I was surfing around Twitter the other day, when I saw the name @Watercannons with a curious looking thumbnail picture. Watercannons? Well, there really is no other way to describe these cannons shooting jets of water high above swimming pools. But I had never seen such a thing before! What are they, and what do they do?

I contacted Chris Ostling, the owner of Living Waters Aeration, to get some more information on what these things are and why people use them.

Watercannons are portable swimming pool aerators, and basically the jets of water simulate what naturally occurs in ocean waves, waterfalls, and raindrops. The surface area of the water is increased when it is sprayed into two streams of droplets. The increased surface area allows for more UV light penetration, oxygenation, and evaporation through contact with the air.

Evaporation will decrease the pool temperature (the same way sweating cools you off), and the increased UV light penetration and oxygenation have additional benefits that Chris explained in an email to me:

“The aeration process will reduce disease causing bacteria. Many bacteria are strict anaerobes and require a nutrient broth for survival and practically all pathogens are killed by ultraviolet light, which the sun emits. Also aerobic bacteria feed on pathogenic bacteria. Oxygenating the water body, creates an environment where aerobic bacteria thrive raising the pH and exposing pathogenic bacteria to sunlight then these pathogens are weakened or killed.”

Watercannons have been used by the U.S. Olympic Committee at training pools in Greece and Beijing, and even on military bases (especially in places where stagnant water gets uncomfortably warm).

Below is the rest of my email interview with the owner of Living Waters Aeration, Chris Ostling:

What are some other ways people have tried to aerate their pools, and why is the Watercannon a better method?

Some pools have built in aeration systems. Sometimes it will be something as simple as a PVC pipe drilled full of holes along the edge or gutter. Other times, it is some type of homemade pumping device that barely spits out any water. There are also chillers and reverse heat pumps on the market, but they are not portable and are expensive. Any type of fountain or waterfall will help reduce temperatures. Our units are both portable. They can be set up at night and stored out of sight before the pool opens the next day.

I read on your website “It reduces undesirable 92-96 degree temperatures to a more refreshing and controlled 80-82. Prepare for those important swim meets. . .” How long does it take to drop the temperature like this before a swim meet?

Most facilities use the Watercannon at night, running it 6-8 hours every night. It is not really something you just use when you need it the day before a swim meet. On average it will cool a commercial pool 10-12 degrees.

We do have some pools that use it in the daytime though. The kids will even boo when the lifeguard turns it off.

Is it safe for kids to play around, or are the water jets too powerful?

We only sell to commercial supervised pools. Lifeguards or pool managers operate the Watercannon.

It has a triple suction, using VGB approved inlets. The force of the water coming out is 110-160 gallons per minute. We need that force to get the water as high as we can above the pool.

China’s National Aquatic Center will reopen after the completion of a nine-month construction project, adding a 10,000 square meter water park to the “Water Cube.” With slides towering 23 meters over the multiple pools below, the facility that once held the dramatic aquatic events of the 2008 Olympics will now be known as the country’s most advanced aquatic amusement park (source).

As for attractions: “The water park has wave pools in the drift region in the eastern part and a cyclone simulation section with 11 water slides in the western part” (source).

The park also has an Aqua Loop (example) which is a water slide that actually takes riders upside down on a slightly skewed inverted loop.

As much fun as the park looks, I can’t help but think “NOOOOOOO WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO IT!!??” How can you turn the most amazing aquatic sport facility in the world into a water park?

Imagination will certainly flow this June, as LEGOLAND California Resort will debut the first and only LEGOLAND Water Park.

According to the website (via @pentairpool), the water park will feature a 45-foot-tall tower, several water slides, more than 20 LEGO models, and a Build-A-Raft river – “a lazy river where guests float on their own custom-built LEGO raft.”

Build-A-Raft River (Visual Approximation)

When I think of LEGO, I don’t immediately think of “fun water park activity” – but because of the success of the LEGOLAND parks, it seems only natural to expand into a water resort the way other large theme parks do. In the big picture, the opening of a new aquatics venue is always a success for an industry hit particularly hard by economic recession.

Press Release in PDF format

Overland Park, KS,  – The nation’s leading water safety organizations are joining forces to present The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL), Thursday, June 3, 2010, to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning. Waterparks, pools and other aquatic facilities around the globe will host local WLSL lessons simultaneously (10am ET) on June 3rd in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record.

