education and events
Water Quality Courses
No one wants to swim in an unclean pool. Learn about disinfection, filtration, testing, and more to keep your pool clean, safe, and enjoyable.
On-Demand
Long after the pool is built and the excitement of this beautiful new addition to their home is completed, the client is left with one on-going issue: water quality. No matter how beautiful the water feature is, if the water quality is poor, the experience is greatly diminished. Learn how to improve water quality and prevent recreational water illnesses while simultaneously reducing the chlorine and pH chemicals in the water. Provide your client with the best possible water quality for a long-term satisfied customer.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe chlorine, ozone, and ultraviolet sterilization technologies for the watershaping industry.
- List facts and fallacies of alternative water purification technologies.
- Outline a strategy for properly sizing ozone generators, injectors, contact tanks, and other components.
- Discuss how to market, value, and sell advanced water treatment systems.
CEUs: 1
Course Fee: $39/member and $79/non-member.
Pool openings and the routine filling of swimming pools can be a surprise source of problems for pool operators service and start-up technicians. Source water composition can impact overall swimming pool chemistry and unexpected changes in source water can have large consequences on pool management strategies. This discussion will include the problems associated with using chloraminated water to fill pools, common problems encountered with fill water, such as high total dissolved solids (TDS) and metal concentration, and information on testing interferences.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the different types of source water.
- Define how these sources are managed.
- Discuss what effects your source water can have on the operation of your pool - metals, chloramination, total dissolved solids, nitrates and phosphates, other factors.
- Explain how to test your pool water and how to overcome some common problems encountered when testing.
CEUs: 1
Course Fee: $39/member and $79/non-member.
In this online course, your staff will learn why safety audits are important, as well as how to actually plan and conduct a safety audit. This course will help managers, operators, and service professionals view the facilities they operate with a fresh eye focused on reducing risk. The course also teaches how to formulate corrective action, write audit reports, and conduct follow-ups to ensure the desired corrective actions are taken. Aquatic Facility Audits focuses on these core topics and the online format allows students to learn at their own pace.
Drowning, disease, and injury prevention start with an understanding of specific hazards. This interactive course will engage staff to retain and apply knowledge that will keep your facility safer and prevent pool closure. Purchase of this 2-hour online course includes a printable .pdf Resource Guide. Pre-printed resource guides are available for purchase. Successful completion earns a Record of Completion. CEUS are available.
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding the objectives and types of audits.
- Planning an audit.
- Inspecting the work area and work practices.
- Completing an audit report.
- Conducting audits around the pool, in the pool, in the pump room and storage areas, and in spa facilities.
- Auditing aquatic play features.
- Maintaining facility records, audit forms, and employee records.
- Managing on-site lifeguard operations audits and individual lifeguard skills testing checklists.
CEUs: 2
Course Fee: $50/member and $99/non-member.
Designed for those who operate, manage, or service an aquatic play feature, large or small, the goal of this course is to provide understanding on how to manage facilities with water features. The course focuses on the proper operation of these unique features, as well as risk reduction to the users, employees, and the facility itself.
Learning Objectives:
- Define the different types of aquatic play features.
- Discuss how to maintain good water quality.
- Review unique staff and public management guidance.
CEUs: 2
Course Fee: $50/member and $99/non-member.
This course provides instruction on reducing injury and liability risk in and around facilities. Every business encounters risks, some of which are predictable and under management's control; others are unpredictable and uncontrollable. Risk management is a vital practice where tragedies—such as drowning, diving accidents, suction entrapment events, illness outbreaks, or other events—can destroy in a few moments what has taken years to build. Losses and liabilities such as these cause emotional pain and can cripple or bankrupt a business. An illustrated, color handbook is included with the online course.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the law and the aquatic professional.
- Review case studies.
- Define aquatic risk management.
- Define implementation of the risk management plan.
CEUs: 2
Course Fee: $50/member and $99/non-member.
During this 90-minute session, Terry Arko will provide a basic introduction to pool water chemistry. This course is especially beneficial for those new to the industry or those focused on residential service.
PHTA Members: View this course for free with the PHTA Class Pass
Non-Members: Purchase Course ($79)
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the challenges of source water
- Define why pool chemicals are necessary
- Review the properties of chlorine in water
- Examine chlorine and water balance
CEUs: 1.5
This course shows staff how to minimize their exposure to bloodborne pathogens by addressing topics such as bloodborne pathogens that pose the most serious health threats; ways HIV, HBV, and HCV pathogens are transmitted; precautions to prevent exposure, key components of the Exposure Control Plan, and actions to take in case of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
CEUs: 1
Course Fee: $39/member and $79/non-member.
Pool management is a significant contributor to optimal cost, compliance, and enjoyment in public swimming pools. In the absence of strict regulations, and greater insight into water quality, continuous improvement in pool management remains elusive to most pool managers and operators. However, swimmers bring microorganisms and organic substances voluntarily or involuntarily into the water, which can adversely affect pool water and air quality. The presentation will present pathways for proactively adopting additional water quality metrics to measure and improve outcomes. Case study data will compare other jurisdictions and present a rationale for improved management. Operational cost and energy savings could drive this approach forward until regulations become more integrated over time.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss swimmer and lifeguard comfort.
- Examine health concerns through air and water quality.
- Define process control optimization.
CEUs: 1
Presenters:
- Dr. Yamuna Vadasarukkai
- Ludo Feyen, MSc. Eur. Ing
Course Fee: $39/member and $79/non-member.
