The last decade has observed a tremendous explosion in the indoor waterpark market. Filled with multi-level play structures, dumping buckets, wave pools, lazy rivers, activity pools, interactive play features, water slides, zero depth entry pools and whirlpools, indoor resort/hotel waterparks continue to grow in popularity generating new guests, new revenue and new challenges. The indoor waterpark experience depends not only on the elements visible to the eye, but also upon other vital behind-the-scenes factors. With their expanding bodies of water and increasing focus on leisure elements, these facilities are more complex than ever before. Their sheer size, warm water and air temperatures, increased bather load exposure times and use of interactive spray features and activities pose new hurdles for both operations and design. Traditional water treatment systems are often taxed beyond their capability to maintain water quality under these circumstances. With the evolution of indoor waterparks come advances in technical trends on water treatment, air quality and dehumidification. The water treatment system is the heart of the indoor waterpark, and all things good and bad emanate from there. In addition to planning, correct sizing of the water treatment and disinfection systems along with ventilation and humidity control are critical to water and air quality. Understanding “potential bather load” is fundamental in determining the proper size filtration system. Additionally, the methods used for filtration are specialized to sustain clarity and remove particulate matter. Pool water circulation (TO) must also be calculated; today TO rates of 15 minutes to 1 hour for all pools are not uncommon. The type of disinfection to be used is also vital in properly managing the water and understanding the source water. The location and handling of chemicals in the back of house is a safety issue for staff and must be considered not only in the overall plan but also in the detailed drawings. Due to the severity of bacterial and organic loading in the air and water, ozone and Ultra Violet (UV) are essential as supplemental systems for disinfection and chloramines control. Equally important is the ventilation system since we are subjecting the indoor environment to increased exposure from people loading, humidity, warm water spray, aerosols and products of chlorination. Chuck Neuman is president of Water Technology, Inc., an internationally recognized aquatic planning, design and engineering firm. Since Mr. Neuman founded Water Technology, Inc. twenty-four years ago, the Company has grown on a steady path with offices in Beaver Dam and Chicago as well as skilled representatives in Wayne, New Jersey and Anaheim, California. With over thirty years experience in the design and construction of aquatic facilities, he is personally involved from conceptual planning through design and development to start-up and operations. The facilities are diverse in size, scope and function, and the portfolio ranges from indoor and outdoor municipal aquatic centers to large commercial waterparks and resorts. In addition to dozens of public projects, both indoor leisure and outdoor family aquatic centers, Chuck Neuman is dedicated to the waterpark industry serving high profile clients such as Cedar Fair LP, Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., Ripley’s Entertainment, Inc., Paramount Parks, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Wave Development, and Busch Entertainment Corporation. Chuck Neuman is active in the waterpark industry as a past and current board member of the WWA, the NSPI/WWA/ANSI Code Committee, the WWA Safety Committee and a member of ASTM. His speaking engagements cover trends, planning and design, start-up and operations and new technology in the aquatic arena. He continues to be an active speaker at national and international conferences including the World Waterpark Conference, TiLE, IAAPA, NRPA’s National Aquatic Management School, and NRPA Congress. Participation in the industry and a “hands-on role” has resulted in new and innovative design placing Water Technology, Inc. at the leading edge of aquatic industry standards and developments.
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