UV Treatment Vastly Improves Water and Air Quality at Hydrotherapy Pool in Australia

Since installing the Hanovia (UK) UV in the Hydrotherapy Pool the therapists and patients at Calvary Rehabilitation Hospital near Adelaide, Australia have noticed a dramatic improvement in water and air quality.

As it is a rehabilitation hospital, the hydrotherapy pool plays a very important part in the therapies offered. Maintenance Manager Richard Tothill prides himself on the condition and upkeep of all hospital facilities, including the pool. It was this commitment to excellence that led him to realise that the pool required some attention.

He found that the air in the hydrotherapy centre smelled quite strongly of chloramines (also known as combined chlorine), the pungent chemical created when chlorine reacts with organic compounds introduced into the water by swimmers. The chloramine odour is not only unpleasant for both the patients and therapists who run the sessions, but can also be a health risk if inhaled regularly. Richard even discovered that the hospital had to hire more hydrotherapy staff so that their shifts in the pool could be rotated more frequently, as many of them felt nauseous after prolonged periods. This inevitably led to higher staffing costs.

Richard decided to investigate what could be done to address the problem. “We did a fair bit of research,” said Richard. “We looked at ozone, but our research showed that it may not be as effective at reducing chloramines as UV treatment.” While researching on the internet, Richard came across Hanovia and its Australian distributor, Fluidquip. He discovered that a Hanovia UV system had been installed by Fluidquip at another rehabilitation hospital in Adelaide and decided to contact them.

“Going on their recommendation, I decided to go with Fluidquip and Hanovia and we have been happy ever since! From start to finish the process was very professional and the installation now looks absolutely brilliant.”

Now, when Richard steps out on the pool deck he observes: “You can notice how fresh the air smells now. Many of the hydrotherapists have commented on the improvement.”

UV is now a well-established method of swimming pool water treatment, from hydrotherapy pools like that at the Calvary Rehabilitation Hospital, to full-sized competition pools. This growth in popularity has been largely due to UV's reliability and ease of use. Another major factor is the reduced reliance on traditional chemical treatments it affords, particularly chlorine. UV is also highly effective at destroying chlorine-resistant microorganisms like Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

Calvary Rehabilitation Hospital is a purpose-built, 65‐bed facility providing in-patient and day-patient rehabilitation services. It is a progressive healthcare organisation that is committed to restoring an individual’s quality of life to its optimal level. Together with Calvary North Adelaide, Calvary Wakefield and Calvary Central District Hospitals, the group makes up the second largest private healthcare provider in South Australia.