Waterco MultiCyclones save historic pool from sudden closures
"Operations have never run so smoothly since the MultiCyclones were installed"
director Raz Zafrir.
Ocean baths (pools) are a delightful way to enjoy a dip in the briny deep as they are usually cleansed every day by changing tides or crashing waves. But in the case of Tel Aviv’s historic Gordon Pool, a high tech pump installed in the 1950s proved a problem, as it no longer met 21st century health standards.
The seafront pool has been an iconic feature of the beachside landscape since it opened in 1956. Its country club atmosphere within the city proved a popular choice for socialites during the day and it became a nostalgic favourite within the community. The facility reopened in 2009 after major renovations, and today it features an Olympic size pool, two smaller pools for kids, a gym and sauna facilities and an expansive pool deck area for sunbathing and events.
About 3000 visitors use the pool and gym facilities every day. Swimmers take to the lanes as early as 5.30 in the morning, rain or shine, while retirees dominate the deck area playing backgammon and drinking Turkish coffee.
Rising To The Challenges
A daily supply of salt water is drawn from springs 150 meters under the sea bed, which allows management to avoid using chlorine. The water is pumped up into the pool then back into the sea via an overflow system.
One challenge spoiled the idyllic picture. Sand. Every time there was even the slightest earth tremor far away, sand on the ocean floor was shaken up and entered the pool with the source water. There was no filtration system on the pools, as the wat er is drained and re-filled every day. The Health Ministry complained about the sand on the floor of the pools at these times, and the facility’s management was obliged to close the venue.
The question was how to retain the fresh daily influx of sea water for which the facility was famous, while ensuring the pools remained sand-free.
Tel Aviv’s historic Gordon Pool features an Olympic
size pool, two smaller pools for kids, the Olympic
size pool has a volume of 1700m³ and the smaller
pool 400m³.
Finding The Solution
The management looked to leading local pool experts Yagel Water Services for advice.
The answer came in the form of 60 of Waterco’s MC16 MultiCyclones that were used to effectively and efficiently remove the sand from the water before it was pumped into the pools. They were installed in late 2014.
"This eliminated the issue overnight and meant that the pools were no longer subject to sudden closures," says Waterco Southern European and Middle East Sales Director Jo Ainsworth. "It means Gordon Pools can stay open all day, every day."
This was a significant project, as previously the largest number of MultiCyclones installed in a single job was six.
"It was a unique project in terms of what had to be achieved as well as the sheer volume of water that had to be filtered," Mrs Ainsworth says. "The Olympic size pool has a volume of 1700m3 and the smaller pool 400m3, and these have to be filtered and pumped fresh into the pool every day."
60 of Waterco’s MC16 MultiCyclones that were used
to effectively and efficiently remove the sand from the
water before it was pumped into the pools.
Efficient and effective
"Operations have never run so smoothly since the MultiCyclones were installed," says Yagel Water Services’ director Raz Zafrir. "We had looked at other systems," he says. "But nothing was as efficient and effective as the MultiCyclone. The result is excellent. The pools can now stay open all day every day."
MultiCyclone MC16 at a glance
- The MultiCyclone M16 is a pre-filtration device that is capable of saving water and reducing filter maintenance. It works on the basis of centrifugal water filtration.
- There are no moving parts to wear and tear and no filter media to clean or replace.
- Incoming water enters 16 hydro cyclones tangentially, generating a strong centrifugal effect.
- The sediment is spun out to the hydro cyclone’s wall, and then spirals down to the sediment chamber.
- The filtered water migrates towards the centre of the hydro cyclone, where the flow reverses and spirals upwards through the outlet.
- The MultiCyclone is easily cleaned by opening the valve.
- It’s suitable for both new and existing installations.
