For the past several years I’ve been closely following the work of Long Island designer/builder and service professional Steve Kenny, president of SRK Pool Services. My interest in Kenny’s work stems from his notably progressive and dedicated approach to developing treatment systems that ensure quality water conditions. He’s not a chemist in the formal sense, but he is self-taught and extraordinarily passionate about a methodology that he reports consistently generates what he calls “gourmet water.”
As a result of my interest and others here at AQUA, Kenny has appeared in the magazine’s pages on a number of occasions. In October 2012, for example, he authored a discussion describing his artisan’s approach to water chemistry. Last August he followed up with a description of a mobile treatment system he developed for the purpose of demonstrating the efficacy of the system he uses to prospective clients. More recently, I quoted Kenny about his use of chlorine as part of the treatment regimen in an October feature titled “Inside Chlorine’s Staying Power.”
In a nutshell, Kenny’s approach involves the use of ozone, UV and chlorine, along with proper filtration, hydraulics, water balance control and even distribution of water flow throughout the pool. It’s a combined method of treatment that in many ways comports with Model Aquatic Health Code. In his case, he developed it after his children experienced respiratory problems when swimming at a poorly treated commercial pool.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working with Kenny on a presentation he’ll be delivering at this year’s World Aquatic Health Conference in Nashville, October 19-21, Nashville. In this upcoming discussion, he’ll be invoking a term that might be worth considering as part of our industry's future vocabulary – the concept of “resilient water.”
It’s terrific turn of phrase referring to systems that are prepared to handle the sanitizing, oxidizing and filtration needs of high-use pools, either commercial or residential. He argues that by taking a comprehensive and value-based approach to water treatment, waterborne pathogens can be sanitized, odors from byproduct off gassing can be eliminated and as important, water quality can be maintained at the highest level ensuring bather comfort and safety and ultimately greater enjoyment.
In his presentation and past discussions, published and otherwise, Kenny also advocates the creation of a new professional category for the pool and spa industry, the water-quality specialist.
Because water quality is central to the success of all types of pools, spas, wading pools and interactive water features, he sees a place for consultants who both help design and establish the treatment systems and the maintenance routines needed to sustain quality water conditions.
Bringing his discussion full circle, he makes the case through the work of water-quality specialist in conjunction with builders, facility managers, pool operators and service companies, the overall consumer experience will be dramatically improved and thus the entire industry will be elevated. All because, as he puts it, “we have a responsibility to provide water that is clear, attractive, safe and resilient.”