To date, eleven leading water safety organizations reaching 95 percent of the US water leisure market have signed on as presenting organizations including:

• The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals
• The International Swimming Hall of Fame
• The International Swim Instructors Association
• The Independent Pool and Spa Service Association
• Jeff Ellis & Associates
• The National Aquatic Safety Company
• The National Recreation and Park Association
• Starfish Aquatics Institute
• The Swim For Life Foundation
• The United States Swim School Association
• The World Waterpark Association

Rowdy Gaines, three time Olympic Gold Medalist, eleven time world record holder and the “voice of swimming” for events on CBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT, has joined the WLSL Team as official spokesperson. “I’m thrilled to be working with The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson event to help spread the word that Swimming Lessons Save Lives,” said Gaines. “Teaching children to swim is a key component in drowning prevention and The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson program is a great way for local communities to draw attention to this message at the start of the swimming season.”

Swimming is a life-saving skill for children and a vital tool to prevent drowning, the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for children ages 1-14. Research shows if a child doesn’t learn to swim by the third grade, they likely never will. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson was created to serve as a platform to help local community aquatic facilities and the many different national, regional and statewide water safety and drowning prevention organizations work together to tell their story on a local and national level.

Aquatic facilities interested in hosting a WLSL lesson for their community can register online at www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org. Individuals interested in participating in the lesson can find a list of Host Locations on the website beginning April 19th. Aquatic facilities have until May 20th to register as a Host Location.

For more information on The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson or to find out how you can join the WLSL Team to support this important and fun initiative, visit www.Worldslargestswimminglesson.org. Be a part of The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, Thursday, June 3, 2010 and help spread the news that Swimming Lessons Save Lives!

“Life guards sanitize bleachers at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at Ohio State University on Thursday, March 25, 2010″ (source).

The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) is offering two-day certification courses that, upon completion, will allow you to register as a certified Pool/Spa Operator. Participants will be trained in chemical treatment, filtration, and mechanical system operation and maintenance in an academic-based curriculum.

Anyone who works in or around aquatics facilities should consider getting certified – and some employers require the certification! Getting certified is the best way to stay up to date, efficient, and safe. The cost is $340, and includes materials, textbook, examination, five year certification and a subscription to the CPO Newsletter.

Get more information from the Ohio Aquatic Council online, and click here for courses available in the Midwest.

March 11-12 Chicago, IL – NIU Branch Campus, Naperville
March 25-26 Cleveland, OH – Radisson Inn, Cleveland Airport
April 8-9 Toledo, OH – University of Toledo Recreation Center

> A Different Take on Pro-Gate Swim Network
> Cooling your palms enables you to bench press more weight Sweat Science
> 2010 Rose Bowl Masters Meet Wrap Up Rob Aquatics
> Alex Despatie is Live from Vancouver Alex’s Blog
> For Sasquatch The Swimming Workout Wizard
> Colwill, Ishimatsu secure World Cup spots; Dumais claims 30th national title USA Diving
> Lifeguards have 1,500 fans on Facebook Lifeguards Fan Page
> Predatory jumbo flying squid invade California waters! SCAQ Blog

The UV Foundation has declared February to be National Vitamin D Deficiency Month* in order to promote awareness of the negative health concerns associated with deficient levels of Vitamin D. While the UV Foundation assures us that “moderate exposure to sunlight or UV light is the absolute best way to help the body manufacture the Vitamin D it needs” (source), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that intentionally increasing sun exposure is not the answer. This article attempts to examine the facts and intentions behind these contradictory positions.

In broad terms, the UV Foundation funds ongoing activities relating to the science of ultraviolet light, including research and educational activities. Seems pretty harmless. Who wouldn’t want to invest in the scientific research of ultraviolet light? Let’s take a look at the research projects they’ve funded between 2005 and 2008: Of the 24 studies, 19 were on the topic of vitamin D and health, and 5 studies were on indoor tanning.

It would appear, based on their funding history, that the UV Foundation is specifically interested in vitamin D and tanning beds as opposed to the broader science of ultraviolet light. Could this be because two of the major contributing donors are Osram Lightbulbs and The Indoor Tanning Association?

Sue Chung, Health and Beauty writer for In Style magazine and HealthCentral.com, warns against misleading research funded by the tanning industry:

“Just as tobacco companies used to ignore and even deny the claims that smoking led to various types of cancer, the tanning salon industry continues to mislead its customers in order to keep business booming. The tanning bed industry is now a $5 billion industry and has enjoyed skyrocketing sales since 2000.” (source)

What results have been produced using tanning industry money? Because the Indoor Tanning Association funds the UV Foundation who announced National Vitamin D Deficiency Month – is the whole thing just propaganda to make tanning beds look safe?

