GRANITE CITY, IL—Hotel swimming pools: Is the water fine? Not if your pool is green. A body of still water can collect algae, which grows over time and can change the color of the water—a telltale sign to swimmers that your pool is not properly sanitized. Cleaning your pool doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Charles Kozicky, owner of Clear Pool USA, wants to help turn your pool from green to clean with an algaecide solution that he says can kill bacteria and algae, as well as stabilize chlorine and pH levels.
“Hotel pool maintenance is by far one of the most challenging aspects of hotel management. One of the products we have is a passive algaecide, a metal ionizer that goes in the pump basket called PoolRx. The other product we have is Carefree Clearwater, which is electrically charged and kills the algae plus bacteria. We are dealers for both products and buy straight from the manufacturer,” Kozicky said. “It’s important for public pools to be sanitized because people can bring different viruses or bacteria into pools that can cause problems. The latter product has to be set up with the hotel’s electrical system and it’s very effective. It is a low-voltage system for the pool that is harmless to people. Many people don’t know about these options and stores don’t carry it because it reduces the sale of other accessory products. These are some of the best kept secrets out there.”
Not all algaecides are created equal and there are only a few on the market that actually kill the algae. According to Kozicky, what makes algaecides effective is the mineral component of copper or silver.
“The copper is a natural algaecide and the copper we have is chelated to keep it from falling out of the solution. Chemical algaecide has copper in it. The silver also kills viruses and bacteria. People used to put silver in the water to purify it and today’s technology is doing the same thing and it’s more effective,” he said. “The minerals allow the chlorine to be freed up, helps it to kill bacteria and allows chlorine and pH levels to stabilize better. If your pH is at or above 8 parts per million, the chlorine is less effective in killing algae and bacteria. By having a good pH level, it will be stable and effective in killing bacteria and algae.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a pH between 7.2 and 7.8.
Traditional pool maintenance is done using chemicals such as chlorine and the pH levels have to be monitored continuously, but conditions can change quickly. According to Kozicky, other maintenance systems such as ozone or UV lights, also have their challenges.
“The electronic ionization system is the best solution money can buy. A pool or hot tub is a breeding ground for bacteria unless you keep a close eye on pH levels. We service hot tubs all the way up to water parks. We use it in industrial applications as well as HVAC, fountains and swimming towers. It destroys the bacteria and keeps the water pure. There is no downtime. You plug it in and it continues to work 24/7,” he said. “For the mineral solution, we only recommend putting it in at the end of the swimming day and by the morning, it’s ready to go.”
Keeping your pool sparkling blue is a full-time job and requires regular attention to ensure it’s clean, safe and ready for guests to enjoy. When it comes to pool maintenance, Kozicky urges hoteliers to make a smart purchase.
“The big hotel chains will go through vendors, but this is not like buying pillows or sheets. You have to buy the right product for the right size pool,” he concluded.
—Corris Little