’s pet which had escaped a month ago. The police eventually lassoed the creature and returned it to its owner.

In Illawong, Sydney, a man found something equally disturbing in his pool – a jaguar. Not the furred kind, but an XJ6. The 72-year-old driver had lost con-trol and jumped the kerb, went through a fence and fell into the pool. The owner of the house saved the 74 year old pas-senger. They were lucky, as a 61-year-old Milwaukee man died in nearly identical circumstances in October.

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SPLASH! | 11

industry news

ONE way an industry can help itself de-velop into the future is have self-aware-ness. That is, to know what is happening in the industry now, and what is likely to happen in the future.

A key way to generate this awareness is through market research. At present, this doesn’t exist to any great degree in the pool and spa industry. That is about to change, thanks to an initiative from Moore Stephens.

The research program aims to provide suppliers to the industry with a clear un-derstanding of the pool care market size, movements and trends. The plan is to set up a framework for collating and analys-ing market related data each year, and to establish year-to-year benchmarks.

This data and analysis should then provide a sound basis and recommenda-tions for the future strategic direction of brands within the industry, to help pro-mote the growth of all parts of the supply chain within the pool care market.

But this data cannot be collated with-out help from the industry members. If the industry doesn’t have a buy in, it will be very diffi cult to do.

Moore Stephens is requesting assist-

ance from all key suppliers, retailers and wholesalers.

There are two ways to assist. If you are happy simply to provide information, Moore Stephens will supply you with a top-line report of a couple of pages outlining identifying key statistics and trends, once the research is complete.

If you are willing to subscribe, you will get detailed data in a 40-50 page report. Subscriptions cost $2000 each plus an additional fee if you want special infor-mation on subcategories.

The Research Methodology will in-volve conducting a series of face-to-face interviews with suppliers of each product category across the country; this sample base will help build a detailed picture of market size and will also represent an accurate cross-section of the market. Additionally, Moore Stephens will utilise desk research and Australian Bureau of Statistics and/or import data to gather, collate and analyse economic and social trends that will impact on the future growth and profi tability of the industry.

The survey will only be for the residen-tial market.

The following categories are planned

for inclusion, however Moore Stephens is interested in any advice as to other categories that should be added. • Pumps and Filters (pumps, sand fi lters,

cartridge fi lters)• Auto Pool Cleaners (suction, pressure

and in-fl oor)• Heating Solutions (heat pumps, gas

and electric heaters)• Sanitation Equipment (salt water chlo-

rinators, mineral purifi ers)• Accessories (lights, water features,

cleaning equipment etc)• Chemicals (pool chemicals, chlorine

etc)The fi nal report to each supplier reveals only their market share within the category and the industry but does not disclose competitor market share or competitor sales fi gures.

For additional information contact Melissa Wright on (03) 9614 4444 or melwright@moorestephens.com.au.

An opportunity to contribute to industry introspection

RESPECTED RESEARCH ORGANISATION, MOORE STEPHENS, IS ASKING FOR HELP TO COLLECT DATA ON THE POOL AND SPA INDUSTRY

THE COMMERCIAL SIDETHE Moore Stephens survey will only relate to the residential market. For information on a commercial market research program, see the Commercial News item on page 61.

Win a great book for Christmas

SPLASH! HAS TWO COPIES OF PETER FITZSIMONS’ NEW BOOK TO GIVE AWAY

EMAIL TO WINFOR a chance to win this book, email: splashcomp@intermedia.com.au

In the subject line correctly spell the name of the author – including the correct capitalisation.

In the body of the message in-clude your name and address. The fi rst two correct entries will be sent a copy of the book.

PETER FitzSimons has brought together the Great Australian Sports Champions in his updated collection of the memories and anecdotes, inspira-tions and fears, heroic acts and humble gestures of Australia’s sporting greats, past and present.

Among the dozens of champions, he has included a bagful of great swimmers such as Fanny Durack, Dawn Fraser, Murray Rose, Shane Gould, Duncan Armstrong and Kieran Perkins.

However, possibly the most signifi cant swimmer listed is Steve Holland. Accord-ing to FitzSimons, Steve dragged himself from the pool at the Montreal Olympics after coming third. The prime minister of

the day, Malcolm Fra-ser, called to congratu-late/commiserate. The eighteen year old had enough. He had received virtually no Government support and had endured hardship and poverty to get to the games. He wondered where the Prime Minister and the Government had been when he needed them. He told Mr Fraser to go away in no uncertain terms.

His rudeness had an effect. This was the beginning of the change in govern-ment thinking that led to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), and Australia’s eventual success in the pool.

In the next issue of SPLASH! we will look at the latest achieve-ment at the AIS – the new hi-tech training pool, destined to fine-tune our next generation of swim-ming champions.

SPLASH! | 13

industry news

FOLLOWING the overwhelming suc-cess of the most recent SPLASH! Expo on the Gold Coast, Interpoint Events has announced the launch of SPLASH! New Zealand.

The event will be held at the Auckland Hilton on Wednesday July 25 and Thurs-day July 26, 2007.

Interpoint Managing director, Simon Cooper, says there is an obvious synergy between the two markets. “The Austral-

ian and New Zealand industries share much common ground, so it makes excellent sense for us to take SPLASH! to Auckland,” he says.

“Already we have received a great deal of positive feedback both from exhibitors and potential delegates. We believe the success of this show will help strengthen ties between the two markets and help expand opportunities on both sides of the Tasman.”

SPLASH! reaches across the Tasman

Get yourself a Green CardSPASA WA is recommending all tradespeople in the west get their Green Card. From January 1, 2007, no-one will be allowed on a construction site – even a small backyard swimming pool site – unless they have their card.

Not only is having a card mandatory, SPASA believes the course will help improve safety and is strongly urging tradespeople to get a card as soon as possible. Worksafe has reportedly put on 30 new inspectors to enforce the requirement.

A Green Card (ironically coloured blue) can be earned by doing a four-hour training course run in

conjunction with the HIA. The course costs $40 and al-ready 350 people have been accredited. For more informa-tion call SPASA WA on (08) 9479 6112.

THE SPASA NSW 2007 Builders Seminar, Trade Expo and Awards Din-ner have been moved to later in July at Rosehill Gardens, Parramatta.

The Builders Seminar will be a one-day event on Thursday 12th July, then late in the afternoon of 12th July the trade expo will open (4pm - 8pm) and continue through Friday 13th July (10am - 5pm) with the 2007 Awards Presentation Din-

ner on Saturday 14th July. The seminars, which will cost $175

for SPASA members and $225 for non members, are due to feature fi ve speak-ers addressing subjects pertinent to the industry. The trade day will have free en-try and will be conducted on the ground fl oor of the members grandstand.

The Awards Presentation Dinner will be a member’s only function in the

Marscay-Baguette Rooms on Level 5. The event is wrapped around a full din-ner menu with entertainment.

The concept of conducting the trade expo over Thursday afternoon/evening and Friday will encourage retail pool shop owners and their staff and service staff to attend, and secondly to attract the delegates who are already on-site attend-ing the seminars.

NSW trade show dates revised

Skiing in New Zealand. Image courtesy of NZ Tourism.

INTERPOINT TO LAUNCH SPLASH! NEW ZEALAND POOL AND SPA EXPO

14 | SPLASH!

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BOOM GOES THE WESTERN WINTER…THE Western Australian pool industry is riding the crest of the resources boom. SPASA WA managing director Roger LeFort says that this year there was virtually no slowdown over winter.

LeFort believes one reason for the activity is the fact that house prices in WA have skyrocketed. The average price of a Perth home is now well over $400,000. This makes the cost of building a pool a relatively smaller expense when compared to the total property value.

Further evidence of the force of the western boom is the fact that the March consumer expo is already 95% subscribed, with exhibitors coming from every state of the country as well as New Zealand.

…WHILE NQ GOES TROPPOTHERE is also growing evidence that north Queensland is booming. The council areas of Thuringowa and Townsville are experiencing pool building growth, with substantially more pools and spas being approved compared with the same period last year.

From July to September, Thuringowa Council has approved 136 pools, compared with 86 pools for the same time last year. Townsville City Council has approved more than 300 pools over the corresponding period – a 20 per cent increase over the approximately 250 approved over the same period last year.

Thuringowa Mayor Les Tyrell attributed the increase to the strong housing market. “Thuringowa has plenty of land available for new housing developments and many new home owners now want a swimming pool as part of the package,” Cr Tyrell said. “The increase in pool approvals aligns with the strong growth we are experiencing in the city, but I also think that many people want to be prepared for the upcoming summer months.”

ATO CHECKLIST LAUNCHEDTHE Australian Tax Offi ce has produced a new online check-list for people starting their own business. The 27-point online checklist covers most things new business owners need to know.

The checklist covers applying for an ABN; registering for a tax fi le number or goods and services tax; record keeping; with-holding tax; paying wages and super for employees; managing cash fl ow; and creating the best legal structure for a business.

Users can download the checklist at www.ato.gov.au/businesses.

VESTS RECALLEDTHE ACCC has recalled Maui brand swimming aid vests which did not comply with the mandatory product safety stand-ard. Brand Direct imported approximately 4000 vests, which were distributed to Big W stores in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. For more information see www.accc.gov.au.

NO COMPO PREMIUMS FOR NSW APPRENTICES FROM next year, apprentice wages in NSW will be exempt from workers compensation premiums, in line with the state government’s new direction for training-based solutions to the skills crisis. This is good news for employers of apprentices and employers considering taking on a new apprentice next year.

Local briefs

SPLASH! | 15

REMCO’s award winning water saving headache cure with a healthy return…

Complying with the new water saving requirements should not create a headache for pool builders.

With Remco’s award winning range of automated pool cover systems, covering up is not only simple, but makes good financial sense for pool builders and retailers.

All Remco Pool Covers come fully installed by qualified Remco technicians and come with free onsite builder design / construction assistance.

With an automatic pool cover to suit almost any pool under the Australian sun it is easy to cover with Remco. For trade pricing and information packs contact Remco on 1800 652 962.

Industry Calendar

FUTURE INDUSTRY DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

2006Dec 7 AALARA Christmas drinks

Dec 15 SPASA NSW Christmas dinner

2007Feb 2-4 SPASA Victoria Pool and Spa Summer

Consumer Show

Feb 4-6 Spatex trade show, Brighton, UK

Feb 27-Mar2 Pool Salon, Moscow

March 4-8 AWA Ozwater 2007 Convention and Exhibition, Darling Harbour

Mar 10-11 WA Swimming Pool Spa and Outdoor Leisure Expo

Mar 18-Apr1 12th FINA World Championships, Melbourne

Mar 27-31 MSSRM, International Sport Facility Management Program

April 2-3 Australian Water Summit, Darling Harbour, Sydney

May 1-8 Oceania Swimming Professionals Convention & Expo, Gold Coast

May 13-16 AALARA Conference, Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast

May 25-27 SPASA NSW Consumer Show, Darling Harbour

June 3-6 Design Build, Darling Harbour, Sydney

June 15-17 SPASA Victoria Spa and Pool Winter Consumer Show

July 12-13 SPASA NSW Trade Day and Builders Seminar

July 14 SPASA NSW Awards Night

July 25-26 SPLASH! NZ Expo, Auckland Hilton

July 28 SPASA WA Awards Night, Burswood Ballroom

Aug 29-31 Landscape Expo, Melbourne Showgrounds

These dates are subject to change and should be checked with the relevant organisation. Please send calendar submissions to chrismaher@intermedia.com.au

16 | SPLASH!

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POOL WORKS MAINTENANCE• Pool Copings & Tiles

• Pool Excavation

• Pool Fencing & Gates

• Pool Heating

• Pool Installer (FRP Shells)

• Pool Installer (Kits)

• Pool Internal Liners (Vinyl)

• Pool Internal Finishes (non Plaster)

• Pool Internal Finishes (Plaster)

• Pool Plumbing & Leak Detection

• Pool Shades & Covers

• Pool Spray & Cut (Concrete)

POOL WATER MAINTENANCE• Pool Water Analysis for the “in-store” water

consultant

• Domestic Pool Water Service for the retail based or

mobile operator visiting Domestic sites

• Domestic/Commercial Pool Water Service for the

“on-site” operator (or, contract service provider) for

any Domestic or Public facility

Plus• Pool & Spa Consultant (Sales & Design)

• Site Supervisor (Construction & Installation).

These Training & Assessment programs are

specifically designed by swimming pool & spa

industry experts, and cater for the Recognition of

Prior Learning or Experience.

For Enrolment, or further information

check www.nspi.com.auor contact: Grant Rangi

NSW Awards

Cat 1: Residential Concrete Pools-Traditional or Geometric up to $50,000Gold, Concept Pools; Sil-ver, Pollard Pools; Bronze, Polar Pools

Cat 1a: Residential Concrete Pools-Traditional or Geometric $50,000 to $100,000Gold, MP Designer Pools; Bronze, Premier Pools; Bronze, Pollard Pools

Cat 1b: Residential Concrete Pools-Traditional or Geometric over $100,000Gold, Mediterranean Pools; Silver, Mediterranean Pools; Bronze, Pride Pools

Cat 2: Residential Concrete Pools-Freeform or Natural up to $50,000Gold, Pollard Pools; Silver, Mirage Pools; Bronze, Aurora Landscaping & Pools

Cat 2a: Residential Concrete Pools-Freeform or Natural $50,000 to $100,000Gold, Wright Pools

Cat 3: Residential Fibreglass Pools up to $30,000Gold, A1 Pools & Spas; Silver, Tranquility Pools & Spas; Bronze, Narellan Pools Riverina

Cat 3a: Residential Fibreglass Pools over $30,000Gold, Narellan Pools Central West & Blue Mountains; Silver, Narellan Pools South Coast; Bronze, Narellan Pools

Cat 7: Residential Enclosed/Indoor PoolsGold, Architectural Pools; Silver, Leader Landscaping & Pools

Cat 8: Spas and Hot TubsGold, Designer Pools; Silver, Concept Pools; Bronze, Pol-lard Pools

Cat 10: Commercial Pools or Spas below $250,000Gold, Mediterranean Pools; Silver, Wright Pools

Cat 10a: Commercial Pools or Spas over $250,000Silver, Wright Pools Pty Ltd

Cat 11: Renovations Under $20,000Gold, Smart Pools & Renovations

Cat 11a: Renovations Over $20,000Gold, Pride Pools

Cat 12: InnovativeGold, Wright Pools

Cat 13: Water FeatureGold, Bazley Pools & Spas; Silver, Liquid Pool Design; Bronze, Designer Pools

Cat 14: Lap PoolsGold, Mediterranean Pools; Silver, Blue Haven Pools & Spas; Bronze, Polar Pools

Pool Shop of the YearWinner, Sapphire Wetwork Pool & Spa

Most Innovative New Product Winner, Hurlcon GX Series cartridge fi lters

Salesmen of the Year Stephen Rowbottom - Narel-lan Pools Riverina; Hardy Hinze - Water Wise Pool Services

Special Award Platinum, Mediterranean Pools

HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF THE SPASA NSW STATE AWARDS

SPLASH! | 17

South Australian Awards

Concrete Pools, Traditional/Geometric up to $50,000Gold, Bonasera Pools; Silver, Bonasera Pools; Bronze, Peressin Pools

Concrete Pools, Traditional/Geometric over $50,000Gold, Bonasera Pools; Silver, Peressin Pools; Bronze, Bo-nasera Pools

Concrete Pools, Freeform/Natural up to $50,000Gold, Blackwood Pools; Sil-ver, Peressin Pools; Bronze, Alpha Pools

Concrete Pools, Freeform /Natural over $50,000Gold, Poolscapes; Silver, Peressin Pools

Residential Fibreglass Pools under $50,000Gold, Freeform Pools; Silver, Freeform Pools

Residential Vinyl Inground PoolsGold, Riv Form Pools & Spas; Silver, Riv Form Pools & Spas; Bronze, Pleasure Pools

Residential Pre Engineeered Vinyl Above Ground PoolsGold, Alpha Pools; Silver, Alpha Pools; Bronze, Classic Pools

Indoor PoolsGold, Peressin Pools

Spas Combined ConcreteGold, Peressin Pools; Silver, Peressin Pools

Lap PoolsGold, Natural Pools; Silver, Black-wood Pools; Bronze, Alpha Pools

Display PoolsGold, Blackwood Pools

Commercial Pools over $250,000Gold, South Pacifi c Pools

Renovations up to $20,000Gold, Big Splash Fibreglass; Silver, Quantum Pools

Renovations over $20,000Gold, Big Splash Fibreglass; Silver, Quantum Pools

Best Water FeatureGold, Riv Form Pools & Spas; Silver, Quantum Stone; Bronze, Peressin Pools

Best Spa ShopGold, Affordable Spas; Silver, Adelaide All Spas Parafi eld

Best Pool ShopGold, PoolWerx West Lakes; Silver, Poolside Gawler; Bronze, Poolside Lifestyle Aberfoyle Park

Best Service TechnicianGold, PoolWerx West Lakes –Luke Duncan; Silver, Advanced Pools – Maurice; Silver, Advanced Pools- Luke; Bronze, Poolside Lifestyle Aberfoyle Park – Ian Bale

POOL AWARDS WERE ALSO HANDED OUT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. THE WINNERS ARE:

Silver Award for Water Features, Quantum Stone

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SPLASH! | 19

industry news

NEW FOCUS ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTFOCUS Products have appointed Graeme Krueger as business development manager for Gold Coast, Northern Rivers and Central Queensland. Krueger’s background is in steam engineering, swimming pool construction and in owning and managing a pool shop.

Krueger brings a wealth of experi-ence from both inside and outside

the industry, as well as contacts from many years building, treating and selling pool and spa products.

Krueger is also experienced in many other aspects of water treatment from his background in steam engineering. He is proficient at diagnosing problems for difficult pools, not only chemically but hydraulically as well. He is well versed in commercial applications as well as domestic. While he will be servicing the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers and Cen-tral Queensland regions, he is also happy to assist Focus customers wherever they need him. He can be contacted on 0437 038 884.

MAKING A MARK IN WATERJULIAN Gray has been appointed CEO of the Smart Approved WaterMark Scheme, which is about to enter a new phase to be an-nounced by Malcolm Turn-bull in December.

Gray intends to lead the Mark through this new phase, which will see the Mark’s more wide-spread application. Since its inception as the nationally rec-ognized accreditation scheme

for outdoor products, a range of products from swimming pool covers to soil wetting agents have been awarded the Mark. However its promotion had been limited by a lack of fund-ing, but is now set to receive a $1.3m grant from the National Water Commission.