Dr. Michael F. Holick (who is the primary recipient of UV Foundation research funding) repeatedly concludes that:

• Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is extremely prevalent
• Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency can lead to serious health problems
• The most accessible and efficient source of Vitamin D is exposure to UV light
• One of the major causes of the Vitamin D pandemic is intentional avoidance of direct sunlight

Dr. Holick suggests that, over the past 40 years, people have responded to the message that sunlight is harmful by changing their behavior to intentionally limit direct exposure to sunlight. Paradoxically, decreasing exposure to UV radiation from the sun can decrease the risk of skin cancer – however, the subsequent Vitamin D deficiency can lead to an increased risk of cancer and other health problems. Because his research suggests that suitable Vitamin D levels cannot be reached through diet alone, Dr. Holick recommends a moderate intentional exposure to UV radiation.

On the other side of the conversation, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) makes very clear statements about vitamin D and sun exposure. The AAD says that you should “get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun” (source). The AAD also reiterates the general scientific consensus: that UVA and UVB radiation from tanning beds can cause skin cancer, and that the “amount of the radiation produced during indoor tanning is similar to the sun and in some cases may be stronger” (source).

Regardless of whether you agree with seeking moderate exposure to sunlight, or eliminating unnecessary exposure completely, both sides agree that no one should get a sunburn! In a public service announcement for the World Waterpark Association, Amanda Beard recommends taking safety precautions when exposed to direct sunlight. Watch her PSA video on YouTube for tips.

*What does it take to declare a National _________ Awareness Month? According to this site (source) February is also National National Awareness Month Awareness Month!

Found @PoolNewsFeed, a Swedish study recently showed that 8 out of 18 randomly sampled public pools around the country had nitrogen levels higher than 2.0 milligrames per litre, and 3 of the 18 pools had nitrogen content higher than 5.0 milligrames per litre.

To put these numbers in context, Michael Ressner of Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare was quoted saying nitrogen levels of 1.5 milligrames per litre are cause to start checking for the source of pool contaminants (source).

According to the article, “nitrogen levels are often used as a proxy for determining the amount of urine in public pools.” This is an assumption, but with a lack of evidence to confirm other possible sources of the nitrogen (decaying plant matter, chemical spills) it seems like a good hypothesis.

The compounds introduced to the pool through urine have been shown to contribute to the creation of trichloramine. Trichloramine is a type of chloramine formed from nitrogenous waste products from the swimmers. According to information found on Indiana’s state website:

“A high level of trichloramine in the air at indoor pools may cause eye and upper respiratory irritation because it is a strong irritant to mucous membranes. Symptoms include excessive eye tearing, eye, nose and throat irritation and dry cough” (source).

Chloramines are heavier than air and “hang” over the water surface and deck, and can lead to comfort problems for bathers in under-ventilated areas. When you notice a “chlorine” smell, you are actually sensing high levels of chloramines. A properly chlorinated pool will not have a strong smell.

Cause for alarm? Well the symptoms of exposure to high amounts of trichloramine are real, but if you’re worried about the icky factor of swimming in urine – remember that nitrogen levels can also be increased by sweat (but pee makes a much better headline).

The Mundial 86 Swim Center aka M-86 via espormadrid.es

The blog ¡es por madrid! has an article about the Mundial 86 (or M-86) Swim Center. Apperantly this facility, located at the IMDER (Madrid Institute of Sport), will be one of the first to use an innovative system of ozone treatment rather than chlorine.

The ozone-based treatment will be used in the Olympic sized swimming pools, but a different system, based on ultraviolet radiation, will be used in the diving well and baby pools (translated: “the pool water jumps, learning and babies”).

The ozone treatment will effectively destroy bacteria and algae, while eliminating the possible irritation of the lungs, eyes, and nose, as well as the chlorine odor.

Related: Indoor pools may harm infants’ lungs
Related: Swimming in pools may raise hay fever risk
Related: Swimming Pools, Chlorine and Asthma – What’s The Connection?

The introduction of this system will be undertaken between September and December this year. This action is part of an overall plan to decrease the amount of chlorine used by 80%, to “conform to the minimum required by current regulations” (source). I’m not familiar with a Spanish regulation that requires a cut-back on chlorine use. This could potentially be an artifact of the Google translation.