The problem of chloramines in swimming pool water—Technological research experience

Chloramines in pool water are disinfection byproducts that are responsible for the unpleasant smell in the pool hall and the irritation syndrome in swimmers. The mandatory control of the concentration of chloramines in Polish pools came into force in June 2016. In some European countries, it was as early as 1997. The problem of their high concentrations and the ensuing adverse effect on bathers and pool employees has not yet been solved. The main objective of this research is comparing the presence of chloramines in a selected pool after every change in its treatment system. The special attention paid to the appropriate quality of the water is dictated by the intended use of the pool—for rehabilitation and for toddlers. The physicochemical and bacteriological tests of the pool water allowed to evaluate the quality of the water after six stages of tests. A special attention was paid to the changes in the concentration of chloramines with regard to the concentration of free chlorine and redox potential. The comparison allowed to determine that the value of chloramines did not exceed the limit of 0.2 mg Cl₂/L [23–25] and 0.3 mg Cl₂/L [20] due to the disinfection with sodium hypochlorite, irradiation with UV light, and application of a 1-d filtration cycle.