No matter what kind of Aquatic Facility you have, there’s a chemical controller involved. Invented in the 1970’s, Water Quality Controllers proved their position on the filter pump room; However, in the last couple of decades, the Controller has been given a back seat because of Disinfection Biproducts, and it’s become a growing problem that has become a billion-dollar business worldwide, with very little progress on keeping DPB’s in check. I’m going to discuss the fundamental issue that is being overlooked in the industry and show you how to mitigate DPB’s in the first place, without the need for Secondary Sanitation, Extraction fans, or any other methodology in the works.

Let’s start with identifying the fundamental issue: Pools with DPB issues are not completing their chemical reactions fast enough…Why? Simply put, your chemical feeders are too small.

With an ORP Controller, that ORP reading should be stable all day long. If your ORP value drops off, this is the sole reason for your DPB proliferation. Your chemical pumps are not maintaining steady pH and ORP levels due to under sizing. The larger the pump, the better control, and then improvement of your ORP. Remember, ORP is a qualitative measurement of your Sanitizer, not a qualitative one.

I have done the research and can definitively say that the larger your chem feed is, the better your water quality will be. Higher ORP levels can be achieved with lower chlorine residuals, and DPB’s can no longer be produced that can affect air quality. What if I told you that a pool with an optimized ORP level can even mitigate a Crypto outbreak much faster than Secondary Sanitation will? A study proved that at an ORP level of 865 mV, Crypto will be mitigated within 30 minutes, not hours like the industry wants you to believe. Large feeders, and controller programming can allow your pool to stay not only sparkling clear, but also reduce downtimes from fecal incidents!

How large should your Chemical Feeders be? First, for pH control – The feeder should be capable of mitigating the pH level. This can vary between bodies of water – a swimming pool does need as much acid feed as a water park attraction would – the aeration produced by water slides, wave pools, and interactive features produces a much larger pH demand, and requires much larger chemical feed rates to achieve a stable pH level. Remember, if your pH levels cannot be maintained properly, all bets are off for stable ORP control.

Now for Sanitizer Feed – Liquid or Tablet Feed, you need to be able to complete the chemical reactions needed to maintain better ORP. If your Pool is sized to the MINIMUM standards set by the DOH, you are not going to achieve the best air and water quality. Those reactions are taking longer to achieve, and with the organic demand everchanging, your pool becomes a victim of what I call “Sanitation Deficit”, which is the leading cause of DBP production. Double the sizing of your chemical feeders, and you’ll notice an improvement, but it’s still not enough.

Since 2001, I have investigated this matter and developed the HCF Specification back in 2012. HCF, or "High-Capacity Feed" Sanitation, is a set of Feeder Sizing and Controller Parameters that have been a game changer in the Water Quality Industry. Not all controllers are HCF compliant, and you’ll be surprised on how much more Chemical feed you need, but in the end, DBP’s such as Di and Tri-Chloramines will be a thing of the past. That UV system or Extractor Fan can be put to bed, and your Aquatic Facility can benefit from the best air and water quality possible.

For more information on transforming your Aquatic Facility – please reach out to North American Filtration’s Link Automation Division at 201-236-1720. We can qualify your Water Quality System and assist you in improving your air and water quality.