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OK, here's the scenario: Your clients have a 75-year-old pool in need of renovation. Currently, the filtration/sanitization system is such that they drain and refill the pool every two weeks. They dress in nothing but tuxedos — at work, social gatherings, even into the pool. And yes, they are penguins.
For the Buxton Group, contractors on the project, the case required a deft touch to realize the aims of the Zoological Society of London, which envisioned a South American beach landscape enclosure with a glass sub-level viewing area.
Equipment manufacturer Waterco was chosen to tackle the water care regimen.
The company installed a chlorinated filtration system (apparently penguins don't mind chlorine) using eight MultiCyclones plus six Micron SMD deep bed fiberglass media filters, before chlorination using two ElectroChlor salt chlorinators.
According to a story in Pool and Spa Review, Tony Fisher, managing director of Waterco Europe, said, "Given the issues faced by the previous penguin pool plus the obvious heavy usage of the new pool, using ElectroChlors are ideal, as they enable the chlorine level to be automatically maintained, thus eliminating problems associated with periods of very high or low chlorine levels. Fewer fluctuations in chlorine levels mean fewer fluctuations in pH levels, which ensures more stable, balanced water."
At 100,000 gallons, Penguin Beach is the largest pool in England; the $3.27 million enclosure has room for 150 penguins.
According to eyewitness accounts, upon seeing their new home, the residents were so inspired they immediately began to mate — which was good news as captive penguin libido had been something of a problem.