A national offi ce has been established in Sydney with Gray’s appointment. He has more than 15 years international experience in marketing and conservation, working for a European regional branding initiative and a UK experiment in regional conservation.

The Smart Approved WaterMark scheme is managed by a steering committee comprising Australia’s peak bodies of the urban water industry and leading authorities on outdoor water along with water utilities and Commonwealth and State Government representatives. The scheme was set-up by the Australian Water Association (AWA); the Irrigation As-sociation of Australia (IAA); the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA); and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).

BARRIER REEF NOW A WA LANDMARKTHE Barrier Reef may not be shifting from the Pacifi c to the Indian Ocean, but Barrier Reef Pools are shifting from the sunshine state to the golden west.

The major Australian fi breglass pool manufacturer has been based for many years in Queensland, fi rst in Cairns and then near the Gold Coast. The company will now be headquartered in the Perth suburb of Canning Vale.

SYDNEY SPA POOL DIRECTOR BANNED FOR FIVE YEARSASIC has banned Mr Ramses Awadallah, of Denham Court, New South Wales, from managing corporations for fi ve years. Mr Awadallah was banned after ASIC found that he had been involved in the management of three companies which have been placed in liquidation over eight years, all of which carried on essentially the same spa pool construction and sale business in succession.

MOBILE POOL BUSINESS FOR SALECHARLIE Hatty is selling his mobile pool maintenance business, Aqua Blue Pool and Spa Services, which operates in Western Sydney. If anyone is interested please call 0418 400 387.

Industry moves

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. Box 2986

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LD 4211

PH: 0411 422 232

FAX: (07) 5534 2258

West Australia O

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entU

nit 5, 160 Balcatta Rd

Balcatt W

A 6021PH

: (08) 9240 5600w

ww

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AIL: info@pq.com

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SPLASH! | 21

NSPI launches new water baby

industry feature

The NSPI has launched

a new course designed

to provide training and

national industry accredita-

tion to pool water maintenance

technicians.

NSPI training liaison co-or-

dinator, Grant Rangi, says that

the course was devised after

unprecedented interest from

the industry.

“The response has been bril-

liant,” Rangi says. “From the one

article in SPLASH! in April and a

bit of word of mouth, we’ve had a

couple of hundred enrolments.”

The SPLASH! article, about

the Certifi cate 3 course in Swim-

ming Pool and Spa Construction

and Maintenance, generated a

large number of enquiries from

the pool maintenance side.

To ensure the course would

be available to as many people

as possible and to maintain

fl exibility, it was designed as

a correspondence course,

making participation easier for

people from areas outside the

capital cities.

“We want to cater for all of

the industry,” says Rangi. “Not

just part of it.”

Because it is run by cor-

respondence, a workplace

mentoring system has been set

up. Each trainee must already

be working in the industry, and

must be mentored in the work-

place to validate the training.

Rangi says they had no trou-

ble fi nding suitable mentors, as

the interest from industry was

fantastic and many experienced

practitioners wanted to see the

course become a success.

“Normally there’s coaching

and mentoring at some level in

any workplace,” he says. “And all

the learning materials have been

developed with this in mind.”

Of course, workplace men-

tors are vetted to maintain the

credibility of the program.

Rangi also says that many

industry members have contrib-

uted to helping build the course

– at no charge – because they’re

passionate about the industry

having formal recognition, and

that pool/spa water maintenance

becomes appreciated as a spe-

cialist part of the pool industry.

The program currently has 11

workplace assessors who have

obtained the Certifi cate IV in

Workplace Training and Assess-

ment and are available to do

assessments nationwide. These

assessors have come from – or

still work in – the swimming

pool and spa industry, and have

many years of experience in

both the building and works

maintenance areas as well as

pool/spa water maintenance.

Already, four trainees have

graduated, covering all three

strands.

The employees of graduates

are using the accreditation

as a marketing tool – and to

help with this aim, the NSPI

is providing stickers for shop

windows and vehicles as well

as badges and certifi cates.

The accreditation will be valid

for four years. The restricted

period is to help maintain

currency of skills and to help

ensure professional standards.

The NSPI will be running pro-

fessional development courses

to keep trainees updated.

Rangi lists some of the

advantages of the course being

its fl exibility – thanks to it being

carried out by correspondence

– and the fact that it is highly

relevant because it is industry-

based training rather than just

classroom-based.

“People can do it without being

away from the workplace – be-

cause that costs time and money

– and they can do it at their own

pace,” he says.

Also, the national nature of the

course is attractive – and it is due

to go international in the future.

The NSPI is currently devel-

oping another 14 training areas

focussing on pool structure

maintenance, including install-

ing fi breglass shells, site super-

visions, construction and instal-

lation projects, laying swimming

pool coping and tiles, vinyl liner

installation and repairs, pool

heating and pool excavation.

“We’ve been working with the

government health department

regulators and local govern-

ment as a well, as they’ve been

looking for a course that’s fl ex-

ible enough,” he says.

“We’ve had a lot of support

from the industry – and that’s

the key. It’s amazing and it

shows you the level of interest.

It’s an industry that’s scream-

ing out for recognition.”

The NSPI website is in the

process of being upgraded,

at which time the names of

graduates will be posted. For

more information go to www.

nspi.com.au.

Pool Tech I (Pool Water Analysis) is specifi cally designed for the

“in-store” water consultant, and complements any industry- or

supplier-based training.

Pool Tech II (Domestic Pool Water Service) is designed for

the retail-based or mobile operator visiting residential sites on

a regular basis. It also complements any industry, supplier or

franchise training.

Pool Tech III (Domestic/Commercial Pool Water Service) is

designed for the “on-site” operator (or contract service provider)

for residential or public facilities and complements any local

authority or government health guidelines and any industry,

supplier or franchise based training.

Delivery: Each NSPI course module is delivered and assessed

via correspondence, which means the trainee can complete

each of them in their own time, at their own pace, anywhere.

The trainee is provided with high level training materials, spe-

cifi cally developed by NSPI as appropriate to each module for

distance learning.

RPL: NSPI acknowledges that some trainees may have already

gained suffi cient pool/spa water maintenance skills “on-the-job”

or by other learning experiences over time. Therefore, Recogni-

tion of Prior Learning pathways are provided in all assessments.

There are three modules in the Pool/Spa Water Maintenance accreditation certifi cate

Graham Jackley, manager of Allan’s Pool Shop in Cairns and the fi rst person in Queensland to obtain Accredited Specialist status in pool/spa water maintenance (domestic/commercial pool water services)

22 | SPLASH!

residential profi le

We caught up with Poolrite CEO Ross Palmer

at the SPLASH! Expo on the Gold Coast. He was

very excited about the launch of a series of new

products which he says are healthier, more

effi cient and, importantly, will save water.

Poolrite getswater-wise

Successful businessman Ross Palmer

has owned Poolrite since 1999, but

only recently he decided to take the

reigns and run the company as CEO.

His fi rst major task is to launch the new

Magna Pool System – a combined chlorina-

tor and fi lter media which he says could save

Australia three billion litres of water each year.

“I’ve owned the company for seven

years,” says Palmer. “During those seven

years I was a non-executive director and

had professional management in place.”

Palmer says that was an appropriate

structure during the transition phase,

which included the move from Sydney

to Brisbane, but the time had come to

embrace a model which could more readily

accommodate innovation and growth.

“At a certain point in time, it was probably

necessary for the health and future direction

of the company that the management philoso-

phies and culture had to change,” he says.

Palmer had previously founded and run

steel tube giant, Palmer Tube Mills, for the

best part of 20 years.

Now, he is leading Poolrite with a team

of young executives.

“My real love is fi nancing, marketing and

invention,” he says. “Which doesn’t always

coincide with corporate structures. But as

a visionary leader I have roles under myself

for the young executives who run the busi-

ness operationally on a day to day basis.”

These include Van K who has responsibility

for operations and supply chain/logistics; mar-

keting manager Craig Mallory; and Chris Papa

who is a long serving Poolrite sales executive.

Colin Redman heads up Poolrite Equip-

ment’s sister company, Poolrite Research,

which carries out engineering research, de-

velopment, market concepts and designs.

Palmer is the CEO of both companies.

The fi rst cab off the rank for Poolrite

Research is the Magna Pool range. This

includes Magna Blu and Diamond Kleen

– two products Palmer claims will substan-

tially reduce the water waste in the swim-

ming pool industry.

Diamond Kleen is new type of fi lter me-

dia, made from crushed amorphous glass.

Palmer says that crushed amorphous glass

has been successfully used in Britain for

the past ten years by Dryden Aqua.

“We have a joint venture going with an

Australian inventor/entrepreneur,” says

Palmer. “And we actually recycle beer bot-

tles. So we want people to drink more beer

so we get more glass!

“By it’s nature, being amorphous, it’s a

different particle geometry to silica sand or

zeolite,” he says. “Bacteria can’t crawl into

the crevices.”

Palmer says that trials have shown that

in an 8000 sand fi lter, silica sand traps to a

depth of 100mm. He says Diamond Kleen

traps to a depth of 175mm. This, he says, is

because it works on a combination of me-

chanical entrapment and a negative ionic

charge on the surface of the glass.

He says the benefi ts of this include requir-

ing less water for backwashing, and either

consuming 25 per cent less power or turning

the pool over 25 per cent more quickly.

The main reason he has been bring-

ing this product to market, however, is to

combine it with the Magna Blu chlorinator

to form the Magna Pool System.

Palmer says it is possible to recycle

backwashed water from Magna Blu sani-

tised pools. However, that relies on also re-

ducing the amount of bacteria backwashed

out of the fi lter. He says that Diamond

Kleen was the answer.

“A gram of silica sand contains 3.6 million

bacteria,” he says. “In a gram of the English

glass material, it’s less than one. That’s not

less than one million, it’s less than one!”

Magna Blu is a salt chlorinator with a dif-

ference. Instead of using sodium chloride, it

uses the non-sodium based salts, potassi-

um chloride and magnesium chloride. One

result is that the water contains no sodium

residue – the major impediment to re-using

backwashed water.

“Both the salts are natural fertilisers,”

says Palmer. “So you can put them straight

onto your lawn, instead of adding to the

salinity of our ecosystems. The potassium

is good for root structure in plants, and

the magnesium is what makes chlorophyll

in plants and makes them green. And you

won’t get that with sodium chloride.

“At our estimation, if it was used in all do-

mestic pools, we’d be saving Australia about

3 billion litres of fresh water per year.

“And we’re stopping the backwashing of

sodium chloride salts into the ecosystem,

which actually degrade stormwater systems

and if they get into fresh water creeks, they

play havoc with fl ora and fauna.

“Magnesium chloride is in ocean water

– it’s the second most common element in

there, 1200ppm – after sodium chloride.”

Palmer and his team are also studying

the hypothesis that it is actually the mag-

nesium in the ocean that give sea water it’s

sanitising properties, rather than the com-

monly held belief that it is the sodium.

“We see a big market for our Magna Pool

System,” he says. “Our target is actually the

dry countries of the world. Australia, of course,

the Middle East, the Mediterranean. And the

drier parts of the United States, like Arizona

where water is an absolute precious resource.

It’s funny that these are also the places with

the highest number of swimming pools.”

The worldwide launch of the Magna Pool

System was at the SPLASH! Expo on the

Gold Coast. It has since been followed by

demonstrations in Lyon and Las Vegas.

Poolrite has now fi nalised the patents on

the Magna Pool System and is preparing to

market it during 2007.

Poolrite CEO Ross Palmer

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24 | SPLASH!

Like far too many people, I hadn’t

studied any fi rst aid or resuscitation

since I did my Bronze Star back in

high school.

So when the chance was offered, I took

advantage of the Royal Life Saving CPR

course. It took four hours to learn basic

resuscitation tech-

niques and some

very basic fi rst aid.

I’m certainly not a

medic, but at least

I will have some

knowledge if I ever

end up in the shock-

ing situation of hav-

ing to help someone

survive an accident

or near drowning.

I shared the course

with people from

all walks of life, but

most were involved in some form of teach-

ing, sport instruction or a job where there

was a risk of accidents.

Ironically, while most people were doing

this course for their work, statistics show

that if you need to use CPR, chances are

you’ll use it on one of your loved ones. That

helps bring the whole thing into a bit of

perspective. It’s not just a duty – it’s some-

thing tangible to help you and yours.

After learning the skills we were given

a practical test and a theory exam. I am

pleased to say, I now have a Resuscitation

Certificate. This will

have to be updated

with a short re-

fresher course in 12

months time.

Naturally, pro-

fessionals in pool

management already

have skills far in

excess of this simple

four-hour course.

But we all should

have at least this basic level of competen-

cy. Resuscitation, or mouth-to-mouth, is

a skill every Australian should know – the

life you save with this knowledge may be a

loved one, and should an emergency situ-

ation arise, the precious minutes wasted

without response can be a matter of life

and death.

As the Royal Life Saving motto says:

“Everyone can be a lifesaver.”

For more information on resuscitation,

fi rst aid and other courses, call Royal Life

Saving on 1300 737 763.

A few hours study to save a lifeIt pays for everyone to know at least basic CPR

and fi rst aid, especially in our industry

industry feature

By Chris Maher

Resuscitation factsQ. What is resuscitation?

A. Resuscitation is described by the

Australian Resuscitation Council

(ARC) as the preservation or resto-

ration of life by the establishment

and/or maintenance of airway,

breathing and circulation and related

emergency care. That is, resuscita-

tion involves stimulating someone’s

breathing who is unconscious by

stimulating their heart and breathing

air into their lungs.

Q. Why should I learn resuscitation?

A. We know that in most cases when

an emergency occurs, a family mem-

ber is the fi rst on the scene. Having

the skills to react in an emergency

situation can mean the difference

between life and death while you wait

for emergency care to arrive.

Q. What is DRABC

A. Resuscitation training follows the

simple principle of:

Danger – Check for danger, to self, to

bystanders, to victim

Response – Squeeze the victim’s

shoulder and shout “Are you OK?”

Airway – Check and clear

Breathing – Look, listen and feel

Circulation – Check pulse

Defi brillation – When available, attach

a defi brillator and follow the prompts

Q. Where can I learn resuscitation?

A. Royal Life Saving is one or-

ganisation that offers Resuscitation

courses to the public. Courses are

approximately four hours in duration

and your skills should be updated

annually. However, you can also do a

first aid course, which provides you

with a range of skills for emergency

situations. It is also possible for

some people to do theory aspects

of some courses online to reduce

class time. Contact your nearest

Royal Life Saving office on 1300 737

763 to find out where and when the

courses are available.

Real life story of Jane, mother of two children in rural Australia“I had only been inside for a minute when I realised I could no longer hear my two

year old, I raced outside and found him face down in the pool. I pulled him out and

commenced resuscitation while I screamed for my husband to call an ambulance.

Living on a rural property, it took the ambulance over 25 minutes to reach us. I had

taken a resuscitation course when my children were born, always hoping I would

never have to use it. During the time waiting for the ambulance I commenced resus-

citation on my son who was not breathing. When the ambulance arrived my son was

breathing again. Both ambulance offi cers and doctors said that had I not commenced

resuscitation the time lapse could have meant my son would be more likely to have

died or sustained a degree of brain damage.

Resuscitation checklist• Do you have resuscitation skills?

• Are they current? (i.e. have they been

updated in the last 12 months?)

• Do you have a resuscitation

poster visible around the home

and in the pool area?

• Do you have emergency numbers

near your phone?

• Do you have directions to your

house near your phone if emer-

gency personnel need these?

Instructor Bob Ryan demonstrates the Recovery Position

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no-fuss, “we’ll fix it” Service Promise, and you can

see why so many pool professional are delighted to deal

with Daisy.

If you haven’t already, why don’t you join them?

SPLASH! | 27

Getting Stern about the water crisisThe focus has shifted from a discussion

simply about what to do over the lack of

water, to the question of why we don’t have

the water anymore.

The main catalyst for this, the Stern Re-

view, has seen a number of players change

stances on this issue.

The report was released by Nicholas

Stern – not a tree-hugging greenie, but

a former World Bank economist. Stern

unreservedly accepts that climate change

is happening, is to blame for many current

problems including water availability, and

is probably caused by human activity.

However, what sets this report apart

from others is that rather than merely plac-

ing a cost on the activity to remedy climate

change, it has also placed a cost on the

decision to do nothing about it. And the lat-

ter cost is vastly more than the former. The

other key point is that something has to be

done now – the longer we wait, the worse

the consequences and the greater the cost.

Lack of water is one of the major symptoms

and consequences of global warming. Others

include lower food production, worsening

human health and a deteriorating natural

environment. Stern says hundreds of millions

of people will be directly affected, but the

indirect effects will reach almost everyone.

The cost of acting on global warming was

priced at about 1% of GDP per year. Doing

nothing would cost between 5% and 20% of

GDP per year.

Faced with the prospect of being blamed

for costly inaction, politicians of all hues are

on the water wagon and promising money to

fund projects which will slow global warming.

Ultimately, stabilisation requires that an-

nual carbon emissions be brought down to

more than 80% below current levels.

Emissions can be cut through increased

energy effi ciency, changes in demand, and

through adoption of clean power, heat and

transport technologies.

Even with very strong expansion of the

use of renewable energy and other low-car-

bon energy sources, fossil fuels could still

make up over half of global energy supply

in 2050. Coal will continue to be important

in the energy mix around the world, includ-

ing in fast-growing economies. Extensive

carbon capture and storage will be neces-

sary to allow the continued use of fossil

fuels without damage to the atmosphere.

The report also recommends emissions

trading, international technology coopera-

tion, action to reduce deforestation and

adaptation to climate change.

Political promisesThe Federal Government announced a

number of promises, including $60 million

to be spent on 42 projects aimed at reduc-

ing greenhouse gases. The Federal Opposi-

tion has said this is too little, too late.

The Federal Government also recently con-

vened a Water Summit, but some considered

it wasn’t a serious attempt at fi nding solu-

tions, as it was held on Melbourne Cup Day.

No substantial agreements were reached.

The Federal Government is in favour of the

cleaner use of fossil fuels, in particular coal,

and has also been promoting the possibility

of a nuclear powered Australia. While having

many serious problems including the disposal

of nuclear waste and the risk of meltdown, the

positive for nuclear power plants is the fact that

they generate almost no greenhouse gases.