The number one priority that the pool industry can agree on is protecting our swimmers. Proper recreational water treatment and sanitation are critical to achieving this priority and requires an understanding of how to optimize the use of the tools and resources that we have. That includes staying apprised of the latest science, particularly as it relates to disinfection and efficacy to prevent recreational water illness (RWI) from various pathogens. Given that there are numerous considerations important for healthy recreational water management, understanding the critical aspects that impact proper disinfection as well as the premise for various best practices is key to practically and successfully minimizing the risk of RWI and keeping bathers healthy. This presentation will delve into multiple research lab studies as well as field trials in real pools to discuss practical considerations for optimizing biocide management, including new approaches to pathogens, as well as address common misconceptions that impact disinfection. Additionally, based on this literature review, this discussion will take an in-depth look at an alternate analysis for using a CYA to free chlorine ratio to reasonably minimize the risk of disease transmission for our bathers. There have been a number of recent presentations and publications in this area. Most people in the pool industry are aware of only some of these developments. This more recent examination will include factors that were not previously accounted for; these adjustments and enhancements to a model used to estimate risk affect the model's results and conclusions and, therefore, previous recommendations. Some other topics in this presentation include additional considerations aimed at healthier pools, such as secondary disinfection as well as non-biocidal methods that also improve water quality, such as filtration, flocculation, and the implementation of social science to impact bather hygiene.
Learning Objectives
- Establish practical control of pathogens in pools.
- Understand the impact of several operating parameters on sanitizer efficacy.
- Examine current trends towards improved pool operations.
CEUs: 1
Presenters:
- Tom Kuechler, Ph.D.
- Jenn Huang
Course Fee: $39/member and $79/non-member.
Cyanuric acid (CYA) has been a topic of debate since the introduction of chlorinated isocyanurates for recreational water treatment. With the work of the Chlorine Stabilizers Ad Hoc Committee, we now have a new tool for evaluating the chemistry and other factors that contribute to the risk of recreational water illness. However, we are still left with the judgment calls defining how much is too much CYA and how best to regulate its use. This presentation will review the current MAHC change requests in light of the data and assumptions that are used in the model from the Ad Hoc Committee, as well as the limitations of those data and assumptions.
Learning Objectives
- Examine existing data, and limitations of the existing data regarding cyanuric acid.
- Review the use and limitations of the model produced by the CMAHC Chlorine Stabilizers Ad Hoc Committee.
- Discuss risk management and factors that aid in determining what level of risk is acceptable.
- Analyze the uses and limitations of various approaches to regulating cyanuric acid and chlorine residuals.
Presenter: Ellen Meyer
Course Fee: FREE
From chemical and microbiological contamination resulting from both environmental and anthropogenic sources, several challenges are facing the pool operator. Microbial contamination in pools can range from nuisance, as in algae, to serious health risks in the form of pathogenic bacteria and parasites. Best practices to achieve clean and sanitary water have varied over the decades as a function of time, geographical location, and type of venue. These changes in practices have included assay methods, minimum disinfectant levels, changes in filtration type, turnover rates, and pathogens of concern. This presentation will consider examples from the scientific literature with an emphasis on practical learnings from real pools. Decades of interest from scientists and public health officials have provided us with valuable insights and case studies about when disinfection failures occur. This session was presented at the 2020 World Aquatic Health Conference by Jeffery Gaulding, Ph.D. and John Weber.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine proper pool disinfection.
- Review sanitation field studies.
CEUs: 1.5
Presenters:
Dr. Jeffrey Gaulding is a Senior Formulation Chemist with Biolab and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Georgia Tech and his B.S. from Emory University. During his doctoral work, he was awarded several fellowships, including being appointed to a National Institutes of Health training grant. He began his career in the pharmaceutical industry and has been working in the pool and spa industry for several years. Dr. Gaulding is also a Certified Pool & Spa Operator and recently joined the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance's Recreational Water Quality Committee.
John Weber is a Senior Formulation Chemist with Biolab and has been in the swimming pool and hot tub industry for more 23 years. He has served on the Recreational Water Quality Committee for the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance for many years and was involved in the creation of the ANSI Standard 11 for Water Quality in Commercial Pools and Spas. He has been involved in many articles, educational presentations, and publications and currently holds two patents. John is a Certified Pool Operator and has managed many pools in his years in the industry.
Course Fee: $39/member and $79/non-member.
New mathematical models have been developed to predict water quality based on bather load and filter performance. These models will provide insights into how much treatment is needed and what types of problems need to be avoided. This session will look at particle concentrations, UV absorbance, and pathogen levels in a pool or spray pad. Amburgey will review the potential of identifying and maintaining safe levels of each parameter based on the treatment systems chosen. The session will discuss the comparison of faster turnover rates to a better filter system in terms of Crypto removal by using existing research findings instead of conducting new research projects.
Learning Objectives
- Identify how bathers impact water quality.
- Calculate how filters or disinfection systems operate under varying bather loads.
- Examine how pools can be safer by using data to predict and avoid common problems.
CEUs: 1
Presenter: Dr. James Amburgey
Course Fee: $39/member and $79/non-member.
This online course provides a comprehensive and detailed background on the control of recreational water illnesses in treated aquatic facilities. Public health officials, pool operators, aquatic managers, service companies, and manufacturers will gain a comprehensive and detailed understanding about the control of recreational water illnesses and will be able to use this course to develop a robust recreational water illnesses control program that is tailored to their unique needs.
What You Get with The Course:
- Three months access to the virtual course
- PHTA RWI (Recreational Water Illnesses) Downloadable PDF
CEUs: 2
Course Fee: $50/member and $99/non-member.
