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Water Quality Certification
We offer this
service to those providing drinking water and leisure water facilities
and those licensed to discharge wastewater to sewer or the environment. CALL US FOR A
QUOTATION
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Water
Quality Certification and Water Quality Testing Treatment of the
following water types
Drinking
Water : Leisure Water : Wastewater/Effluent
Drinking Water
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Drinking water must by law meet quality standards. Water
providers have legal responsibilities to ensure that drinking water
meet the statutory quality parameters set out in the legislation.
Relevant regulations:
- S.I. No. 278 of 2007
- The Drinking Water Directive
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Typical Water Quality Issues
- Cryptosporidium
- Giardia
- Chlorine by-products
- Chlorine
- Tastes
- Odours
- Turbidity
- Colour
Banish with Reverse
Osmosis
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Leisure Water
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Bathing water such as beaches and pools under municipal
control, must meet the quality standards set out in the Bathing Water Directive. However, leisure
water quality of privately operated leisure centres, as indicated by
relevant chemical parameters and by hygiene indicators, such as E.
coli and Pseudomonas, is not subject to legal control, except insofar
as such facilities present a threat to public health.
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Many privately operated pools and spas register
to the White Flag Standard and conform to the recommendations of the
Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group.
Relevant regulations:
- Bathing Water Directive
- Public Health Regulations
White Flag Standard promoted by:
ILAM Ireland (Institute of Leisure
and Amenity Management)
EVIAN mineral water
An Taisce
The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG)
There are no regulations in existence which apply directly to
leisure water used in pools and spas. The Bathing Water Directive does
not apply here, though public health regulations are relevant should
leisure water pose a threat to health.
There are guidelines in
place and voluntary schemes such as the White Flag administered by
ILAM. Those leisure centres registered to the White Flag standard are
required to check their leisure water quality regularly.
The British Standard
Institute Code of Practice: PAS39:2003 is relevant. The Pool Water
Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) also recommend controls be placed on
pool chemicals a possible pathogens.
There are two broad areas which may require attention:
1. Chemical content of the pool or spa water
2. The issue of hygiene
1.Chemicals
In order to maintain leisure water in a satisfactory condition,
chemicals are added, mainly chlorine or bromine to ensure optimum
hygiene practices. Ozone is also used to disinfect leisure water.
Chlorine is most commonly used as it is very effective and
persists, maintaining its disinfection power long after dosing.
It is generally necessary to control the pH of leisure water for
bather comfort and to reduce corrosivity. Addition of acids and bases
are frequently required to maintain the pH in the region of 7.2 to 7.4.
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2.
Hygiene
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Micro-organisms
that are classified as pathogens must be controlled in leisure water.
Those targeted are E. Coli, pseudomonas and staphylococcus.
Pseudomonas can be difficult to control and is known to cause throat
and ear infections in those who succumb. Chlorine is very effective
in controlling these pathogens, bromine less so. Constant vigilance
is important in the pool operator's endeavours to maintain leisure
water quality at the highest international standards.
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Pseudomonas by Visual
Immunoassay (VIA)
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Coliform - Free
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Coliform - Contaminated
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The range of data requiring checks and the limits are given in
the table below:
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Parameter
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PWTAG recommended
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Reason for ranges
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Free chlorine mg/L
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Min. of 0.5 but should
be between 1.5 and 2.0 mg/L chlorine
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Effective kill of
micro-organisms
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Total chlorine mg/L
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Less than twice the free
chlorine level
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Measure of the original
chlorine dosing level
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Combined chlorine mg/L
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Should be less than half
the free-chlorine value
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Measure of the
amine/ammonia load.
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Calcium hardness mg/L
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>40 mg/L and <150
mg/L CaCO3
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Pool non-epoxy cement
corrosion
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pH
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7.2-7.8
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Ensure effective
chlorine action and flocculation
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Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3)
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>75 and <200 mg/L
CaCO3
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pH adjustment downwards.
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General coliforms
(CFU/100 ml)
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<1
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Health and safety
requirements
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E. coli (CFU/100 ml)
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<1
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Health and safety
requirements
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Present/Absent)
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Absent
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Health and safety
requirements
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Conductivity (?S/cm)
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<4300?S/cm
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See TDS
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TDS (mg/L)
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No more than 1000mg/L
above the intake water
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High TDS does marginally
encourage corrosion (<3000 mg/L)
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Sulphate (mg/L)
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As low as possible.
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Corrosion of non-epoxy
pool cement/grout
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Temperature (Celsius)
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27-30 Celsius
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Bather comfort
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Turbidity (NTU)
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None. Guide <1.0 NTU
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Appearance of the water
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TVC MPN/ml
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<100
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Hygiene indicator
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The issue of corrosivity may be an issue for pool
infra-structure. High sulphates will affect cement grouting. Low pH low
alkalinity, low hardness will mean that leisure water is corrosive and
will attack metal pipe-work, though stainless steel will not be
affected.
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Wastewater/Effluent
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Wastewater, whether
discharged directly to sewer or directly to a watercourse or to ground,
must meet quality standards by law. Those discharging directly to the
environment must have treatment works in place to reduce organic
loads.
There are limits on
solids and on nutrients entering watercourses. There are also limits
on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
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 WWTP
Aeration
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Relevant Regulations:
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Bathing Waters (76/160/EEC),
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The Water Framework Directive: http://www.wfdireland.ie/documents-wfd.html
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Dangerous Substances (76/464/EEC),
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Freshwater Fish (78/659/EEC),
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Shellfish Waters (79/923/EEC),
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Groundwater (80/68/EEC),
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Drinking Water (80/778/EEC),
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Urban Waste Water Treatment (91/271/EEC)
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Nitrates (91/676/EEC).
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Framework for Community Action in the Field of
Water Policy (2000/60/EC)
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Management of Bathing Water Quality (2006/7/EC)
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Waste
Hierarchy
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