Many are worried about nuclear power,

however, including Queensland Premier

Peter Beattie who has said that, amongst

the other problems, nuclear power stations

would use 25 per cent more water than coal-

fi red power stations. He said the extra 25,000

megalitres needed annually per power plant

was wasteful during the current situation.

Recently, the Federal Government has an-

nounced an enquiry into possibly accepting

some form of carbon trading – one of the

key recommendations in the Stern report.

Meanwhile, the City of Sydney Council is

aiming to achieve a 100 per cent reduction

in greenhouse gas emissions. The council

has begun seeking tenders to offset all of

Council greenhouse gas emissions, us-

ing only accredited green power or other

approved offsets. The council formally en-

dorsed the principles of the Kyoto Protocol.

Drip feed of water projectsMany small projects are being tried around

the country in an attempt to make the most

of our limited water resources.

SPASA Victoria is behind a study on the

use of bore water to fi ll new pools in Mel-

bourne, hoping to have a bore set up for the

purpose early next year. This is following

the success of such operations in Bendigo

and Horsham. The belief is the relatively

high salt content in the water will be com-

patible with salt chlorinated pools.

On the NSW Central Coast, a plan is

afoot to pump water from the Hunter valley

into the coastal areas, which are experi-

encing the worst drought on record. The

pipeline is expected to replace the need

for more than a dozen small, temporary

desalination plants which were due to be

established on the coast’s beaches.

Parramatta City Council has set up a

scheme where it will install discounted 5000L

water tanks on residents’ properties. The res-

idents can then pay back the cost (expected

to be less than $1000) over twelve months.

Logging in Melbourne’s catchment is to

blame for losing up to 20,000 megalitres of

water a year, according to the Wilderness

Society and the Australian Conservation

Foundation, setting up a debate about ban-

ning logging in catchment areas.

Sydney City Council is planning to collect

stormwater from the Cross City Tunnel,

store it under Hyde and Cook & Phillip

Parks to use for watering the city park-

lands. It represents a potential saving of

nearly 100 megalitres per year.

The Gold Coast City Council’s high growth

area of Pimpama Coomera has been

recognised internationally thanks to the

Waterfuture Master Plan, which has won an

award at the International Water Associa-

tion Project Innovation Awards.

The Sydney Water Corporation has been

awarded the 2006 Stockholm Industry Water

Award for its “Every Drop Counts (EDC) Busi-

ness Program”. The program demonstrates

how the utility is working in partnership with

business, industry and government.

Updates on the water crisis and climate change

A dry argument

industry feature

28 | SPLASH!

industry feature

Soaking in success The way to grow a business is to get more sales. Discover Performance

trainer, Jeff Stibbard, offers advice on how to improve your selling technique.

industry feature

What separates successful sales people from everyone

else? I believe that most successful sales people in the

pool industry possess the following characteristics.

1) They are persistent. Selling or running a business for a living re-

quires a tremendous amount of persistence. Obstacles loom in front

of us on a regular basis, but it’s what you do when faced with these

barriers that will determine your level of success. The most success-

ful people in any industry have

learned to face obstacles. They

look for new solutions. They are

tenacious. They refuse to give up.

2) Successful sales people

are passionate. They love their

company and they exude pride

when talking about their products

and services. The more passion-

ate you are about your career,

the greater the chance you will

succeed. The reason for this is

simple; when you love what you

do you are going to put more ef-

fort into your work. When you are

passionate about the products or

services you sell, your enthusi-

asm will shine brightly in every

conversation. If you aren’t genu-

inely excited about selling your

particular product or service, give

serious consideration to mak-

ing a change. You are not doing

yourself, or your company, any

favours by continuing to repre-

sent something you can’t get

excited about.

3) Great sales people ask qual-

ity questions. The best sales peo-

ple ask their clients and prospect

plenty of quality questions to fully

determine their situation and

buying needs. They know that the

most effective way to present their product or service is to uncover

their customer’s goals and objectives.

4) Successful sales people listen. Most sales people will ask a

question then give their customer the answer, or continue to talk

afterwards instead of waiting for their response. Great sales people

know that customers will tell them everything they need to know if

given the right opportunity. They ask questions and listen care-

fully to the responses often taking notes and summarising their

understanding of the customer’s comments. They have learned that

silence is golden.

5) Successful sales people are avid goal setters. They know what

they want to accomplish and they plan their approach. They make

sure their goals are specifi c, motivational, achievable yet chal-

lenging, relevant to their personal situation and time-framed. They

visualise their target, determine how they will achieve their goal

and take action on a daily basis.

6) Successful sales people are enthusiastic. They are always in a

positive mood – even during dif-

fi cult times – and their enthusi-

asm is contagious. They seldom

talk poorly of the company or

the business. When faced with

unpleasant or negative situations

they choose to focus on the posi-

tive elements instead of allowing

themselves to be dragged down.

7) Successful sales people take

responsibility for their results.

They do not blame internal

problems, the economy, tough

competitors, or anything else if

they fail to meet their sales quo-

tas. They know that their actions

alone will determine their results

and they do what is necessary.

8) Successful sales people

work hard. Most people want

to be successful but they aren’t

prepared to work hard to achieve

it. Sales superstars don’t wait

for business to come to them;

they go after it. They usually start

work earlier than their co-work-

ers and stay later than everyone

else. They make more calls,

prospect more consistently, talk

to more people and give more

sales presentations than their

co-workers.

9) Successful sales people

keep in touch with their clients. They know that constant contact

helps keep clients so they use a variety of approaches to accom-

plish this. They send thank you, birthday and anniversary cards.

They make phone calls and schedule regular “keep in touch”

breakfast and lunch meetings. They send articles of value to their

customers and send an email newsletter. They are constantly on

the lookout for new and creative ways to keep their name in their

customer’s minds.

If you want to learn more about improving sales techniques, call

Jeff at Discover Performance on 1300 135 818.

istockphoto

30 | SPLASH!

Swimming with thedragon Tracey Wood looks at the opportunities and

obstacles in doing pool business in China.

China’s rapid economic growth is rarely out of the news. With

a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $US2.5 trillion, a mar-

ket of 1.3 billion people and negotiations for a Free Trade

Agreement with Australia well advanced, China’s emergence into a

dominant economy appears to promise boom times for businesses

that get in quick.

But will the hype translate into sustained economic returns? The

short answer is probably yes but doing business in China demands a

different, very diligent approach and long-term commitment. Busi-

nesses that regard China as a ‘get rich quick’ opportunity are bound

to fail, but savvy Australian companies with the right modus operandi

have successfully integrated China into their corporate development.

China’s re-entry into the global economy dates back to 1979 when

Premier Deng Xiapong’s reforms started a sustained upward trajec-

tory in Chinese living standards. Today, China is the world’s sixth

largest economy and could replace Germany as the world’s third

largest economy behind the United States and Japan within 10 years.

The growth is not evenly spread, however, with China’s coastal

provinces enjoying the greatest economic benefi ts so far.

With annual GDP growth hovering around 10 per cent, very low

infl ation, and an emerging middle class, Chinese demand for a

huge range of goods and services is growing. Australia’s merchan-

dise trade with China was already growing steadily when it took

off in 2004 to reach $37.5 billion in 2005. Most of this is Chinese

imports into Australia ($21.3 billion), although Australian exports

to China reached $16 billion in 2005 and have been growing at an

average of 10 per cent annually for the last fi ve years. China is

already Australia’s second-largest merchandise trading partner.

From the Chinese perspective, Australia ranks 14th as an export

destination, way behind the ‘top three’ of the United States, Hong

Kong and Japan; and for imports, Australia is China’s ninth largest

source. Australian exports to China are still dominated by com-

modities; while Australia mainly imports clothing, computers, toys,

games and sporting goods, and telecommunications equipment.

residential feature

istockphoto/Stila Goh

SPLASH! | 31

Clearly, there’s scope for growth in manufactured goods and

services. Sino-Australian negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement

began in April 2005 and the sixth round of negotiations was held

in September 2006. The Australian Government believes an FTA

will result in greater trade and investment fl ows across all sectors

– as tariff barriers are removed. At 9.9 per cent, Chinese tariffs are

relatively high. Removing tariffs will reduce the price of Australian

products in China and could boost Australian exports to China by

an additional $US3.2 billion ($AU4.3 billion) by 2015.

Getting in the swimAs Chinese household incomes and living standards increase and

the small but expanding middle class embraces a more Western life-

style, interest in aquatic-based leisure activities is growing and the

Chinese government is supporting rapid infrastructure development.

China has been increasingly successful at international swim-

ming and diving competitions. Whether this success and hosting

the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou

will have much lasting impact on aquatic leisure activity – some

industry sources expect an explosion in interest, others are less en-

thusiastic – there’s no doubt Chinese demand for swimming facili-

ties is rising, as evidenced by the number of aquatic centres being

planned and constructed and the success of China’s fi rst pool trade

show in 2005 (the next is scheduled for 2007 in Shanghai).

Much of this is inspired by the 2008 Olympics which alone has

accounted for a 1.5 per cent jump in GDP. Australians are already

well represented: Australia’s PTW Architects won an international

competition to design Beijing’s National Swimming Centre, the fa-

mous WaterCube; and Bligh Voller Nield won the design rights for

the Beijing Olympic Green precinct and the Beijing Aquatic Park.

Austrade’s Beijing-based Trade Commissioner, Paul Sanda, sees

opportunities for the Australian pool and spa industry to tap into

China’s growing interest and investment in the public leisure sector

and watersports.

“Most of the growth for pools in China is defi nitely in the public

sector,” he says.

“Swimming is a preferred pastime for children and encouraged

by parents. There is increasing growth in spas and resort-type de-

velopments in China based around health and relaxation, with large

cities seeing an expansion of the ‘health spa’ concept.

“There are opportunities in China, particularly related to re-

sort/theme and other tourist accommodation, but it is very much

Most pool construction in China is in the public/commercial sector.

32 | SPLASH!

project-based and, of course, very competitive with China

producing its own products over the last few years and

foreign companies already setting up manufacturing.”

The SGL Group was involved in planning for Beijing’s

National Swimming Centre and is opening an offi ce in Shenzhen in

China, in partnership with Peddle Thorpe Architects, to manage its

burgeoning Chinese business.

SGL’s director and project manager, Michael King, sees plenty of

opportunity in China’s “massive facilities development” but warns

it’s a “tough place to work.”

King says that with a huge population and relatively little leisure

infrastructure, Chinese facilities usually operate in two-hour sessions

which could cost users as much as half a week’s wage. With 18 million

people living in a radius of 40 kilometres in Beijing, there isn’t much

“outdoors” in Chinese cities, so public/commercial facilities are vital.

His advice to anyone interested in joining the development boom

is to recognise that Australian business practices don’t mean much

in a country that is still very government-oriented. Although Shang-

hai and other provinces are relatively open, government involve-

ment increases closer to Beijing.

SGL works with local government “design institutes” which he

believes are as close to commercial operations as a one-party state

can get, and advises Australian businesses to form partnerships

with local organisations which are extremely interested in learning

from Australian companies.

“You need to understand the way they do business there and talk

to other companies and Australia-China agencies,” he advises.

“The Olympics are totally changing business in China and they

are very keen to learn. If you have a local partnership and give them

[the Chinese] an active role, you’ll last longer.

“You probably won’t fi nish a project exactly like

you expect and you need to budget for that. Make

sure that in the last stages you have deliverables

that need payment and never do more than what’s

expected. But if you’re prepared to enter into good

partnerships and share, you’ll be OK.”

And, having watched designs very similar to his

pop up around China, Mr King identifi es intellec-

tual property protection as a major issue.

Although most Chinese pool and spa develop-

ment is focused on the public/commercial sector,

China Pool Spa’s international marketing director,

Monica Zhou, also sees opportunities in the resi-

residential feature

Construction of the WaterCube for the Beijing Olympics. The Pool was planned by SGL Group in partnership with PTW Architects. Photos courtesy of Arup.

RIGHT: Detail of the WaterCube’s exterior

ABOVE: An impression of the restaurant

LEFT: An impression of the pool hall

34 | SPLASH!

dential sector. She estimates some 60,000 to 80,000 pools are built

annually in China, including commercial and residential pools.

“Real estate development continues its rapid growth and

high-end living is now the essential issue people consider when

purchasing assets. Therefore, swimming pool construction is also

increasing drastically, with estimated growth of 10 to 15 per cent

each year,” she says.

“Many luxury single houses and apartments are being built,

therefore, demand for pools and spas is high.

“Nowadays, many residential gardens have their

own swimming pools built in the clubhouse to promote

their houses.”

Ms Zhou said Australian-made pool products and

accessories are often cheaper than European and

American products.

“This is the greatest opportunity we can see,” she

says. “To maintain quality but reduce price would be

helpful for Australian companies coming into China.

The best way for an Australian company to dip into

China is to joint-venture with a Chinese company, be-

cause then they can save the cost but have Australian

management.”

Made in ChinaAlong with infrastructure development, China also offers op-

portunities in manufacturing and importing. As the reputation of

Made-in-China products improves, relocating production to China

to take advantage of its relatively low labour costs and increasing

manufacturing and distribution sophistication has been successful

for many companies, although there are pitfalls.

Waterco established a factory in China four years ago and recent-

ly opened a new 12,000sqm facility for chemical packing, manu-

facturing, warehousing, sales and distribution in Guangzhou. The

company has transferred the manufacturing of products demand-

ing a high labour content from Malaysia to the new Chinese plant.

Along with new facilities in Malaysia – representing a total

investment of $9 million in the two new plants – Waterco expects

to triple its production output of composite pumps and fi lters and

increase its marketshare in the northern hemisphere.

Managing director, Soon Sinn Goh, said Waterco manufactured all

over the world to meet specifi c market demands, with the Chinese

operation focused on semi-commercial and commercial fi lters.

He said doing business in China was “very dif-

fi cult” at fi rst.

“Language is a problem. Even though I speak a

dialect, I don’t speak the national language so I had

to have a translator everywhere I went,” he said.

“The Chinese take a more short term approach

and react very quickly on price. Reliability of product

is not so important to them because labour costs

are lower and they can afford to have someone fi x it.”

Maintaining quality is vital and Mr Goh warns

that the price of Chinese manufactured goods will

ultimately increase as rising labour costs coupled

with an appreciating Chinese currency drive

prices upwards.

“Many [Australian] companies are no longer view-

ing China as the ultimate place for low cost labour,”

said Mr Goh who has his eye on China’s domestic

market, particularly the commercial sector: “Most

foreign companies are in China to chase local sales.”

Waterco is not alone and competi-

tion will be heightened as the Chinese

government entices more foreign

companies to manufacture in China.

Big names like American fi rms Hay-

ward, Pentair and Jacuzzi as well as

Astral have already made the move.

The price is right?Price is a recurring theme for anyone

doing business in China. The Pool Tile

Company’s managing director, Robert

James, admits it was the main factor in his decision to import tiles

and granite from China, but warns the savings can come at a cost.

Thoroughly researching suppliers, “proactive management”, and

checking and re-checking is essential.

“Suppliers change prices without telling you,” he said. “They

[suppliers] all have an awesome stand at trade shows but rarely do

they own the factory they show you. I always take Chinese people

that I trust with me.”

Mr James regards China as high maintenance supplier, requir-

ing up to fi ve visits a year and daily attention from Australia. He

employs a reliable middleman in China to check all supplies

before they leave.

residential feature

LEFT: Shanghai, one of the Chinese growth centres

Robert James with his Chinese granite

SPLASH! | 35

“Expect things to go wrong and know how to manage them,”

he advises.

“The lead times quoted and what they do can be two different

things. Six weeks will become 10 and you need to have the stock to

cover that period. Managing suppliers is a full-on issue but if you

can manage it, China can be a good source.”

Mr James believes that exporting is not a priority for the Chinese

who can rely on a huge domestic market. When Italy was the

world’s largest tile exporter, he says, it exported 40 per cent of its

production. China is now the world’s largest tile exporter and it

exports only three per cent of production.

“The export market is nothing to [the Chinese],” he said. “Export-

ing often happens by companies that can’t sell locally.”

As The Pool Tile Company’s business expands, Mr James expects

to rely less on Chinese suppliers but China will always be part of

his supply network.

China’s economic clout is being felt throughout the world and

Australia is not immune. Cheaper Chinese-produced products

squeeze margins on Australian-manufactured pool and spa equip-

ment. And China’s voracious appetite for raw materials to feed

development means the price of steel, aluminium and other inputs

is rising. While BHP Billiton shareholders rejoice, such price pres-

sure affects the bottom line of Australian pool builders.

Taking the plungeWhether it’s as a market, manufacturing site or import supplier,

China cannot be ignored in today’s globalised world. Australian

expertise is well respected in a country so hungry for development,

so what’s the best way to dive into China?

Austrade’s Paul Sanda outlined four main steps:

1. Research including the internet, consultants and media;

2. Competitor analysis;

3. Access information from Austrade’s overseas posts to pinpoint

opportunities; and

4. Visit the market when the research and consultation phases

are completed.

“Australian companies are well regarded in China – strong quality,

good technology and they have a reputation for being fl exible and

adapting to Chinese circumstances,” Mr Sanda said.

“There are a number of companies specialising in aspects of the

building and construction industry that are doing very well in China.

Australian architects have substantial business in China.”

The comprehensive Austrade website, the Federal Department of

Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Australia China Business Coun-

cil are great places to start. State Governments also offer extensive

export assistance programs and advice. Consult the Department of

State Development in Queensland; Vic Export and the Export Com-

munication Network in Victoria; and the Department of State and

Regional Development in New South Wales. Austrade has 15 offi ces

in China and many State Governments are also represented there.

State and Federal agencies organise regular trade fairs, missions

and exhibitions, often with subsidised participation. They are a great

way to learn about the Chinese market, make contacts and assess

opportunities. Schedules and application criteria are available online.

Most states have special, sometimes exclusive agreements or

sister-city arrangements with Chinese cities or provinces. The

Queensland Government has agreements with the Shanghai Mu-

nicipality, Guangdong Province, the China National Development

and Reform Commission, and the Nanhui District; and New South

Wales has a sister-state relationship with Guangdong.

36 | SPLASH!

promotional feature

Confirmed exhibitors include: Austral Pool and Spa Products, Filtermaster (NZ), Hurlcon, Leisuretime, Pool Controls, Pool Systems, Waterco (NZ), Waterway Australia.

