Hydrotherapy pool maintenance tips

Hydrotherapy pools are warm water pools that are used to treat people who have physical health problems or special needs. Hydrotherapy is an enormously helpful treatment for a range of conditions including arthritis, rheumatism, muscular pain, circulation problems and injury, such as those arising from sports injury and accidents. Physiotherapy treatment has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of hydrotherapy pools at hospitals and care facilities.

With many users of hydrotherapy pools being in poorer health and possibly more susceptible to other health risks, a rigorous pool maintenance schedule is imperative to ensure that the pool water is pristine and operates at optimum performance all the time.

A hydrotherapy pool needs regular cleaning

Hydrotherapy pools are designed and built to allow for easy access and egress, and to prevent the accumulation of bacteria. This is obviously vital in a hospital where the users might be immune-compromised or more vulnerable to other bacteria, as well as being physically less able. A hydrotherapy pool needs regular cleaning, more so than a traditional swimming pool.

Checking the temperate and chemical and acidity levels

Considering the number of people who use a hydrotherapy pool in a given month, frequent testing of the water is a must. To keep the pool shipshape, you will need to measure the chemical and acidity levels on a regular basis to make sure that chlorine levels fall within the correct parameters - for free chlorine that is 1.5-2ppm. Likewise, the pH level should be checked throughout the day and a balance of between 7.2 and 7.6 maintained – if levels exceed this range, they must be adjusted. Also, consider the comfort of the people using the pool - a temperature of between 32°- 35° is appropriate for therapy exercises in the pool.

Maintenance of the microbiological quality of water is vitally important to prevent the development of waterborne diseases which could lead to gastrointestinal illnesses. At an absolute minimum, microbiological tests should be carried out monthly to ensure that the hydrotherapy pool is safe for users at all times. London Swimming Pool Company can arrange for these tests to be done for you.

Testing for nasty bacteria

It is very important to perform regular tests for nasty bacteria in the pool. Weekly water sampling should be carried out when the pool is in use, ideally when it is heavily loaded or straight after. The best place to take samples is at the deep end, away from any inlets. Hospitals accumulate germs and those having hydrotherapy can unknowingly introduce these into the water and expose other patients. Prompt testing will be invaluable in the fight against viruses and bacteria. Regular servicing offers peace of mind.

Get in touch

To learn more about keeping a hydrotherapy pool in good condition get in touch with one of our servicing experts today.

At London Swimming Pool Company we specialise in swimming pool maintenance, servicing and refurbishment, so if you have a pool that’s in need of regular maintenance or a facelift, contact us for an initial discussion – there’s no substitute for expert advice.