Waiwera Blog

 Here at Waiwera Thermal Resort, we run our pools within the guidelines set out in the New Zealand Pool Water Standards which are an industry guideline and are put out to set an appropriate standard of operations for the public’s health interests.

Our Water Quality team consists of two trained pool operators who have completed a pool and water treatment and operations courses which covers NZQA unit standards 25982, 25981 and 25980. These courses cover pool and filtration system design and the various aspects of running a pool in a commercial setting.  It covers the chemistry behind maintaining the swimming pool water in a balanced state which helps to prevent bather discomfort and increases the effectiveness of the disinfectant used to maintain pool water quality.  We use chlorine as it is the most readily available and cost effective disinfectant in New Zealand.  In small doses it maintains the appropriate disinfection levels and kills harmful bacteria and pathogens that can contaminate pool water minimizing the potential infections.

Unlike most other pool’s which use the same water which they keep re-circulating and treating over and over again, Waiwera Thermal Resort operates a water bleeding system which continually adds naturally hot geothermal water 24/7.  This means what we put in on a daily basis must go out on a daily basis.   As a result the water that is in the pool on one day won’t be the same water in a day and a half’s time.  This continual replacement of the water helps maintain optimum water quality by not allowing the buildup of chloramines and other contaminants over time.      

The daily pool water testing routine starts with a pool water test prior to the complex being opened for the day to ensure the pool water chemicals are within the appropriate range. There after the pool tests are carried out on a two hourly basis to ensure the pool water ph and chlorine levels are maintained in the recommended ranges.  Pool water discharged to waste is also regularly tested for temperature, ph and chlorine levels.  We also have access to an in-house micro biologist in the event any tests show abnormal qualities.

Our pool operational staff have a comprehensive job list.  They have to keep an eye on all the pumps and in a complex like Waiwera there are many.  They check the chemical dosing systems to ensure they are operating correctly and adjust the settings to maintain optimum pool water quality. They carry out daily back washing of the sand filters to ensure they are operating at maximum efficiency.   Waiwera uses sand filters for all the main pools apart from the private spa’s and movie pool which both run on a diatomaceous earth vacuum filter system.  They check and record daily water flows both from the bore and the discharge point,  providing Council with monthly records of water take and water analysis. 

No matter whether we have 1 person or 1000 people through the pools in any one day it is Water Quality staff’s job to ensure that our water is maintain at the highest possible standard so bathers can enjoy their time at Waiwera and know that their health and wellbeing is in safe hands and is of primary importance to the WQ team.