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38 | SPLASH!

residential feature

Sanitisation methodsnew and old

Proper sanitisation is essential for a healthy pool. istockphoto/skodonnel

SPLASH! | 39

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Sanitisation occurs in conjunction with fi ltration and pool

cleaning to keep the pool water clean and free of dangerous

organisms.

This feature article is largely about sanitisation in general, and

so covers both residential and commercial aspects of this topic.

Industry experts have expressed a number of opinions and tech-

nical viewpoints in this feature. If you a point of view you would like

to express, please email chrismaher@intermedia.com.au to add to

the discussion.

The case for chlorineWilliam Bliss of Wobelea is a water sanitisation expert dealing

with swimming pools, air conditioning towers and food produc-

tion and export. Here, he offers some thoughts on the forms of

pool sanitisation that are proven to work and will continue to be

accepted as time goes on. His article largely relates to com-

mercial pools, but is equally relevant to the residential industry,

especially with the move to more heated indoor pools, and the

increasing battle with chloramines.

Dr Tom Lachocki at the recent Gold Coast Expo did not hesitate

to reinforce the position of chlorine as the most cost effective sani-

tiser both in commercial and domestic pool operations.

Looking at the list of currently APVMA-registered pool sanitisers,

the vast majority are chlorine-based. A lesser number of bro-

mine/chlorine products are specifi cally aimed at the spa pool and

hydrotherapy area.

The anti-chlorine lobby are happy to decry chlorine as it “de-

stroys the ozone layer”. Chlorine as a gas, yes. Chlorine as

hypochlorite does not have an equal level of volatility or chemical

clout as the gas. As a commercial or domestic disinfectant, chlo-

rine gas is no longer used in Australia.

The ozone and chlorine dioxide promoters are happy to point

out that their respective products are more effective than chlorine

against cryptosporidium. “Crypto” is a very unpleasant and virulent

organism capable of making a commercial pool unusable for up to

24 hours.

Regular slug doses of chlorine dioxide are suggested by addi-

tions of “stabilised chlorine dioxide”. Ozone units are in general

run in combination with a chlorine dosing system; not so much

for crypto control, but to provide a “residual of chlorine in the pool

water” as required under State Health Regulations.

The other facet is the production of chloramines. Chloramines

are formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the form of

Sanitisation is a crucial and

constantly changing element

of pool maintenance. In this

feature, SPLASH! asks a

number of experts about what

is tried and true, what is new

and exciting, and what is just

around the corner.

40 | SPLASH!

human waste products such as perspiration, urine or faeces. If the

pool or spa is topped up or fi lled with surface water from a dam or

creek, then we have even more organic building blocks for other

types of chloramines. The main problem with chloramines is the

effect of eye irritation, odour complaints and structural corrosion.

Currently chloramine reduction is based on two approaches

best described as “dump” or “thump”. The “dumpers” recommend

removing pool water and replacing with fresh water. The technique

uses more water and more energy to heat the cold fresh water to a

comfortable level. The “thumpers” use shock doses of chlorine up

to 10ppm in an endeavour to burn out the offending chloramines.

While this approach may work with simple ammonia based chlo-

ramines, it is unlikely to succeed in removing more complicated

organics – in fact, it may make the situation worse.

A rule of chemistry is based on the square of the concentrations

of the reactants. Hence, if we double the chlorine level, we stand to

get four times the yield of chloramines. This is a good example of

“more is not better”. More chlorine = more chloramine.

What options exist? Filtration as “fl occulation fi ltration” is

effective in reducing the quantity of long chain organics by trap-

ping these compounds in the fi lter. To be effective, it may require

fi ltration speeds of 20-25m/hr, that is, half the normal speed of

high rate sand fi lters. If space in the plant room permits, install a

second fi lter to match the existing one. For fi ltration, split the exist-

ing pump discharge to two fi lters. Flocculant is introduced on the

suction side of the pump. For backwash, use changeover valves to

have all the pump fl ow directed to one fi lter at a time.

Another option is to oxidise the organics before the chlorine

dosing stage. A variety of oxidisers can be used such as ozone,

peroxide, chlorine dioxide and persulphate.

My own personal observation of swim schools indicates that the

use of chlorine dioxide at 0.2ppm with chlorine at 1ppm is quite

effective, and combined with fl occulation fi ltrations, gives an excel-

lent result.

One particular 50,000L pool in a Melbourne bayside suburb has

twin skimmers connected to 2 x 0.7m HRS fi lters. The swim school

operates six days per week with a bathing load of 100 children be-

low 6 years of age every day. Following a history of chloramine and

clarity problems, we were asked to develop a treatment program to

fi x the problems.

Being aware that previous actions such as “dumping and thump-

ing” were ineffective, we made contact with Wapotec in Salzburg,

Austria, for specifi c advice. Wapotec listed the following points:

1. Reduce the fi ltration speed to 25m/hr;

2. Add a 150mm bed of anthracite on top of the fi lter sand;

3. Provide a fl occulant injection before the fi lter;

4. Combine simultaneous injection of chlorine dioxide and chlorine.

Since introducing these changes in 1996, eye irritation and chlo-

ramines have been kept at acceptable levels.

To look at sanitation as a single chemical based issue is not

practical. Filtration issues must also be incorporated to provide an

effective integrated approach.

Chlorine choices for residential poolsJayne Rokesky of Focus Products gives a brief rundown of the

different methods of getting chlorine into a residential pool

Total water balance ensures that the water is safe and comfort-

able to swim in. An important aspect of this is the sanitation of pool

water or the production of FAC (free available chlorine).

Residential pools are built in a variety of sizes ranging from

10,000 litres to 200,000 litres and have fi nishes as varied as vinyl

liners, fi breglass, pebble and tile. The consumer faces a large task

when deciding which sanitation system is best for them.

It is necessary for the pool professional looking after the custom-

er to know what the bather load is like, where the pool is located

(that is, indoor or outdoor; heated or not; plus other information).

All these constituents have an effect on the availability of FAC.

A variety of options are available for the job. A large majority of

pools within Australia operate salt chlorinators. In recent years

these have become more advanced with the introduction of “self

cleaning” or reverse polarity cells. A “chlorine factory” within your

pool!

Other sanitation options are calcium hypochlorite (70% avail-

able chlorine) which is added to the pool on a daily basis. One of

the drawbacks off this method is the climbing calcium levels that

eventually occur and the high pH of the product causing an acid

demand.

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate also known as stabilised chlorine

(60% available chlorine) which is added to the pool every second

day. This is one product that has minimal effect on the water chem-

istry due to its pH of 6.5. Sodium trichlorisocyanurate, also known

as pool tablets or once a week tablets (89% available chlorine), is

generally added on a weekly basis depending on size of pool and

bather load etc. These tablets can be added by a fl oater or an in-

line feeder. In some instances these tablets are available with their

own disposable fl oating dispensers and have the addition of copper

for algaestat properties and clarifi er for crystal clear water.

Calcium hypochlorite tablets are for those people who want

the convenience of a tablet without the addition of stabiliser. This

makes them ideal for indoor pools and water features. Sodium hy-

residential feature

Salt Water Chlorination is the most popular method of introducing chlorine into a pool. This example is the latest offering from Poolstore – the 2M Self Cleaning Unit which has a number of features to make life easy for pool owners, including an in-built LCD panel constantly displaying the water temperature, salt level, intuitive manual time clock and 7 modes of operation including Spa mode

We all know that pools don’t consume a lot of water, instead they recycle it through their filtration system over and over again.

And that’s why every pool needs a Hayward cartridge filtration system.

Unlike other filters, Hayward Cartridge Filters never need to backwash so they never waste a precious drop of water.

And they keep the pool brilliantly clean for muchlonger.

With up to 100 times the filter area of an equivalent sand filter, Hayward Quad-Cluster filters gently sift and strain the water until it’s completely pure.

Shouldn’t everyone be water-wise?Of course, all that complex technology comes at a price and Hayward Cartridge Filters will cost a little more than a sand filter.

But, if you’re looking for the very best and the most environmentally sound filtration system, there is simply no better choice.

For more information on Hayward Cartridge Filters just phone 1300 POOLS1 send a fax to 1300 POOLS2 or just visit www.cleva.com

42 | SPLASH!

pochlorite (10%-13% available chlorine) can also

be used and automatic feeding systems have

been introduced to make the application a little

easier for the consumer - “set and forget”. The

liquids are fed at approx three-minute intervals,

ensuring that the chlorine is monitored and

adjusted regularly. It is important to ensure that

the drums have adequate chlorine and hydro-

chloric acid in them at all times.

In addition to this, it is possible to run ioniser

systems which work on silver (bactericide) and

copper (algaestat) with a minimal dose of addi-

tional chlorine. It is also imperative to remember

that unless the other relevant water parameters

are correct then chlorine will not work effectively.

The ideal system to ensure that the pool user has the safest

water possible is to combine their sanitation program with a pre-

ventative algaecide and regular oxidation system. The fi lter should

be chemically cleaned at least twice a year to remove the build-up

of body fats and oils. This will aid the chemicals in providing safe

and bacteria-free water. A lot of questions will go a long way in en-

suring that the consumer is provided with a system that fi lls their

expectations and looks after their water.

Salt water poolsJake Brandish of Monarch Pool Systems, manufacturer of the

Chloromatic salt water chlorinator, writes about the benefi ts of

salt.

Owning a swimming pool or spa brings great enjoyment and

health benefi ts to the owner and their family, but is a great respon-

sibility. It not only requires understanding of safety and fi rst aid, but

also a basic understanding of chemistry and

chemical treatment of the body of water. Un-

less this body of water is safe to swim in, the

bather may be in danger of illness.

Many people do not realise that chemicals

used in this everyday chore are dangerous and

care should be taken when handling them.

These chemicals should never be mixed to-

gether or added in proportions other than those

stated by the manufacturer.

Chlorine is the most common sanitiser used

in pools. It is a complex chemical compound, is

classed as a dangerous good, is bulky to trans-

port and store and should be used with extreme

care. This is the contributing factor why the

majority of pool owners have chosen to install a

salt water chlorinator on their pools to manage

the daily dosing of chlorine.

Chlorine is the globally accepted means by

which water is sanitised for bathing, drinking, etc.

A healthy pool requires a daily dose of this chemical

to control the growth of bacteria and algae, and therefore prevent

higher than acceptable levels of contamination. Chlorine sanitises

the water, the fi lter then fi lters out the dead or dormant particles

for removal from the fi ltration system.

Instead of adding this chemical manually, a salt water chlorina-

tor will actually manufacture chlorine from common salt. Salt is

added to the pool to achieve a salt level of around 5,000ppm (parts

per million). The ocean has an average salt level of 38,000ppm, so

it can be easily seen that a salt pool is much less salty than the

ocean. Salt usually costs around $7 per 25kg bag and is read-

ily available from the local pool chemical supplier. The average

pool requires around 200kg of salt on its initial dose. The salt is

not ‘consumed’ in the chlorination process, but is ‘recycled’ for

continual production of chlorine. The salt water chlorinator then

electrolyses the chloride element of salt (sodium chloride) and

converts it into the sanitiser known as chlorine. Salt should then be

residential feature

Tablets are an easy way to add chlorine to a pool. Shown here is a tub of PQ’s Ezy Tabs which are a blended pool water treatment combining the benefi ts of Sodium Tetraborate with the low pH and high chlorine level of Trichlor (with 81% minimum available chlorine). It comes in a 200gm tablet and is applied via a fl oating dispenser or inline feeder

SPLASH! | 43

‘topped up’ by adding approximately 1 x 25kg bag

per quarter. Salt is only lost by the loss of water out

of the pool, such as backwashing and splashing.

There are many advantages to this process. Cost

effectiveness and convenience are the main reasons

why the majority of pool owners choose salt over any

other means of sanitising their pool. It has been found

that a salt water chlorinator will produce chlorine at

around 10% the cost of buying the chemical. Couple

this with the convenience of never having to purchase

chlorine, let alone having to add it to the pool, and it

is easy to see why salt systems are so popular. There

are of course ongoing maintenance costs (as there

are in most equipment or machinery) but even then,

the pool owner is way ahead. The prime cost involved

with a salt system is the replacement of the electrode,

which starts from a few hundred dollars. This elec-

trode generally lasts an average of 3-5 years, but if

the equipment is maintained and looked after, this life

expectancy can be easily increased.

The other advantage of using a salt water chlorinator

is the comfort to bathers. The human body is made up

of around 80% fl uid – most of which is saline. This makes a

salt pool a perfectly natural environment for the body to be in. The

salinity of saliva or tears ranges from 7,000ppm to 9,000ppm. It is

also said that a salt pools’ water feels softer – this may be due to

the nature of the salty environment the body is in.

Installing a salt water chlorinator is a simple case of mounting

the power pack onto the nearest wall or post, and plumbing the

electrolytic cell housing into the return to pool pipework after the

fi lter. Most salt water chlorinators incorporate an in-built timer

which controls the main fi lter pump as well as the chlorinator as

the two must run together.

Units are also available with pool light transformers and even pH

monitoring and dosing. These units make the owner’s maintenance

minimal because the pH is directly related to the effectiveness of

the chlorine in the pool. If the salt water chlorinator can moni-

tor and dose pool acid levels to achieve a constant pH level, the

chlorine will be able to do its job far better than a pH level that is

allowed to fl uctuate.

Ozone swimming pool and spa sanitisationPhillip Green, director of the Ozone Layer, Australian dis-

tributors of the Del Ozone range, talks about the benefits of

ozone systems.

Despite it having been used to purify water since the 1800s, there

are still many misconceptions regarding ozone as a sanitiser. Let’s

look at a few questions that are commonly asked about ozone and

its effectiveness.

What is Ozone? Ozone is active oxygen, O3. It occurs naturally in the

earth’s atmosphere to protect us from the sun’s harmful rays. Ozone is

created in nature by the combination of oxygen in the air and ultraviolet

rays of the sun or by the corona discharge during a lightning storm.

Oxygen molecules (O2) are split by adding energy, resulting in two

individual oxygen atoms (O1); they unite with other oxygen molecules

(O2) to produce (O3). (O1) + (O2) = (O3). The third ox-

ygen atom is held by a very week single bond and

an oxidation reaction occurs upon any collision

between an ozone molecule and a molecule of

an oxidisable substance. The weak bond splits off

leaving oxygen as a by-product and during the oxi-

dation reaction, organic molecules are changed, dis-

solved metals are no longer soluble and chloramines

and other chemical by-products are broken down.

How is Ozone produced for Swimming Pools &

Spas? Ultraviolet (UV) light and Corona Discharge (CD)

are the two methods. For UV, a special lamp gives off

a specifi c wavelength of ultraviolet light which con-

verts oxygen (O2) molecules into ozone (O3) molecules

by splitting the oxygen molecules into individual oxy-

gen atoms (O1) which then recombine with oxygen to

form ozone. This all occurs instantly inside the ozone

chamber in the ozone generator.

With CD, ozone is produced by passing air through a

high voltage discharge, or corona. Air or concentrated

oxygen dried to a minimum of -60C dew point passes

through the corona which causes the O2 bond to split,

freeing two (O1) atoms which then collide with other (O2)

molecules to create ozone. CD systems generally pro-

duce about 3-5 times more concentrate than UV units.

What does Ozone do? Ozone is the most powerful

oxidizer and disinfectant that can be used safely to pu-

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residential feature

Focus Multi-Tabs combines chlorine with an algestat and clarifi er, and come with an in-built dispenser. The dispenser can be adjusted to increase or decrease the chlorine fl ow ensuring accurate levels in all pools

44 | SPLASH!

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rify air and water. In fact, it

is one of the most powerful

alternatives to chemical sanitation. Compared to chlorine, the most

common water disinfection chemical, ozone is a more than 50%

stronger oxidizer and acts over 3,000 times faster. Any pathogen or

contaminant that can be disinfected, altered or removed via an oxi-

dation process will be affected by ozone. Ozone has been scientifi -

cally proven as an affective broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent in

deactivating bacteria, viruses, molds, spores, cysts, yeast, mildew

and fungi. Ozone oxidizes iron, sulphur, manganese, hydrogen

sulfate, and eliminates oils and other contaminants in the water.

This is why ozone is used by water bottling plants, is used to clean

waste water and toxic waste, is used to purify air in hotel rooms

and why all Olympic Games Competition Pools have been purifi ed

by ozone since 1984. Ozone is pH neural and will not adversely af-

fect the pH.

Does a swimming pool or spa still need chemicals with ozone?

The answer is yes. Ozone will handle the bulk of sanitising require-

ments. However, due to the short life of ozone, a small amount

of sanitiser will be required to provide a residual in the water.

Because residual levels are so low there is no detectable taste or

odour. Normal residual levels are around 0.5ppm to 1ppm, thus

reducing normal chemical usage by up to 90%. Ozone also works

with mineral systems and salt chlorinators and reduces their con-

sumable consumption.

Other methods There are a variety of other methods including ionisation, elec-

trolysis and mineral systems, which operate either alone or in

The DiaCell creates a large working window of more than 4 volts

SPLASH! | 45

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combination with chemical

sanitisers. The trace-ele-

ment system Nature2, for example, claims to reduce the need for

chlorine to just 0.5ppm.

Anti Bio technology uses low frequency sound waves and elec-

tromagnetic fi elds to assist in the removal of impurities from water

and to reduce the amount of chemicals required.

The Aquabrite System is an environmentally friendly, simple,

effi cacious non-chlorine disinfection system that has been tried

and proven for more than 14 years. It uses the natural disinfection

qualities of copper and silver, through electrolysis, with a propri-

etary oxidising agent known as Aquabrite. The synergistic effect

of the copper and silver ions and the oxidising agent disinfects the

pool and spa water without creating irritants.

Is magnesium chloride the new salt?Poolrite has launched a new product called Magna Blu, which is

designed to work with their crushed glass Diamond Kleen fi lter

media to form the Magna Pool System.

The big difference between Magna Blu and existing salt chlorina-

tors is that, rather than using sodium chloride to effect sanitisa-

tion, it uses other salts, in particular magnesium chloride and

potassium chloride.

Poolrite says this makes the water healthier, and impor-

tantly makes the water recyclable – as the sodium levels are

a current impediment to using backwashed water for other

purposes, such as watering gardens. Poolrite believes this

backwashed water could even be diverted and used to flush

household toilets – saving mains water which is currently used

for that task.

