Sponsors:  Arch Chemicals (formerly Olin Chemical Corporation), the Research Foundation for Health and Environmental Effects (Chlorine Chemistry Council), Montana State University, and the National Science Foundation

Project goals:  Evaluate biofilm growth in swimming pools:  1) Develop greater scientific knowledge of biofilms in swimming pools, 2) Improve treatment protocols, 3) Increase public safety, 4) Provide commercial opportunities for industry

Background:   Research on swimming pools dates back to the 1920's. Historically, efficacy studies always focused upon maintaining the bulk water quality and conclusions were drawn based upon the difference in the number of suspended bacteria that survived one treatment as compared to another, even though researchers noted that "slime protected" bacteria were more resistant to specific treatments. The research completed during this project specifically evaluated the efficacy of various swimming pool treatments against biofilm as well as suspended bacteria.

Project duration:  3 years

Special equipment or techniques used or developed:  CBE’s design of a scaled laboratory model of an actual swimming pool that operated with representative nutrient and microbial loading; development of specialized experimental protocol.

Results:  The model and experimental protocol were used to effectively test the efficacy of various treatment regimens.

Follow-up:  This project has been a model for undergraduate participation in industrially relevant
research; to date, five undergraduate students have participated in the project.