AIS EcoLine technology selected for competition pools for KL2017.
Australian designed and manufactured water disinfection technology will help to protect swimmers competing at KL 2017 (Kuala Lumpur 29th Southeast Asian Games), Malaysia in August 2017. This month (March), Brisbane based chlorine generator manufacturer, Australian Innovative Systems (AIS) shipped three of its award-winning EcoLine™ water disinfection systems to Kuala Lumpur to be installed in the FINA standard, competition swimming pools at the Malaysia National Aquatic Centre. In a double Brisbane win, specialist aquatic architect, Will Marcus, Group Managing Director of ARGO Architects specified AIS’s technology for the project.
AIS CEO, Elena Gosse said that her company’s EcoLine technology would ensure that Games officials and athletes could enjoy ultimate peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that the pools’ residual chlorine levels were being maintained, with water remaining clean and clear in accordance with world-wide competition standards.
“We are so proud that our innovative, award-winning, Australian designed and made EcoLine technology will be on the world-stage in KL in August, Elena said. “Our EcoLine systems disinfect water onsite and inline conveniently and automatically. Using a process known as electrolysis, water passes through electrolytic cells which convert minerals and salts in water to chlorine (i). The chlorine is then safely injected back into the pool water.”
A major advantage of EcoLine is that it works in water with TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) levels as low as 1,200ppm (parts per million) creating a swimming experience and quality of water that feels, smells and tastes more like a fresh water swimming pool. Thanks to EcoLine’s automatic chlorine production, chlorine levels remain stable, helping to avoid incidents such as the recent ‘green pool’ at the Rio Olympics.
“Our innovative, EcoLine technology is not only safe and reliable but ends the outdated practice of storing and dosing liquid chlorine,” Ms Gosse said.
Ms Gosse said that while the Malaysia National Aquatic Centre had entrusted AIS’ technology for its games, she hoped Queensland’s Gold Coast Aquatic Centre (GCAC), the venue for the upcoming Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, would soon follow suit.
“Unfortunately, GCAC’s competition pools for the 2018 Commonwealth Games are still being disinfected by a foreign-manufactured, liquid chlorine dosing system, Elena said.
“This is an archaic approach on many levels. As well as the risks associated with storing and handling large quantities of liquid chlorine, I strongly believe that all levels of government should be actively supporting innovative, Australian-made technology and manufacturing. In turn, this supports local jobs and our economy.
“While the GCAC does have AIS’ systems installed in its non-competition pools, the fact that our technology has been exported to over 55 countries worldwide, is widely used in competition-standard pools throughout Australia and overseas, and yet is not being used for the Commonwealth Games is quite frankly, embarrassing.
“During the Games we will be shining the world spotlight on our best Australian athletes. We should also be shining it on our best, local technology.”
Elena said that another major advantage of EcoLine’s automatic inline disinfection (as opposed to chlorine dosing systems) is that water hardness and/or TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) levels are kept more stable, therefore minimising the requirement to dump large amounts of water from swimming pools.
“With chlorine dosing systems, by-products such as calcium and sodium chloride can build up very quickly in the water and cause problems with water chemistry, especially water hardness. The only way to bring these levels back to a suitable standard is to dilute or dump water.
“We are aware that in some cases pool operators are intentionally adjusting their pool’s wastewater or backwash valve to continually and gradually lose pool water in an effort to keep TDS levels stable. This makes it almost impossible to detect the large volumes of water being dumped and is obviously of great concern environmentally.
“As an industry, we need to work together to preserve our planet’s resources. EcoLine is part of that solution.”
AIS will soon be launching a domestic version of its EcoLine commercial technology. It will be available for purchase for home pool owners from AIS distributors in April 2017.
- Typically Sodium Hypochlorite or Calcium Hypochlorite
Picture: An AIS Staff member puts the finishing touches on the EcoLine units