SPLASH! spoke to Poolrite CEO Ross Palmer at the recent

SPLASH! Expo on the Gold Coast, and he detailed many aspects of

this development. The interview can be read on page 22.

New high-tech electrode could revolutionise sanitisationAlan Lewis, pool consultant from Aquazure, explains a new Swiss

electrochemical technology which could have far reaching effects

in the pool industry

In 1994 when Philip Barlow was technical director of Watertec

Engineering in Brisbane, he produced a publication extolling the

virtues of ozone as a disinfectant in swimming pools. In the open-

ing paragraphs he compared the oxidising potential of various

oxidising reagents in the following interesting table:

The DiaCell is made from a boron-doped diamond fi lm a few micrometres

thick, deposited on a silicon substrate

46 | SPLASH!

Oxidising Reagent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oxidising Potential (V)

Fluorine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.06

Hydroxyl free radicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.80

Atomic Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.42

Ozone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.07

Permanganate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.67

Hypobromous acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.59

Chlorine dioxide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50

Hypochlorous acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.49

Chlorine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.36

Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.23

Bromine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.09

Hypochlorite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.94

Note that hydroxyl free radicals are second highest on the table

– even higher than ozone.

Barlow’s comment was that “with a short life of microseconds

they do not play a major part in achieving disinfection”. In fact,

ozone does have a longer life in water than hydroxyl free radicals.

However, if we compare continuous production of both reagents in

a slip stream of the pool circulation, surely we could then say that

the former will be more effective than the later.

This is where the DiaCell has brought a new dimension to the

challenge of disinfection. How? Because it has been made possible

by the development of a very special electrode, and unlike ozone it

also makes hypochlorite which can survive in the pool as long as

the electrolysis continues to generate the disinfectants.

The Boron Doped Diamond (BDD) electrode is produced in a

similar fashion to the production of artifi cial diamonds in a process

called Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), in which it deposits a

thin fi lm of polycrystalline diamond on a substrate of silicon. The

crystals are formed from raw graphite under high temperature

and pressures. The result is a highly effi cient electrode which can

generate a powerful mix of chlorine; peroxydisulphate; peroxy-

dicarboate; ozone; hydrogen peroxide; and other hydroxyl radicals,

simultaneously in the electrolytic cell. Those chemical species with

longer life are continuously swept into the pool by the slip stream

until a steady state of Free Chlorine residual is created.

Once the initial dose of salt(s) has been introduced to the pool

to a maximum residual of 1000ppm (or mg/L) – there is no further

need to add chemicals with the exception of occasional replenish-

ment of salt lost to splash or backwash. The doped diamond has

excellent stability under varying pH and temperature and in the

presence of other aggressive chemicals. Low fouling is sustained

by phased reversal of the polarity on the electrodes. Compared with

other electrodes the BDD has a much greater potential (> 4 volts)

resulting in a faster inactivation of the pathogens in the water. The

net result of this system is dreamlike for operators with minimum

handling of chemicals; low running costs and very low maintenance

of the equipment.

The design of the cell is versatile and can be assembled in vari-

ous combinations so as to ensure the minimum residuals required

by the local health authorities. After three years of trials, the

DiaCell has now been approved for use in public pools by the Swiss

Health Department and will shortly receive similar accreditation

from the French health authorities. Neither should it present a

problem for health authorities in any of Australia’s states and ter-

ritories, because of the fl exibility in design and assembly.

The DiaCell removes the need for chemicals and makes the

water easier to recycle.

It will be particularly appropriate for remote areas where trans-

port of chemicals presents a prohibitive factor in running pools

in outback areas with small populations. There are no storage or

OH&S problems of any substance relating to handling of chemicals,

and no concentrations of disinfectants likely to present issues of

corrosion in plant or the pool and its surrounds, because of the low

residuals involved in the processes.

The DiaCell described here applies primarily to large commer-

cial pools, but Adamant Technologies also has a domestic product

using the same technology called the Oxineo. For more information

email Alan Lewis on aquazure@bigpond.net.au.

Are there ghosts in your pool?In the next edition of SPLASH! we will look at the vexed issue

of chloramines, and in particular the question of phantom or

ghost chloramines. We ask Do they exist? Are they a prob-

lem? And how do you get rid of them?

residential feature

Sanitisation is equally important for spas. While the vast majority of pool sanitisation chemicals are chlorine-based, a lesser number of bromine/chlorine products are specifi cally aimed at the spa pool and hydrotherapy area

48 | SPLASH!

When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water,” said

Benjamin Franklin, one of the United States’ most no-

table founding fathers – as well as a scientist, inventor,

statesman, businessman, musician, economist and philosopher.

Franklin’s insight on the topic of water (1706-1790) was likely

based on the fact that, in his time, people were very dependent on

the wells they dug in their own backyards, or public water supplies

from which they had to fi ll and carry vessels to their homes. Im-

agine his surprise if he was to witness today’s sophisticated water

supply and management systems, and how water appears from

our taps with as little effort as waving a hand in front of a sensor.

Imagine also his disappointment at learning how making water

so much more easily accessible changed the mindset of people

over the years regarding waste. One might

wonder what philosophical statements he might

make today about how, during the past century, we have

abused this life-giving resource.

Franklin would no doubt endorse the many water-conservation

organisations, associations, government agencies and branches,

and private and public foundations that have surfaced throughout

the world in recent years. He might have been among the strongest

advocates in efforts toward increasing public awareness about the

consequences of water misuse, and a strong member of groups

that are striving to fi nd ways to protect the earth’s water supply.

L’acqua è preziosa (water is precious)In the Piazza San Francesco, where the Museo Civico Belliniano

is located, in Catania, Sicily, there is a spigot sticking out of

a publicly owned building. For months, it has run continually,

Respecting water’s worth

in America

residential feature

“

We all know what an important issue water has become in Australia.

In this article, Christina DiMartino has a look at the US perspective.

SPLASH! | 49

24 hours a day,

seven days a week. It was

reported as early as June, but may

have been running long before then. It was

still flowing in mid-October. While local residents have

reported it to officials, their complaints have either gone

unheeded or there has been a breakdown in bureaucratic com-

munication. In the meantime, the water continues to flow at a

laughable rate.

On the fl ip side of this apparent oversight, it is not unusual for

hotel and bed and breakfasts in the area to post small signs in

bathrooms that read L’acqua è Preziosa (water is precious), sug-

gesting that guests use it conservatively.

If you’re reading this from a desert region where water is so

scarce that wasting it is unacceptable, even illegal, you’ll no doubt

feel anger at a government agency that ignores a problem like a

spigot running endlessly for no apparent reason. But it’s a lot like

feeding starving people in the world – there is plenty of food to go

around – there just isn’t an economical or logistical way to get it to

where it’s needed the most. If you’re in Australia, no matter how

much you want that water that’s “going down the proverbial drain”

in Catania, there is simply no way to get it to you.

Flipping to a different, but equally valuable resource, however,

provides a reverse scenario. People, including government offi -

cials, in that same area where water is being wasted, are particu-

larly conservative when it comes to energy conservation.

A New Yorker recently on a business trip in a nearby small Ital-

ian village noted the one electrical outlet in his room. There he

stood with his computer, portable printer, mobile phone charger,

hairdryer and electric shaver, staring at the single outlet.

If you are reading this while sitting in a room where all four

walls have two double electrical outlets installed in each (like in

most modern buildings in America), and all16 outlets have an

appliance or fi xture plugged into them, you may be empathetic

to our American traveller. The ability to add more power to the

room in that small Sicilian village is as challenging as getting that

wasted water to Australia. And, in fairness, the department stores,

boutiques and other businesses in Sicily typically dim their lights

during the day to conserve electricity.

Regarding earth’s resources, it appears that what’s good for the

goose isn’t always right for the gander. It depends on how thirsty

is the goose, and how hungry the gander – or how badly the swan

needs a light to groom her feathers.

Facing the statsGlobal population growth statistics provide some sombre news

about water, especially for future generations. As the number of

people on earth increases, water will become an even more pre-

cious resource than it is today. World Hunger Year (www.worldhun-

geryear.org) offers some crucial statistics:

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SPLASH! | 51

• Approximately 450 million people in 29 countries currently face

severe water shortages.

• 20-percent more water than is currently available will be re-

quired to feed the additional three billion people who will inhabit

the earth in 2025—less than two decades away. Two-thirds of the

world population could be water-stressed by then.

• Aquifers, which supply one-third of the world’s population with wa-

ter, are being pumped out faster than nature can replenish them.

• Half the world’s rivers and lakes are seriously polluted.

• Major rivers, such as the Yangtze, Ganges and Colorado, do not fl ow

to the sea for much of each year because of upstream withdrawals.

What most of us don’t knowThe Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports that water is

essential for all life and is used in many different ways – for food

production, drinking and domestic uses and industrial use. It is

also part of the larger ecosystem on which bio diversity depends.

Precipitation, converted to soil and groundwater and thus acces-

sible to vegetation and people, is the dominant pre-condition for bi-

omass production and social development in drylands. The amount

of available water is equivalent to the water moving through the

landscape. It also fl uctuates between the wet and dry periods.

Fresh water scarcity is not limited to the arid climatic regions only.

Even in areas with good supply, the access to safe water is becom-

ing a critical problem. Lack of water is caused by low water storage

capacity, low infi ltration capacity, large inter-annual and annual

fl uctuations of precipitation and high evaporative demand.

FAO reports that a variety of essential soil moisture and water

conservation technologies must be adopted to reduce the cost of ir-

rigation, extend it throughout and promote sustainable small-scale

irrigation on a watershed basis. These technologies are essential,

especially in drought-prone areas.

Even though drought is a purely natural calamity caused by the

failure of (monsoon) rain, it can be minimised by careful planning

and operation. During good rainy years, excess rainwater should

be stored in the soil and also underground using suitable soil

moisture conservation measures and water harvesting structures

on a watershed basis. This stored water can subsequently be used

for irrigation.

Watershed development and management, according to FAO, im-

plies an integration of technologies within the natural boundary of

a drainage area for optimum development of land, water and plant

resources, to meet the people’s basic needs in a sustained manner.

A watershed is an area from which runoff resulting from pre-

cipitation fl ows past a single point into a large stream, river, lake

or pond. Each watershed is an independent hydrological unit. It

has become an acceptable unit of planning for optimum use and

conservation of soil and water resources.

Water in AmericaAmericans like to think they are as environmentally conscious as

other people, and with documentaries like Al Gore’s recent “An

Inconvenient Truth” receiving top movie billing, it would seem the

general public’s awareness is not waning.

In truth, human consciousness about caring for the environment

and earth’s natural resources is slow moving around the globe,

especially in developed nations where people have the ability to

misuse resources with ease.

residential feature

In Tucson, Arizona, permanent water restrictions have been in

place for more than 25 years

52 | SPLASH!

For proof, just ask any head of a household with four kids in a rural

neighbourhood in any US state if he would be willing to give up his

SUV for a smaller vehicle to save gas. He’ll likely glare at you until you

grovel. But ask him if he is interested in resource conservation, and

he’ll swear he is just as concerned as anyone. It also speaks to the

American traveller in Sicily who is using more kilowatts of electricity

every day than people in most countries use in an entire week.

People react naturally to the environmental conditions surround-

ing them. When electrical power is ample, manufacturers develop

more electrical products to attract consumer attention, and those

same consumers look for items that offer timesaving, convenience,

and improvements to the quality of life. Electric coffee pots and au-

tomatic dishwashers, obviously, are hard to come by in areas where

people live in tents and cook on open hearths.

The same applies with water use. Where it is ample, people give

little though to allowing a tap to run endlessly or leaving a lawn

sprinkler operating throughout an entire day.

It usually takes a shortage of resources that comes in the form

of a shock – a power blackout or sudden water shortage to make

people aware of the value of their resources. These abrupt changes

cause us to alter our thinking and consequently our use of precious

resources, usually because local governments force the issue.

When lack of rainfall causes drought or near-drought conditions,

agencies across the US put water restrictions into effect. This is

commonly done in stages depending on the severity of the drought

and how long it lasts. In areas where water is critically short on a

year-round basis, annual restrictions often remain in effect.

An example of serious long-term drought restrictions is San

Marcos, Texas. In October 2006, the city council addressed what

it called “the never ending problem” by voting to add year-round

water restrictions that include the following:

• Waste of water is prohibited at all times;

• Irrigation with hose-end sprinklers and automatic sprinkler

irrigation systems are prohibited during daytime hours between

10am and 8pm;

• Charity car washes are prohibited at all times unless held at a

certifi ed commercial car wash;

• Non-commercial vehicle washing must be done using a hand-held

bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff device;

• Operation of non-recirculating decorative water features is pro-

hibited at all times.

Fines for violations start at $100.

In Tucson, Arizona, offi cials are even tougher. Permanent water

restrictions have been in place for more than 25 years, and many

different strategies for reducing water consumption have been

implemented, including public education, conservation-sensitive

water rates, direct assistance and training programs via specifi c

water conservation ordinances. By codifying conservation strate-

gies into law, the city has ensured that policies remain active

and enforceable. The ordinances include water waste guidelines,

plumbing codes, landscape regulations and mandatory water con-

servation strategies for use in a water supply emergency. Some of

these prohibited activities include:

• Allowing water to escape from any premise onto public or other

person’s property;

• Allowing water to pond in any street or parking lot to a depth

greater than ¼-inch;

• Washing driveways, sidewalks, parking areas or other impervi-

ous surface areas with an open hose;

• Operating a misting system in unoccupied non-residential areas;

SPLASH! | 53

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• Operating a permanently installed irrigation system with

broken equipment;

• Failing to repair a controllable leak.

It is also illegal in Tucson to tamper with or bypass water meters.

Violation fi nes in the city start at $US250, and increase to as much

as $US1,000 for repeat offenders. Besides typical desert-type

areas, usable-water shortages occur in pockets of America due to

lack of rain or temporary contamination, so it is common for nearly

every city to have at least temporary water restrictions in place and

ready to go into effect in case of drought conditions.

Some cities and towns in the US are even rewarding residents

who not only abide by restrictions, but also go beyond their duty by

purposely conserving water.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, for example, homeowners can receive up

to $US1000 for converting their lawns to Xeriscape (see below)

and commercial landowners can receive up to a $US50,000 credit

on their water bill. Residents in Glendale, Arizona can receive a

$US100 cash rebate for installing or converting more than half of

their lanscapable area to non-grass vegetation. Other cities offer

tax advantages and other incentives to inspire and persuade resi-

dents to participate in water conservation movements.

Although North America is not currently at a critical water

shortage level, many industries, including the landscape trade, are

attempting to do something to make a difference.

Using landscape water intelligentlyIn August, a group of environmental and water conservation

experts in Tucson, Arizona, examined conservation initiatives and

strategies relating to landscape irrigation as part of the third Intel-

ligent Use of Water Summit.

Rain Bird Corporation, a leading manufacturer of irrigation prod-

ucts and services, hosted the event at the University of Arizona.

The symposium included Joanna Kind and Kerry Schwartz, EPA

consultants, and Professor Ronald Stoltz, director of the University

of Arizona School of Landscape Architecture.

The group focused on the relationship between water con-

servation and landscape water use, policies and legislation. It

also included potential programs and initiatives to bring greater

awareness to the need for water conservation, calling for civic and

business leaders to collaborate on the development and implemen-

tation of water conservation policies.

“It is evident that conservation programs fraught with complex-

ity, thereby requiring elaborate monitoring programs, may prove to

achieve neither cost-effectiveness nor meaningful water savings,”

says moderator Professor Robert Glennon of the University of

Arizona’s Rogers College of Law. He is also author of Water Follies:

Groundwater Pumping And The Fate Of America’s Fresh Waters.

“Appropriate water rates offer an opportunity to augment various

conservation programs as a way of encouraging water conserva-

tion,” he says.

The summit came on the heels of a recent UN report predict-

ing an eminent and devastating global water shortage by the

year 2025.

“The Environmental Protection Agency views landscape irriga-

tion as a part of the solution, rather than part of the problem,” said

Kind. “The EPA’s WaterSense program seeks to build a national

brand for water conservation and ultimately strengthen the value of

conserving water.”

Rain Bird’s next Intelligent Use of Water Summit is scheduled for

December 31, 2006 in Pasadena, California.

54 | SPLASH!

Wasteful wateringA commonly held but false impression among American consum-

ers is that beautiful garden and lawns require extensive watering,

which is in most cases also wasteful watering.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a government

agency that employs 18,000 people at 10 regional offi ces across the

country. Its mission is to protect human health and the environment.

Since 1970, EPA’s mantra has been to work for a cleaner, healthier

environment for the American people. The agency has taken on the

task of publishing information to help homeowners and landscape

professionals understand more about the importance of water con-

servation and the results of continued water waste. It also publishes

dozens of publications that help guide people with conservation

advice, planners and programs ( see www.epa.gov).

In October 2006, it published Water-Effi cient Landscaping: Pre-

venting Pollution & Using Resources Wisely. The booklet (available

as a PDF), addresses what water-effi cient landscaping is, why it

should be used and how it is applied. In addition, it offers land-

scape irrigation methods and examples of successful water-effi -

cient landscaping projects currently in use in the US.

Besides a reference and guide booklet, it offers some important

facts, including:

• The amount of water used outdoors in the summer by a house-

hold can exceed the amount used for all other purposes in the

entire year – especially in hot, dry climates;

• While gardening and lawn care account for the majority of the

seasonal increase, other outdoor activities, including washing

cars and fi lling swimming pools, also contribute;

• Of the 234 billion litres of water consumed daily in the US, ap-

proximately 30-percent is devoted to outdoor uses;

• Estimates are that the typical suburban lawn consumes 37,000

litres of water in addition to rainfall each year.

Water-Effi cient Landscaping also offers guidance. It describes

current schools of thought related to effi cient landscaping, such as

water-wise, water-smart and other practices, and the formalisation

of principles of Xeriscape landscaping, which is defi ned as quality

landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.

The vessel of liquid goldThe Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), a US-based

global source and voice for the recreational water industry, includ-

ing the swimming pool, spa, hot tub and recreational water sectors,

takes an adamant stand on the fact that swimming pools do not

waste or abuse water. The organisation even suggests that pool

and spa professionals include information in their company litera-

ture to demonstrate that pools are not water wasters.

