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Compared to other types of theme parks, water parks have characteristics such as short operating cycles and high visitor return rates. In the same tourist resort area, the ratio of daily visitor capacity of a water park to that of a similarly sized land-based park is approximately 7:3. Even in third-tier cities, as long as the product is novel, marketing is effective, and management is proper, visitors will still flock in

Figure 1: Xiangyang OCT Happy Dream Beach Water Park, partially using gravity precision filters

Figure 2: Xi'an Maya Beach Water Park, using a combination of dynamic membrane (perlite) filters and gravity precision filters

Water park water contaminants come from human bodies, foreign debris, biofilm in pipe networks, etc. They mainly include human secretions (urea, grease, sweat), human dirt (dander, hair, bacteria, viruses), cosmetics, algae, leaves, dust, small insects, etc. The purpose of the water treatment system is to remove these contaminants to meet water quality standards. See the table below for swimming pool industry water quality standards

1. Rationality of Circulation Cycle

The water circulation period should strictly adhere to the relevant provisions of "Technical Code for Water Supply and Drainage Engineering in Swimming Pools" CJJ 122-2017 (see table below). The circulation period must not be extended during design to reduce costs

2. Scientific Selection of Equipment

The core of a water treatment system is the filtration system. Dynamic membrane (perlite) filters have characteristics such as small equipment room footprint, no backwash water consumption, and chemical savings; gravity precision filters have characteristics such as removing pollutants like urea and grease, hydraulic automatic backwash, and low operation and maintenance costs. According to the characteristics of different pool units, the suitable equipment also varies. For instance, wave pools with many visitors and long visitor retention times have high levels of urea and grease, high water quality requirements, and large circulation treatment volumes. Generally, a combined treatment method using perlite and gravity precision filters is adopted; for drifting rivers, which have large treatment volumes and are susceptible to contamination from rainwater and sewage, the use of precision filters is recommended

Equipment selection should consider one-time purchase costs, daily operating costs, and maintenance costs. It can also effectively control costs while ensuring water quality. The water treatment equipment at Xi'an Maya Beach Water Park, which opened last year, adopted a combination of perlite filters and gravity precision filters, with significant results

3. Safety of Disinfection System

Common disinfection systems for water treatment in conventional water parks include "medium-pressure UV + chlorine" and "ozone + chlorine." Ozone disinfection is more comprehensive but poses safety risks; a leak can be life-threatening. Medium-pressure UV disinfection has higher sterilization efficiency and, critically, can degrade combined chlorine, a byproduct of chlorine disinfectants, which affects visitors' water play experience. Therefore, the "medium-pressure UV + chlorine" method is recommended for water park disinfection systems

Medium-Pressure UV Disinfector

Ozone Disinfection System

Furthermore, pipe selection must consider both cost and the safety and environmental aspects of pipe layout, with particular attention to secondary pollution. The appropriate usage scenarios for UPVC, HDPE, PE-RTⅡ, and 304 stainless steel pipes should be noted

1. Thorough Training and Smooth Communication

During equipment handover, water treatment equipment manufacturers or installation units must provide professional training and emergency handling training for owner's operational personnel, and provide detailed maintenance manuals

In recent years, scenic spots generally face the problem of unstable operation and maintenance personnel, with high turnover rates. Subsequent employees are unfamiliar with the equipment, and poor communication leads to inadequate operation and unstable water quality. This requires water treatment equipment manufacturers to provide follow-up dynamic training services. For remote locations, training can be conducted via phone, WeChat, etc., and in case of emergencies, they should rush to the site as soon as possible

2. Conduct Daily Operations

(1) Regularly use a pool net to clean insects or dead leaves from the pool

(2) The dosing system should adjust flow rate daily based on water quality, weather, and visitor volume

(3) Collect water samples from the pool every two hours to test turbidity, pH, residual chlorine, urea, and E. coli. Analyze the collected samples in the laboratory, primarily focusing on residual chlorine in the water (0.3-1.0mg/l), pH value (7.2-7.8), turbidity ≤0.5, urea ≤3.5mg/L, and total coliforms (361℃, 24h) not detectable per 100mL. Provide feedback on water quality analysis results to water treatment personnel to adjust the flow rate of the dosing pumps in the dosing room. Based on the test results, assist water treatment personnel in treating the water to achieve optimal water quality

(4) Submit water quality for comprehensive third-party testing monthly

(5) Periodically clean the pool bottom and observe the backwash status of the water treatment system to determine if filter media needs to be replaced

(6) In case of extremely heavy rainfall, when a large amount of mud rushes into the pool and the water quality becomes turbid, measures such as extending equipment filtration time or replacing the water body should be taken depending on the degree of contamination

(7) Daily announce water quality conditions within the scenic area, or publish water quality system information via self-media, to consciously accept visitor supervision

3. Conduct annual maintenance work

After the operational season (summer), winter pool closure preparations must be made. All attachments should be carefully inspected to prevent aging issues when the pool is reopened in the spring. All pool water, equipment, and pipes in the water park should be drained to prevent waterlogging, which can cause freezing, algae growth, and scaling on the pool walls.

Before the start of the following operational season, conduct relevant inspections.

Recommendations for important cultural tourism activities

2025 Water Park Quality Improvement and Efficiency Enhancement Executive Training Program

May 8-9 · Hangzhou Kaiyuan Senbo Resort