“In fact, pools are benefi cial to society as mini-reservoirs that

collect rainwater and store a precious water supply throughout the

entire year,” states the APSP. “They can be used as an emergency

water supply to fi ght fi res. Also, they can serve as an ‘oasis’ to the

people who use them during hot and dry times. And they have a

huge economic impact on the community, contributing billions of

dollars to the American economy each year.”

Members of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals are strong

advocates for water conservation, reports APSP. It states, “Since we

are in the business of using water for health, recreation and relaxa-

tion, it’s important to us that water remains abundant and accessible

for all. We believe this is possible if all pool and spa users are edu-

cated about water conservation techniques, and are willing to make

just a few sensible changes in their water consumption habits.”

The APSP offers these tips for pool and spa owners:

1. Cover up! A properly maintained spa or pool cover can be an

important safety element and can also reduce evaporation and wa-

ter waste by 95%. For pools, a safety cover or a solar cover also has

the added benefi t of helping heat the pool. A fl oating cover under

the spa cover will prevent additional evaporation and retain heat.

For maximum effectiveness, replace spa covers every three years.

2. Be vigilant. Correct any leaks or service problems as they oc-

cur. Don’t waste water by letting it leak away.

3. Maintain your spa. Proper spa maintenance will greatly increase

the time between draining and refi lling. Cleaning fi lters regularly ac-

cording to manufacturer’s directions will extend spa cleanliness.

4. Maintain your pool and pool fi ltration systems. Use an automatic

pool cleaner to maintain pool water. Some pool cleaners do not send

debris through the fi ltration system, reducing the need to backwash.

Proper maintenance of pool water also reduces the frequency of

backwashing. Replace your aging sand or DE fi ltering system with a

cartridge fi lter that does not require backwashing can also save water.

5. Additional maintenance tips for both pools and spas: remove

debris that blows in from trees and landscaping. Low-tech tools are

available from your retailer to make it easier to keep water clean. Rinse

bathing suits out with clear water rather than washing with soap. Soap

powder residue is a major contributor to poor water quality.

6. If it’s clean, don’t drain! Drain spas and pools only when you

have a water quality problem. Water only needs to be changed

in a spa 2-3 times a year if you maintain your spa properly and it

incorporates new water cleaning technology. Pools only need to be

drained if repairs require it.

7. Re-use. When you intend to drain your spa, let it sit open for

48-72 hours with no new chemicals added, and then use the water

on garden plants. Or, ask your retailer about products that neutral-

ise chemicals. (To prevent unsupervised use, remember to make

sure that proper safety barriers are in place any time that the spa

safety cover is removed.)

8. Recycle! Use captured rainwater to replace water lost to

evaporation in spas and pools or to refi ll a spa.

9. Upgrade. Spas manufactured in the last fi ve years have new

technology cleaning systems that keep the water clean much

longer – up to six months without refi lling. This new technology is

also available for some older models. Your spa dealer can advise

you whether you can add this technology to your spa.

residential feature

A pool in the semi- arid US state of Texas, by Aqua Classic

Pools & Spas

SPLASH! | 57

Commercial

COMMERCIAL NEWS

THORPEDO WAVES GOODBYE ..............................58

WORLD SWIMMERS REACT TO OLYMPIC TIMING .58

WA NEEDS SWIM TEACHERS ...............................58

SKILLING UP ON PATRON MANAGEMENT ............59

POOLS FOR VICTORIAN SCHOOLS ........................59

FREE POOL ENCOURAGES LEARNING .................59

SWIM POOL CONFERENCE SET FOR MAY .............59

BOY DIES AFTER SWIMMING LESSON ..................59

PLUGGING COOK AND PHILLIP ............................60

SUMMER SCHOOL MEETS SWIM MEET ................60

WHAT DOES THE INDUSTRY NEED? .....................61

VENI, VIDI, VICI ....................................................61

COMMERCIAL FEATURES

FORGET THE WATER – RECYCLE THE POOL .........62

ACCESS ALL AREAS ............................................64

WATER WISE WATER WORLD FOR GOLD COAST ..68

In SPLASH! Commercial we focus on big and small commercial

swimming pools, including international and local competition pools,

water parks, public facilities, community pools and strata projects. We

examine issues of importance to commercial pool builders, management

and staff, while taking a look at the latest happenings.

58 | SPLASH!

For your local Davey dealer call: 1300 367 866or visit: www.davey.com.au

Forget that nagging drone coming from yourback yard. Davey’s ALL NEW SilensorTM Seriesof pool pumps are water-silenced, makingthem so quiet you’d hardly know they werethere. And if it weren’t for the fact that youmay have to occasionally empty the huge leafbasket you could even forget about your newSilensorTM pool pump all-together! Day afterday, year after year, you can depend on yourSilensorTM pool pump.

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THORPEDO WAVES GOODBYE AUSTRALIA has lost its greatest swimmer as fi ve-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe retired from the sport. The exacting training regime, injury, illness and lack of motivation led him to decide fi rst to miss the Melbourne FINA World Champi-onships, and then fi -nally decide to give the sport away altogether.

Thorpe said he had been thinking about this for a long time, and at 24 he is still young enough

to still accept new challenges, while old enough to realise that it is his swimming successes that have got him where he is today.

Dubbed “the Thorpedo”, Ian Thorpe was one of the world’s best ever swimmers, winning fi ve Olympic and 10 Common-wealth golds, 11 world titles, and breaking 22 world records.

WORLD SWIMMERS REACT AGAINST OLYMPIC TIMINGA brewing drama fi nally boiled over as international Olympic swimmers, including Australia’s stars such as the now retired Ian Thorpe, wrote to the IOC complaining about the hijacking of the swimming timetable by US TV interests.

The Beijing swimming fi nals will be held in the morning, rather than the usual evening time, to appease US TV network NBC. The timing better suits the TV programming in the US, but will play havoc with the swimmers’ preparations and is like-ly to adversely affect times, including the ability for swimmers to break records. It is also more likely to result in injury to athletes, as their bodies will not be working at optimum effi ciency.

WA NEEDS SWIM TEACHERSROYAL Life Saving WA confi rmed that a shortage of swim-ming teachers in the west is putting WA children at risk of missing out on crucial life-saving skills. Responding to a report in the West Australian newspaper, the RLSWA has said that an additional 300 swimming instructors are needed to ensure all of the summer holiday lessons can be held. The minimum qualifi cation for employment is the AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety qualifi cation. More information on this course can be obtained from Royal Life Saving.

Royal Life Saving spokesman, Greg Tate, says that 14 of the State’s 80 endorsed swim schools are already advertising for instructors, with the shortage expected to worsen as the season progresses.

“The critical shortage has large implications for the water safety education of the more than 80,000 children, aged 5 to 15, who participate in learn-to-swim lessons every summer,”

Local briefs

SPLASH! | 59

www.aquamatics.com.auwww.aquamatics.com.au

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says Tate. “Potentially, the shortage means there is an increased risk of drowning in that age group.”

SKILLING UP ON PATRON MANAGEMENT CONFLICT resolution and management will now become a part of the lifeguard training course run by Royal Life Saving (RLS).

As part of a review of their training courses and manuals, the RLS national branch sent out an industry survey to some of the major players in the aquatic industry, including lifeguards, pool managers, aquatic based trainers and RLS staff. One of the main issues raised by industry professionals was of lifeguards having to deal with confl ict. The RLS has taken this on board, and lifeguards will now get instruction on preventing confl ict, confl ict management and confl ict resolution. These will not be a stand alone course, but will be integrated into the roles and responsibilities component of the lifeguard training course.

POOLS FOR VICTORIAN SCHOOLSTHE Victorian State Government is planning to provide urban and regional Victorian schools with swimming pools through a public-private partnership (PPP) deal.

Called the Pools in Schools program, the Government has said that it will not bear any of the construction or ongoing maintenance costs. The fi rst instance of the program will in-volve private funding by Social Infrastructure Partners to build and maintain six new 25m heated indoor pools, which are due to be completed during 2007.

The pools would be built on school land and, during school hours, would be at the disposal of the school and students. Outside school hours, however, the private partner will open the pools to the public.

Locations slated to get the fi rst batch of pools are Hillside, Point Cook, St Albans, Deer Park Torquay and Geelong.

FREE POOL ENCOURAGES LEARNINGTHE Queensland wheat belt shire of Tara has used a novel approach to helping people learn how to swim – throw open the doors of the local pool. For Tara, Meandarra and Moonie, swimming pool entry is now free of charge to all that wish to attend. Council is hoping that this initiative will encourage people to attend and assist them in learning to swim. This initiative will be reviewed prior to the commencement of the next fi nancial year.

SWIM POOL CONFERENCE SET FOR MAYDATES have been set for the upcoming Telstra Australasian-Oceania Swimming Professionals Convention & Trade Expo. It will be held at the Sofi tel Hotel, Gold Coast, on May 1-8, 2007. The conference will host approximately 600 coaches, teachers, swim school owners and operators from Australia and overseas.

BOY DIES AFTER SWIMMING LESSONAN eight-year-old school student died following an incident while taking a swimming lesson at North Sydney Pool. He became distressed while in the water; attempts were made to revive him and he was taken to RNS Hospital, where he died. The police are currently preparing a coroners report, but said there was no suggestion that pool safety had been a factor in the incident or that there had been inadequate supervision.

60 | SPLASH!

Plugging Cook and Phillip THE City of Sydney Council plans to spend $10 million repairing the leaking roof at the Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic Centre. The skateboarders’ paradise between the pool and St Mary’s Cathedral will also be renovated. The pool has been controversial because of the leaks, effl orescence and seagull excrement on the paving, and the fact that the main users of the space outside the pool have been skateboarders.

The renovations are likely to include new hard and soft landscaping to soften the look and deter seagulls. Work is due to begin in the middle of 2007, once approved.

Summer school coincides with Melbourne meet

Simon Weatherill, summer school chairman

THE Melbourne School of Sport and Recreation Manage-ment (MSSRM) is hosting its second annual summer school, The International Sport Facility Management Program, from March 27 to March 30, 2007.

A joint initiative of the MSSRM and Sport Knowledge Australia (SKA), the four-day program will run during the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships. Appropriately, the fo-cus is aquatics, and delegates will learn from Australian experts how to successfully develop and manage world-class facilities and major sporting events.

Architects, engineers, building and project management as well as operations experts will feature in the speaker lineup. A bonus for delegates will be a behind-the-scenes tour of the specially constructed FINA pool.

The modules include concept planning, feasibility and business planning, design and documentation, project management, facility establishment, operations, event overlay and facility impacts.

The school is expected to attract directors of sport and recrea-tion from local government, facility operations and project managers, event managers, builders of sports facilities, archi-tects, government offi cials, CEOs already running sporting complexes and potentially some private sector interest.

For more information contact Lila Kemlo on (03) 9926 1301.

SPLASH! | 61

AUSTRALIA beat 25 other countries including South Africa, England and Canada to win the 2006 Quinquennial Com-monwealth Lifesaving Championships in Bath, England.

The Australian Royal Life Saving team, the “Aussie Barras”, compet-ed in a number of events including superlifesaver, line throw, manikin rescue and tow.

Vici brand sponsored the Barras.

WaterGym is versatile, requires only two 10mm screws to affix each unit to the edge of your pool and is easily removable after your exercise session.

It may be configured as an exercise bench which can be used in a multitude of ways to tone every part of the body.

WaterGym comprises three different exercise machines, WaterCycle, WaterPaddle and HandWheel.

For cardio fitness, strength, training, or rehabilitation exercise using thesupportive nature of water.

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What the industry needsWITH a desire to do something about the disparate nature of the leisure and aquatics industry, the Aquatic and Recreation Institute in conjunction with Smart Connection Company, RLSS, Aquatics and Recreation Victoria, LIWA and Parks and Leisure Australia re-cently implemented the National Aquatics and Recreation Survey.

There were 438 centres represented in the survey results.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS • In Australia, there are an estimated1885 facilities; • 86,000 staff work in the industry;• 82% of the centres had pools;• 52.2% were solely aquatic facilities;• 29.9% were aquatic and recreation;• 17.9% were dry recreation and sports.

In terms of management, 61% of facilities are run by council; 22% of facilities are contracted out; 17% of facilities are under lease to “other”.

In terms of age of facilities, 74% of centres are 15 years or older; 60% are more than 26 years old and 38% more than 35 years old. More than 45% of the respondents believe that their facilities are either in average, poor or very poor condition.

Two leading issues that would enable managers to better run their centres were “better trained staff” (19%); and “greater investment in facilities and equipment” (18.7%).

Three leading issues that would enable managers to deliver a better service were “better facilities” (23.8%); “increased fund-ing” (19.8%); and “better trained staff” (15%).

The industry asked for support and assistance in the follow-ing areas:• Management and best practice guidelines and documents

(38.24%); • Equipment that reduces the cost of pool maintenance (37.7%); • Promotions and merchandising to increase revenue (29.3%); • Performance assessment to identify improved opportunities

(29.3%); • Marketing and sales programs and software (25.9%); • Learn to swim and water safety (25.6%); • General development of the centre (24.3%).For more information please contact Gary Penfold at ARI on (02) 9451 8000 or email gary.penfold@aquaticinstitute.com.au, or helens@smartconnection.com.au.

Veni, vidi, vici

They came, they saw, they conquered: the

victorious Barras

62 | SPLASH!

When you build a normal pool for a

swimming championship, you end

up with a number of great things.

A sense of achievement (hopefully!), a

reputation and a big state-of-the-art FINA-

regulation swimming pool.

However, this big swimming pool usually

has to stay where it is. While this can be an

advantage for the district immediately sur-

rounding the pool, it may turn out that isn’t

where the facilities are required.

Big swimming events are generally held

in central urban districts where there is

ample transport for the infl ux of visitors.

But there may well be a need for perma-

nent swimming facilities in the far fl ung

suburbs or rural centres.

This is the case in Victoria, where there

have been a number of resident campaigns

to save their local pools, especially in some

of the less affl uent parts of Melbourne and

some regional centres.

That is one reason why the Skypool modu-

lar pool system was such a good fi t for the

2007 FINA Championships in Melbourne. Be-

ing a portable pool, it doesn’t have to remain

where it is; and being modular, it can actually

be split up into a number of smaller pools.

AstralPool is a sponsor of FINA and the

offi cial supplier of pools to the games.

The temporary pools are being built in the

Rod Laver arena, which holds a far greater

number of spectators than existing indoor

swimming venues.

AstralPool is supplying the main 3m-deep

pool free of charge, and also the warm-up

pool on the adjacent tennis courts.

The Skypool system has been used

successfully in the Barcelona and Shang-

hai FINA Championships. The Melbourne

pools will use a prefabricated base like the

Shanghai pool, rather than the sand base

used in Barcelona.

The pools are built using a panel system.

The height of the panels vary, though the

one-metre width and the thickness is

constant. For the 3m competition pool,

panel heights of 1.8m and 1.2m are being

used: 300 panels are needed to build that

pool. The smaller warm-up pool uses 150

panels, making a total of 450 panels.

Because normal community or public

pools are shallower than competition pools

– from 1.1m to 1.35m at the shallow end to

1.8m at the deep end – these 450 panels can

be reconfi gured to arrive at three 50m by 20m

Olympic pools. All that is needed are some

extra gutters and pool liners to complete the

job – a relatively small expense, especially as

AstralPool has given a very heavy discount on

any new equipment which is required.

There will also be a signifi cant amount

of plant equipment from the Melbourne

games which can be used on these pools.

Because of the exacting FINA standards,

the equipment is state-of-the-art, including

Nefrona Plus ozonation, chlorine injection,

sand fi ltration and DE scrubbing. The pool

water will be turned over every four hours.

The plant has been shipped out from

Spain in 16 pre-assembled “monoblocs”

built around mid-sized sand fi lters. Once

they arrive in Australia, these plant blocks

are simply connected up to the pool and the

system is ready to go.

After the games are over, this plant can

be reassembled in confi gurations suitable

for the community pools.

The pools will be going to the new $30m

Frankston regional swimming centre; the Lesi-

urelink aquatic centre at Geelong; and the new

$30m multi-pool complex at East Bentleigh.

The Victorian Minister for Sport, Justin

Madden, has allocated money for the centres

to carry out constructability studies, to en-

able them to incorporate the equipment.

Forget the water

recycle the pool!One of the exciting things about using

AstralPool’s Skypool for the Melbourne

FINA championships is the benefi ts for local

communities after the event is over.

The Skypool panel system used in Barcelona

commercial feature

Leisure link Geelong, Peddle Thorp Architects

Some of the plant equipment from the Barcelona pool

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64 | SPLASH!

Water access for peo-

ple with disabilities

or mobility problems

is important for all public,

community and strata swim-

ming pools and spas.

For hydrotherapy pools, this

is a key requirement, but any

public pool must be designed

and managed in a way that

makes it easy not only for peo-

ple with disabilities, but also

injured people and the elderly.

Julie Harrison, hydrothera-

pist with the Wesley Hydro-

therapy Centre at Wesley

Hospital, Brisbane, says that

it is essential that people

with mobility problems can

get into and out of the water

with ease.

“People are much more

aware of disabilities nowa-

days,” says Harrison. “And

when they’re designing and

building pools they make sure

the change rooms and toilets

are accessible. But they some-

times forget about the water.

“This should be taken into

account, not just for disabled,

but for anyone with mobility

problems. For example, elderly

people, people with an injury

and of course disabled people.

Even elite athletes who need

the water to help with their

rehabilitation can have trouble

getting into the pool.”

There are a number of

ways to help people get into

the water, and Harrison says the best is a ramp

– if possible.

“The ideal is to have a ramp with rails,” she

says. “Hoists and things are great, but with a

ramp the person can get down there themselves.

People can take their crutches into the water, or

we can put them in a water wheelchair and take

them down as well.”

If the pool is already built without a ramp, a

hoist is the next best option.

“It’s not ideal compared to a ramp,” she says.

“Hoists are slower, the people might be embar-

rassed, and they’re in less control of the situation.

Sometimes we even get a bed down there to get

them into the water, and hoists which change to

have a bed attachment are also good.”

General public swimming pools and aquatic

centres also need to consider the question of ac-

cess. Harrison has advice regarding the design of

these pools.

“A hoist would be good if you can’t do anything to

the rectangular shape of the pool,” she says. “But

if you’re designing the pool and don’t want to put in

a ramp, use steps instead of a ladder. Offset steps

are best, so it doesn’t effect laps and become dan-

gerous when people swim towards them.”

commercial feature

ACCESSall areasEnabling people with mobility

problems to easily access the

water is an important aspect of

pool design and management

A hydraulic hoist that can be attached to the water supply. All photos courtesy of Julie Harrison

This photo shows a hoist which allows patients to lay down, but it also shows how much pool space is wasted when the

steps are not offset outside the main pool rectangle

This set of steps is offset outside the rectangle of the pool and has clearly marked edges

This ramp’s mid-rail can limit some of the exercises that are possible on the edge of the ramp, but it still has rails down both sides which is good

A photo of the Wesley Hydrotherapy Centre showing the ramp with no mid-rail and with rails down both sides. This is the ideal as people can enter the pool using the rails like “parallel bars” and the edge of the ramp can be used by staff and patients to do various exercises

SPLASH! | 65

In hydrotherapy pools, the handrails can be closer together than

in public pools, enabling the person to use them as supports to

help themselves down into the water.

“The standards say that in public pools the ramp needs to be

wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass,” she says. “But in hydro-

therapy pools, they can be closer together. Then you can use them

like parallel bars and help yourself down.”

For this to be highly effective, it is best to build the handrails

without a mid-rail, as this will also enable the handrails to be used

for other exercises.

Harrison also says that non-slip surfaces are vital – and not just

around the pool, but for the pool interior as well.

“Non-slip surfaces are extremely important on the bottom of

the pool and the ramp. You might not notice they’re slippery until

they’re wet, so they defi nitely have to be non-slip.”

While pebblecrete is generally a non-slip surface, it can sometimes

be too abrasive for patients’ feet, so they may need foot protection.

“Some would wear socks,” says Harrison. “Others might wear

surf shoes, or those latex bathing cap type socks, or even an old

pair of Velcro joggers if they’re really disabled.”

A final point she makes is to ensure the edging on the steps

is clearly marked in a colour distinct from the colour of the

steps themselves.

Dips and dunks: accessing pools and spasThe following section of this feature was originally published

in Independent Living: The Offi cial Journal of Independent

Living Centres, Australia. It was written by Christine Cheung,

an occupational therapist working for the Independent Living

Centre NSW, an organisation providing free advice on products

and equipment to make life easier for people with disabilities.

This article deals with both residential and commercial issue

of access. The Independent Living Centre has a comprehensive

database of 6000 items available at www.ilcnsw.asn.au.

Pools and spas are great for exercise and relaxation, so get-

ting in and out easily by using assistive technology will help

maximise their use.

Twenty per cent of Australian homes have a backyard pool or

spa. As people get older they fi nd it increasingly diffi culty getting

into and out of their pool. Younger people with disabilities use pools

and spas as relaxation and therapy. Finding easy ways to move into

the water and out will maximise use of owning a pool for exercis-

ing, relaxation and social occasions. Rather than having the pool

remain idle, the long term social, safety and health benefi ts of

adapting existing pools will usually justify the cost.

Rails

Climbing in and out of the pool using existing steps, poses one of

the greatest diffi culties with a pool. New steps can be retrofi tted

with hand rails to both aboveground and in-ground pools. Handrails

on pool steps provide assistance with balance and support from a

standing position when moving from the pool deck into the water

and out again. AH Pierce Pool Supplies have a range of grabrails

that can be anchored to the existing concrete to provide stability.

AH Pierce Pool Supplies have a stainless steel handrail with

a 38mm diameter for steps with a vertical rise between 660mm

and 850mm. The handrail height is installed between 850mm and

865mm from the fl oor surface. Handrail extensions are required

on the top landing of the stairs, but are not required at the bottom

landings. Installing handrails will require draining the pool. Issues

Melbourne is renowned for its ability to successfullydevelop and operate major sport facilities!Now you have the opportunity to learn, first hand, from leading Australian experts in their field, how to successfullydevelop and manage the process of establishing international level sport facilities. The 2nd Annual International SportFacility Management Program provides practical information and knowledge in the conception, planning, design,construction, establishment and operation of major sport facilities.

The four day workshop represents an ideal opportunity to learn first hand from leading sport facility managers,architectural practitioners, quantity surveyors, and project managers, on how to conceptualise, plan, project manageand establish major sports facilities that will have a lasting legacy for all users.

This program will coincide with the 12th FINA World Championship and the Australian Grand Prix.

Who should attend?Government Officials, CEOs, Facility Operators, Project Managers, Event Managers, Builders and Architects.

Benefits of attending• Experience the most comprehensive sport facility management program of its kind

• Establish relationships with a wide network of international industry colleagues

• Gain a comprehensive manual of information checklists and tools based on knowledge developed over the last tenyears by industry experts

• Join the architects and facility managers of Melbourne’s major sport facilities for an exclusive tour with insiderinformation on the construction and operation processes

• Enjoy beautiful Melbourne, Australia’s sporting capital

Program StructureThe program consists of 6 modules delivered over 4 days in a workshop style format with case studies and tours ofMelbourne’s major sport facilities.

This unique workshop is limited in numbers to ensure quality of experience for participants so you will need to registerearly to ensure your attendance.

Cost

US$4,250Early Bird Special 10% off if registered before 19th January 2007

Register your interest

To register your interest to receive the Official Program Brochure andRegistration Form please visit www.mssrm.com.au(click on the link and enter your details) or contact The MelbourneSchool of Sport & Recreation Management office on +61 3 9926 1300or e-mail: admin@mssrm.com.au

The 6 Modules include

International Trends, Strategic andLegacy Planning

Concept Planning, Feasibility Study,Finance and Business Planning

Design and Documentation

Project Management

Facility Establishment

Facility Operations

SPLASH! | 67

commercial feature

of water wastage and costs of refi lling the average pool might be

seen as a barrier for some people. Based on the current Sydney

Water charges, the cost of fi lling the average 40,000 litre pool is

$50 to $55. [This is of course, a more serious issue in some areas

during the current water crisis - Ed.]

Step Entry System

A step entry system can be applied to vinyl steel framed or modu-

lar resin above-ground pools. The Confer-Step Connector System

from the United States is a fl ight of 800mm wide evenly spaced

steps which projects 800mm into the pool. The height to top of the

step is 1200mm with each step riser being 275mm. It has plastic

handrails on both sides. The Confer-Step is designed for use in

fl at-bottom pools only. It snaps easily together for installation. AH

Pierce Pool Supplies have a moulded fi breglass entry step which is

shaped to snugly fi t the radius walls of your pool. The widest step

is at the top entry point where there is also stainless steel, side

handrail for support.

Hoist Access

The basic pool hoist consists of a mast which is vertical to the

ground and a boom pole that is attached to the top end of the mast,

which has a seat at the free end. The seat is raised and lowered for

access to the water. Pool hoists are either permanently fi xed to the

pool surround, removable or mobile. The Aqualift water-powered

pool hoist and the Arjo Pool lift allow the hoist to be lifted out of a

base plate and stored away when not in use. The Bluone Ibis Pool

Access chair is on castors, and the Greenhouse Teal Pool lift comes

in two models – one on castors and the other fi xed.

It is recommended to locate a pool hoist between 125mm and

350mm from the edge of the pool, depending on the width of the

gutter. Suffi cient poolside deck space must remain around the

hoist seat so that transfer from a wheelchair or mobility device

can be made. Clear deck space beside the hoist chair should be at

least one metre and extend forward a minimum of 920mm from the

rear of the seat. The slope of clear deck space must not be greater

than 1:48 so that sitting transfers from a wheelchair to the hoist

seat are easy and safe while still allowing water to drain away from

the deck. Locating the hoist where the water level is not deeper

than 1200mm provides a suitable depth for a carer to assist from a

standing position in the water.

The hoist should have a seat that will stop between 400mm

to 500mm from the decking surface when the seat is in a raised

position. This will allow a person in a wheelchair to transfer into

a pool hoist seat. The basic seat is a moulded plastic seat without

arms. A seat with a back will help more users to operate the hoist

independently. Foot rests which move together with the seat pro-

vide more stability. The addition of arms provides more support

whilst the hoist is in motion. The Arjo Pool lift has encircling arm-

rests. Removable or lift-up armrests allow space for a transfer

from a wheelchair.

Hoists must be designed so that the seat will submerge to a

minimum of 450mm below the stationary water level. This ensures

adequate buoyancy for the user, making it easier to get on and off

the seat. Most pool hoists have a load capacity of 140kg. The Ibis

pool and spa hoist can manage a weight up to 200kg.

Water-powered and mechanical hoists are operated by a lever

control that has a pump action or wind-up handle. These can only

be attendant controlled. Battery-powered hoists use a hand-held

control unit that can be attendant or user-operated. Look for hoist

controls that can be operated with one hand and do not require

tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.

Ramp Access

Consider a ramp when installing a new pool or renovating an exist-

ing pool. Ideally, the ramp should be at least a metre wide with a

maximum of 1:14 gradient. The fl oor surface does not need to be

slip resistant. The surface should be smooth to prevent damage to

bare skin. Sloped entries should extend to 600mm to 750mm below

the water level for the user to gain buoyancy. A level landing at both

the top and bottom of the ramp is needed to provide turning space

for a wheelchair user. Adding a solid wall on the side closest to

the water will enhance safety. Handrails on both sides of the ramp

provide support for people walking on the ramp.

Pool surround surfaces

Slip resistant surfaces around the pool are essential. The look of

traditional terracotta tiles can be achieved with the Daniel Robertson

range from Prestige Bricks and Pavers. These tiles are also stain and

salt water resistant. The Aqua deck slip resistant paving made from

polymers, cork granules and rubber is comfortable underfoot. This

fl oor covering consists of textured raised patterns in either round or

diamond shaped studs which provide high friction when wet. Another

option is installing individual plastic studs on a bladed shaft embed-

ded into a substrate such as concrete or pebblecrete. The pathfi nder

slip grips are made from thermo plastic polyurethane, providing slip

resistance which is also abrasion resistant.

TEAL POOL LIFTThe portable pool lift for easy safe

dignified access to your pool

1Strauss Place, South Grafton 2460Phone: 0412 986 882 Fax: (02) 6642 6279

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED

68 | SPLASH!

Dreamworld is opening WhiteWater World, an action-packed

water park mixing adrenaline pumping thrills with family-

style fun in an Aussie-beach themed environment.

Dreamworld says this is the most technologically advanced “wa-

ter ride park” in the world, and the only one boasting all four of the

hottest waterslides.

The 4ha, $60 million development is located next door to Dream-

world. Initially, patrons will be able to buy a two-park pass, but even-

tually entry tickets will be interchangeable between the two parks.

Rides include one of only two LIM powered rocket coasters in

the world, the only eight-lane Octopus Racer in existence, as well

as the thrilling Green Room and RIP

ride. There will also be a Nickelo-

deon family area.

Dreamworld CEO, Stephen Gregg,

says WhiteWater World provides a

unique opportunity for Macquarie Lei-

sure to capitalise on the strong demand for water-based attractions

on the Gold Coast and maximise returns from existing land holdings.

“The opportunities for cross-marketing will give the new park a

major head start, enabling it to leverage from the existing Dream-

world customer base, marketing spend and high profi le,” Gregg says.

Raym

ond

Terra

ce, N

SW p

ool c

ompl

ex.

• Design build for each individual application to maximizeease of operation, optimising safety and health.

• Extends swimming season.• SAVES WATER by reducing evaporation,

subsequently saving on heating andchemicals costs.

• Reduces humidity and condensation inindoor pools and reduces subsequentair handling costs.

• Blankets and reel systems still in use since 1989.

Email: ben@iancoombes.com.au Website: www.iancoombes.com.au

The MacBALL Heat SaverInsulating Pool Blanket System

New South Wales Distributor:

Unit 1, 28 Vore St, Silverwater NSW 2128Freephone 1800 249 982

Motorised underbenchstorage reel system.

For enquiries outside NSW contact:

25 Grant St, Oakleigh 3166 Victoria, Freephone 1800 007 893

Water-wise water world for Gold CoastWhiteWater World opens this

December – the fi rst new theme

park on the Gold Coast in 14 years

– and the most water effi cient.

commercial feature

The Green Room nearing completion

SPLASH! | 69

Gregg also says that responsible and

sustainable water management practice

was top of mind and that the park would

incorporate the very latest environment-

friendly technology available worldwide.

In an independent, third party water ef-

fi ciency audit conducted by Environmental

Resources Management Australia (ERM),

WhiteWater World has been given the high-

est effi ciency rating possible for a water-

park, which will further add to the world

class standing of the facility.

“The fi ltration system alone will reduce

annual water wastage from backwashing

by more than 90 percent compared to tradi-

tional sand fi ltration systems,” Gregg says.

“WhiteWater World’s annual fi ltration

requirement will be around 303,619 litres

for the entire park compared to 22,642,551

litres required by the conventional system.

That’s a saving of about 10 Olympic swim-

ming pools or 560 backyard swimming

pools every year,” he says.

WhiteWater World will be one of the most

shaded waterparks in the world and will

incorporate “slide splash guards” to reduce

water lost through high volume usage.

The park has been designed so that heavy

splash areas for waterslides and all inter-

active play deck areas drain water back into

the pool systems below.

Traditionally, waterparks around the

world have operated on high rate sand

fi ltration (HRS). WhiteWater World uses the

fi rst Australian installation of Regenerative

Media Filtration (RM), the most effi cient

fi ltration system available.

WhiteWater World will include two deten-

tion ponds designed to capture and store

stormwater runoff. These ponds will be

used to irrigate the park’s landscaping sys-

tem with the ability to extend use to supply

toilet fl ushing requirements in the future.

Other initiatives include using perennial

plants, night-watering of gardens, AAA

water saving devices and a trial of water-

less toilets which could potentially save up

to 20,000 litres of water per day.

The new water ride park will boost the

local economy creating over 250 jobs dur-

ing the construction phase and over 120

ongoing jobs while in operation.

Ph: 1300 796 759 Fax: 1300 796 759Web Site: www.swimplex.com.auEmail: sales@swimplex.com.auOffices: 32 Split Solitary Rd, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

95 Griffin Rd, Orange NSW 2800Warehouse: 2/33 Lawson Crescent, Coffs Harbour 2450

LANE ROPESSwimplex laneropes have exceptionalwave quelling characteristics.

SWIMPLEXWETDECKGRATEDurable, Non-slip, Wave-breakingNOW IT'S CURVED, TOO!

STARTINGPLATFORMSAttractive models to enhance the look of any pool.

INTERACTIVEWATER PLAYGROUNDSWater parks and water slides.

Stephen Gregg, Dreamworld CEO

commercial feature

70 | SPLASH!

Engineered Performance and Reliability

WATERCOPUMPS

Waterco’s hydraulically efficient pumps are designed for maximum output with minimal power requirements

High grade mechanical seal

Clear pump lid for easy inspection of the strainer basket

Quick connect barrel unions

Heavy-dutymotor for reliable performance

Stablesupport base

Hydraulicallyefficient impeller and diffuser

Built in strainer basket to protect the pump from incoming debris

UV stabilised and corrosion resistant

Single piece pump body for extra

strength

www.waterco.com

QLD07 3299 9900

WA08 9273 1900

SA / NT08 8244 6000

NZ09 525 7570

NSW (Head Office)02 9898 8686

VIC / TAS03 9764 1211

Great ideas, improved products

and the latest innovations from

manufacturers, suppliers and

service providers to make your work

easier and your customers happier.

New Products

FREO READY FOR SUMMERBARBOO Products have just released its newest water feature for the swimming pool market: the Fremantle.

The sleek and stylish Fremantle has dimensions of 2200mm wide by 1300mm high by 700mm deep. It comes in Sandstone or Charcoal col-ours and lights can also be installed so it can continue to add excitement once the sun goes down.

As with all Barboo water features, the Fremantle is made of GRC (glass reinforced concrete) which is one-third the weight of conventional concrete yet three times stronger, making for easy installation. For further information call national sales manager, Adam Marling, on (08) 8326 7977 or visit www.barboo.com.au.

Taking a leaf from nature’s bookINSPIRED by the graceful shape of curved leaves, the unique beach chairs and side tables from the Leaf collec-tion are an innovative addition to the Dedon range. Leaf’s natural shape with a division running down its length, offers two gentle depressions for relaxed lounging. Ideal for poolside relaxation, the internal padding in the chair

adds to the comfort fac-tor, while its elegant look

allows it to double as a garden feature. For more information phone (03)

8803 8870 or visit www.domo.com.au.

SPLASH! | 71

product releases

NO MOZZIES WITH FIRE AND WATER AS well as setting the mood with the relaxing sound of trickling water, Waterwerks’ Fire & Water Fountain has an integrated oil torch with a long-burning wick. This is perfect for burning citronella to keep pesky mozzies from nibbling guests’ toes and helping ensure a delightful night of outdoor entertaining.

The Fire & Water Fountain is 89cm high and 39cm wide, has a stylish polished granite effect and, like all Waterwerks water features, is designed to recirculate water with no splash. For more information visit www.water-werks.com.au or call 1800 552 777.

Party timeTHE new AquaGlow Floating Light Garden adds wonder-ful colour to gardens and poolside areas. These fabu-lous and fun accessories light up the night when placed into any vessel of water, and can be enjoyed out of the water, too.

Constructed of soft vinyl, the colourful lights are avail-able in a variety of designs and in five bright colours: purple, orange, green, yellow, and pink. Safely powered by two simple button-cell batteries (included), the Aqua-Glow Floating Light Garden turns on with the simple press of a button and includes a one-hour automatic shut off.

For more information visit the GAME website at www.game-group.com.

72 | SPLASH!

product releases

The power broomMAGNOR have released a new product to add to their exist-ing range of pool and spa maintenance equipment, the Power Broom adaptor. Two adaptors come together, blister packed with an attractive backing card with the distinct Magnor colouring.

The “Power Broom Adaptor” assists in keeping the pool broom against the pool wall and floor. The adaptor fits pool brooms supplied by Magnor with a size of approximately 32mm x 12mm. To fit the Power Broom Adaptor, place the clip edges on either side of the handle and on the back of the broom and press firmly on the opposite sides. It will securely lock into place.

For optimum performance, use long strokes on the pool floor and short backwards and forward strokes against the pool wall.

For more information call (08) 8264 9011 or email info@magnor.com.au.

VERSATILE SWIM SPA COMING IN JANUARY

IN January 2007, Endless Spas will release an exclusive new model of its award-winning End-less Swim Spa, featuring indul-gent additions such as a reclining seat for therapeutic back massage, and an optional neck insert that targets the shoulders and neck.

According to Endless Spas co-founder and head designer, War-ren Anderson, the new Swimming

Machine model has been designed to further solidify the Endless Swim Spa’s reputation as a versatile, year-round health and leisure investment.

“People already know that a single Swim Spa can be tailored to suit therapeutic, sports, relaxation or leisure purposes. An easy example of this is diverting the water flow through the hydrotherapy massage jets to a monster jet for a more powerful level of massage,” he says.

“What we’ve done with the new Swimming Machine is increase the massage, relaxation and user-friendly options for those who sim-ply want to take time out, or who require recovery assistance from sports training or illness. It’s now more multi-purpose than ever. An increased depth allows use for therapeutic exercise. And you can of course use it to take time out and relax, or for the kids as their very own mini-pool,” says Anderson.

It will retail from $23,000. For more information call (03) 9874 7211 or visit www.endlessspa.com.au.

SPLASH! | 73

product releases

NEW LIFE FROM POOL SYSTEMSPOOL Systems is continuing the roll-out of in-novative Life Spa & Hot Tub Essentials products to ensure continued new business opportunities for retailers.

SPA BOOSTER SEATRELEASED because of market demand, the spa booster seat includes suction cups to prevent the seat from fl oating or moving

within the spa. Firmness and comfort is easily adjusted by the amount of water used. Manufac-tured from a heavy-duty heat resistant material the booster seat will enable all family members to enjoy the spa.

SPA MASSAGERTHIS is a compact, ergonomic, handheld massag-er. The roller balls are ideal for massaging the neck, back and shoulders. It comes in an attractively packaged tin and a 12 piece coun-ter display to gain maximum exposure in the retail environment.

AMBIENCE SPAWAREMADE from spa-safe shatterproof thermo-plastic, these multiple LED-lit wine fl utes are the perfect accessory for the social spa owner. Available in pairs, the wines fl utes are made with a scratch proof silicon base. SPA HANDOVER KITSTHESE kits come attractively packaged in a consumer-friendly carry carton. Kits can be cus-tomised to suit different customer specifi cations. Contact your account manager or the Pool Systems call centre for more information.

SPA COVER WIPESTHIS unique cleaning formula-tion removes dust and grime from spa cover surfaces. Protecting spa covers from harmful UV sunlight, the Life spa cover wipes restore, protect and beautify vinyl and leather surfaces. The specially formulated wipes are available in a stylish 25-piece dispensing tube.

SPA PEARLS LIFE Spa Pearls are a specially formulated spa and bath crystal that will enhance the home spa experience. These crystals are rich with emol-lients that will soothe and relax tired muscles with minerals and body softeners. Spa Pearls are available in Kiwi, Apple Pear, Passion Flower, Vanilla Tu-berose and Caribbean Nights.

74 | SPLASH!

product releases

Blue Circle Southern supplies the Swimming Pool Industry in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, with a high grade

White Silica Sand/Pebble in a variety of gradings, ideal for filtration, rendering and finishing of swimming pools and spas.

To compliment our White Pool Pebble we offer a range of "Coloured Crystal" which is a resin coated glass to further

enhance the finish of your Swimming Pool or Spa.

The Crystal is available in a variety of colours, and sizes (0.300 micron - 10mm). and has a "Five Year Warranty

against UV and Discolouring".

Brisbane Head Office: T: 07 3272 9898 F: 07 3272 9040

A range of quality products.One reassuring symbol.

THE AQUAMAID™

CHECK & BALL VALVEThe Aquamaid Check Valve and BallValve are for use in swimming pools,spas, solar heating systems, irrigation

and other industrial applications.

BENEFITS:• Positive Seal/Prevents Backflow• Low Friction Loss• No Corrosion• Fully Serviceable• Ball & Check Valve Interchangeable• Australian Made

NEW IMPROVED

PTY.LTD.

290 Boundary Road, Braeside,Victoria 3195

Telephone: (03) 9580 9055Fax: (03) 9580 7156

http://www.aquamaid.com.auemail: aquamaid@aquamaid.com.au

NEW FROM AQUACHEKAQUACHEK has announced the introduction of two new products. The fi rst is a Salt Generator Kit, which meets a need for various tests that are critical to salt generator owners. The AquaChek Salt Generator Kit is a combination of three separate tests, packaged conveniently together in one box. The kit contains one bottle of AquaChek Yellow, which tests for Free Chlorine, pH, Total Alkalin-ity and Cyanuric Acid; one bottle of

AquaChek White Salt Titrators, which test for sodium chloride and 20 AquaTrend Phosphate tests, which test for phosphates in pool water. A 24-page salt chlorinator genera-tor treatment guide written in English, French and Spanish is also included.

The second product is the TruTest handheld meter for digital pool and spa water testing. Coupling test strip and digital technologies, AquaChek TruTest digital test strip reader keeps the testing simple while offering greater accuracy. The meter tests the three most commonly tested parameters: Free Chlorine, pH and Total Alkalinity. Results for Free Bromine can also easily be calculated by using the Free Chlorine reading. For more information go to www.AquaChek.com.

Colourful, weather-resistant play EMPEX Watertoys has in-troduced the new Aquadek T410-242 aquatic play structure, which has re-cently been installed in the Kowloon Tsai Municipal Pool in Hong Kong. It has stair access and slides for toddlers, preschoolers and young children, providing hours of safe water play. Fabricated from non ferrous materials, the structure is specifi cally designed for outdoor use in shallow chlorinated pools and offers superior lightning resistance plus a lifetime warranty against corrosion. As well, the vibrant colours and water effects make this excellent fun for the children to enjoy, while looking terrifi c as a centre piece for aquatic play-grounds. For more information go to www.watertoys.com.

Stylish stoneNEW shipments of marble and travertine have arrived at Sareen Stone. These include Coliseum travertine in the large format 800mm x 400mm x 13mm tiles.

Large-format natural stone tile is in demand for a varie-ty of reasons. Designers like the aesthetics while consum-ers like the natural beauty of a large stone expanse and appreciate the easier main-tenance resulting from fewer grouted joints.

Also newly arrived is the Medici brown marble, a rich chocolate coloured marble with character-istic white veining for undercover use in sizes 400mm x 400mm x 15mm, 600mm x 300mm x 12mm, and 2m x 700mm x 20mm.

To receive a sample, email info@sareenstone.com.au in NSW or jwwhite@sareenstone.com.au in Qld. For more information see www.sareenstone.com.au

Coliseum travertine

Medici brown marble

SPLASH! | 75

DEL OZONE SYSTEMS

DEL OZONESYSTEMS

The ultimate in pool water purification

The ultimate in pool water purification

No more red eyesNo more red eyes

No more green hairNo more green hair

No chemical tasteNo chemical taste

No chemical odourNo chemical odour

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Australia WideAustralia WideContact:

Phillip Green 0414 369 663Paul Weston 0417 642 602

Contact: Phillip Green 0414 369 663Paul Weston 0417 642 602

New family spaBEACHCOMBER Hot Tubs has released the new 378 model, a seven person spa with a cooling seat, enter-ing into the large family size spa segment of the industry. The 378 is a new mold that features the company’s large 89” x 89” size. The focus on safety and useability makes the 378 dimen-sions a popular size within the Beachcomber Hot Tub lineup. For more information see www.beachcomberhottubs.com

FIGHT FIRES WITH POOL WATER MANY thousands of Australian homes in bush fi re prone areas have a ready source of fi re-fi ght-ing water available – their swim-ming pools. The trouble is how to get the water from the pool over the house, into the gutters or onto the fi re.

“The family swimming pool is the ideal fi re fi ghting resource,” says Aussie Pumps product manager, John Whiteley. “It’s normally located close to the house so it makes it easy to fi ll

up the gutters or damp down walls, roofs and any other surface that is potentially combustible,” he says.

Teaming the swimming pool with a reliable fi re pump and hose kit, as recommended by the authorities, means homes can be saved and tragedies adverted.

The Aussie Fire Chief is claimed to be the world’s best lightweight high-pressure fi re pump. The pump comes with a huge 100 psi pressure performance and the ability to pump up to 500 litres per minute. The large fl ow and high pressure gives the Chief the ability to literally drown spot fi res or damp down houses and outbuildings quickly.

The standard Aussie Fire Chief comes with a Honda Japanese built 5.5hp industrial petrol engine. Other drive options are available including Yanmar diesel and big 6hp Vanguard petrol engine for increased performance.

The Fire Chief is the choice of the Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife and the Fire Brigade. It’s also enjoyed tremendous success in export market with fi re fi ghting authorities in Europe using it as a standard.

A free guide on how to use swimming pools and fi re pumps for fi re protection is available from Australian Pump Industries on (02) 9894 4144 or Aussie Pump Distributors throughout Australia.

ROLLING OUT THE COVERS WITH the water crisis sparking unprec-edented demand for pool covers, it helps to make it easier for pool owners to put them on and take them off. To this end, Daisy Pool Covers has just released two new roller options to its popular 5 Star range.

Daisy’s 5 Star A75 is a premium 75mm stationary roller for smaller pools – up to 8 metres by 4.3 metres. It features a sturdy, low-profi le powder-coated aluminium A-frame and hand-wheels, and a 75mm anodised fi xed length single piece tube.

Daisy has also added a stationary freestanding roller for above ground pools to its extensive roller range.

“Installing and retrieving pool covers on large above-ground pools can actually be more diffi cult than it is on similar-sized in-ground pools simply because of the need to lift the cover over the pool,” says Derek Prince, general manager of Daisy Pool Covers.

“Our innovative new 5 Star AGA (above ground adjustable) roller turns it into a simple one-person operation.”

The 5 Star AGA has a strong, wide-based design for stability, and the height of the roller is easily adjusted with simple spring-loaded locking pins.

“Both these new rollers were developed to fi ll gaps we saw in the current range of rollers on the market, and we expect they will meet with strong con-sumer demand and generate signifi cant sales for Daisy distributors,” he says.

For more information call (08) 9358 1155 or emailderek@daisypoolcovers.com.au

Plug in to poolside livingA safe and attractive solution for wet and damp areas, the HPM WS54 narrow body weatherproof single power point is the most recent addition to the Aqua weatherproof range.

The tough and ver-satile Aqua weather-proof range has been specifi cally designed for a range of outdoor applications and is ideal for use around the pool, outdoor entertaining areas, commercial kitch-ens and bathrooms, marinas and outdoor sporting venues. Perfect when space is at a premium, the compact power point is built to fi t into nar-row spaces at home or at work.

The new WS54 has an International Protection rating of IP54 and features a transparent spring-loaded weather-proof fl ap. Its tough polymer casing is impact resistant and UV-stabilised for durability in exposed areas. The WS54 has a number of installation options. The reversible mounting block features three push-out conduit entries as well as a rear drill-out option. The HPM Aqua weatherproof range of-fers a selection of power points, switches and isolators.

The trade list price is $26.50. For more information call HPM Customer Service on 1300 369 777.

SPLASH! | 77

product releases

Easy chemical mixing TERALBA Industries, manufacturers of the Mixquip range of Fluid Mixers and Agitators, has produced a new high perform-ance air-driven mixer for pallet tanks and IBCs.

The new range incorporates an innovative high axial fl ow Super-fl o impellor. This impellor folds to be inserted through the 51mm

BSP bung hole in the centre cap of any standard pallet tank.The Superfl o high axial fl ow impellor directs a jetstream

of liquid towards the centre of the container, lifting any sediment or heavier product from the base and evenly dis-tributing throughout the container. The integrated air valve can be used to adjust air

fl ow which regulates RPM of the impellor. This in turn regulates mixing intensity.

The rummager includes all 316-stainless-steel wetted components and is backed by a money-back guarantee.

For further information, contact Teralba Industries on Freecall 1800 201 373 in Australia, or 07 847 5315 in New Zealand.

RAIN Alert Gauge by water solutions com-pany New Water helps to monitor water tank levels without leaving the home.

It is a measurement device suitable for all vented tanks up to 3m high. National sales manager for New Water, Andrew Stack, says that Rain Alert provides an easy-to-install wireless method for monitoring tank levels.

“The device consists of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter sits on top of the tank, using ‘ultrasonics’ to gauge the level of fl uid in the tank. The receiver, which can be located up to 200m from the tank, is plugged

into a power point with a small LCD panel continuously showing how much water is in your tank,” he says.

“When the tank is below a pre-determined level, the LCD panel will fl ash a ‘Tank Fill’ picture, and when it is almost empty a red warning light will fl ash to indicate the low tank level.

Rain Alert is suitable for rainwater harvesting tanks including New Water’s fl ex-ible Rain Reviva bladder tanks as well as the company’s range of Slimline tanks.

The cost of a standard unit to fi t a tank is $160. New Water is an Australian company which sells innovative, customised

water solutions in the form of grey water recycling and rainwater harvest-ing tanks and systems. The company is currently franchising in NSW.

For more information go to www.newwater.com.au or call 1300 552 695 (1 300 NEW WATER).

EASY MONITORING OF WATER TANK LEVELS

Waterco’s largest commercial fi lter WATERCO has manufactured its larg-est commercial fi bre-

glass fi lter to date. The Hydron SMDD6500

fi lter is capable of effectively removing sus-pended dirt particles from water at a speed of up to 3900 litres per minute at a recommended sand depth of 1200mm. Hydron SMDD6500 fi lters are 3635mm in length and 2244mm high.

Waterco 65mm fi ttingsWATERCO is proud to introduce an extensive range of 65mm fi ttings. 65mm fi ttings provide improved fl ow rate and

less head loss than 50mm fi ttings without the expense of 80mm fi ttings.MPV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Max fl ow rate50mm (2”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51065mm (2 ½”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78080mm (3”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1080

The fl ow characteristics of the 65mm fi ttings and valves make it ideal for Waterco’s Micron Commercial S1050 and S1200 fi lters.

Waterco Hybrid stainless steel pumpWATERCO’S stainless steel pump is the fi rst hybrid of its kind, the pre-strainer is constructed from glass fi lled thermoplastic, while its impel-ler and volute are constructed from grade-316 stainless steel, ensuring a high level of durability in corrosive environments.

Features include • Quiet operation at an average of 66dB for the

4.0kW model, and 74dB for the 5.5kW model;• Can generate a maximum fl ow rate of ap-

proximately 1000lpm for the 4.0kW model, and 1600lpm for the 5.5kW model;

• Can produce a high fl ow rate under in-creased head conditions;

• High quality weather-proof motor – motor shaft is made of grade-431 stainless steel;

• A silicon carbide mechanical seal is available – if required for saltwater or other corrosive applications.

NEW FROM WATERCO

NEW GENERATION SAND FILTERPENTAIR Water has released a new range of onga Pantera Series II Sand Filters. Key features are strength and reliability, coupled with a broad range to cover any pool size, and excellent multiport valves.

The fi lters range in size from 550mm (21”) diameter to 850mm (33”) diameter in 100mm (4”) increments.

“The test regime for this new range was tougher than anything seen before in the industry,” says Simon Coupe, product manager at Pentair Water. “We’ve cycled multiple units of each product in this range over 50,000 times right through their pressure range. When this didn’t break them, we considered them good enough to release to the market.”

Each model was computer shaped for strength by plastics engineers at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Pentair says this shaping has given the range the strongest design in the industry, as well as unparalleled stability from the integral feet. The company also says that the range is utilising proven hardware including the industry leading 40mm and 50mm multiport valves. A 40mm valve is supplied complete with the 21” and 25” models, while a 50mm valve is supplied complete with the 29” and 33” models.

For further information phone Pentair Water Australia toll free on 1800 664 266, Pentair Water New Zealand toll free on 0800 664 269 or visit Onga’s web site at www.onga.com.au.

78 | SPLASH!

Subscribe toAir & Hydraulic Systems ...................................................................61

AquaCal ............................................................................................56

Aquamaid..........................................................................................74

Aquamatics .......................................................................................59

AstralPool ....................................................................................... IBC

Australian Spa Parts .........................................................................75

Austrol Industries .............................................................................53

AquaQuip ..........................................................................................35

Blue Circle Southern .........................................................................74

Clevaquip ..........................................................................................41

Compu Pool Products .......................................................................25

Daisy Pool Covers ............................................................................26

Davey Products .................................................................................58

Dimension One Spas.........................................................................23

Dontek Electrics ................................................................................76

Focus Products .................................................................................31

Greenhouse Health & Sport ..............................................................67

Hi Tech Pacifi c ..................................................................................75

Hurlcon .............................................................................................10

Ian Coombes Ltd ...............................................................................68

Jandy Aqualine .................................................................................73

Jaymac International ........................................................................17

Kreepy Krauly ...................................................................................18

Laticrete............................................................................................64

Lo-Chlor Chemicals ........................................................................IFC

Melb. School of Sport and Rec. Man. ................................................66

Metco (Aqua Products) .....................................................................68

Monarch Pool Systems .....................................................................42

Nationwide Insurance Brokers .........................................................39

Niagara Pool Supplies .................................................................44, 45

Novis Distribution .............................................................................49

NSPI ..................................................................................................16

Pentair Water ....................................................................................63

Pool Controls (Chemigem) ..................................................................6

Pool Pro Products .......................................................................... OBC

Pool Ranger ......................................................................................50

Poolrite Equipment .............................................................................9

Poolstore International ....................................................................12

Premium Quality Pool Products ........................................................20

Rain Drop Products ...........................................................................71

Remco Australia ................................................................................15

SGL Consulting Group .......................................................................60

Signature Spas ...................................................................................4

Spa Electrics .....................................................................................52

Spa Net .............................................................................................33

Sunbather .........................................................................................29

Swimplex Aquatics ...........................................................................69

The Pool People ................................................................................72

Waterco ......................................................................................14 ,70

Waterway Australia ...........................................................................47

Zeolite Australia ................................................................................43

Zodiac Group ....................................................................................55

Ad Index

More than 35 years of experience in the pool industry, as a manufacturer and distributor of pool components. AstralPool means confidence. From a simple skimmer to a complex automated filtration system or the entire pool. AstralPool means solutions for every pool. More than 20,000 pool professionals in 170 countries count on AstralPoolevery day. AstralPool means partnership. 200,000 pools are equipped with our material every year. AstralPool means peace of mind.

AstralPool is your quality brand made in Europe. We make all pools possible.

Astral Equipment Australia PTY. LTD.35, Darnick Str. Underwood, QLD 4119 Tel. 617 384 18500 Fax 617 384 15300

e-mail: jcorbett@astralpool.com.auwww.astralpool.com

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