VivoAquatics Updates

Post-Covid19 tourist-based businesses continue to struggle to recover financially. If you own or operate commercial aquatic facilities, then you are probably focused on finding ways to improve efficiency and expand the company’s ROI to stay afloat financially.

In this article, we explore ways to increase energy efficiency throughout the aquatic operation. Also, we’ll examine how water management software offers long-term benefits by improving efficiency and increasing the facility's bottom line.

Implementing Aquatic Operations Software

Commercial pool management software is a technology that lets you better monitor and control all aspects of your aquatic facility. You can check and control select areas of your pool, so you have complete control. With aquatic operations software, you have control of the reins of operations, and you can take a proactive approach towards ensuring you are handling things in an energy-efficient manner to save money.

Aquatic operations software enables you to control different things and pinpoint what needs your attention. With automated water management, you have the ability to manage one body of water or multiple aquatic properties.

Oversee the following with water management software:

• Pool heaters
• Pool pumps
• Water features
• Lights
• Filtration
• Cleaners
• Sanitizers
• Chemical levels
• HVAC system
• And more!

7 Benefits of Commercial Pool Management Software

Below are a few benefits of aquatic operations software:

1. Savings

Using water management software lets you save on labor by cutting down on man hours to save time. The technology ensures pool compliance, oversees operations, and maintains safety. You can more effectively manage your pool, pull reports when you need them to ensure conformity, and save hours that you would waste carrying out processes manually.

2. Increased Productivity

The goal of a well-designed aquatic operations system is to help pool operators run the pool facility efficiently. Everything becomes streamlined from overseeing chemical levels to managing pool maintenance schedules Your team will save time and increase productivity substantially. You can efficiently manage your resources and enjoy greater profitability.

3. Easier Maintenance Processes

Commercial pool maintenance is not without challenges. All of the tasks take time and often prove costly. Aquatics operation software lets your workers save time and streamlines the process by giving a window into the details of each task. VivoPoint Pro features a complete preventative maintenance program.

4. Improved Safety

You want to ensure your aquatic facility’s guests are safe and happy while enjoying the pool and spa. One of the biggest challenges of running a commercial pool and spa is keeping the water clean and healthy. Aquatic operations software helps you regulate the water temperature and pH levels so you can rapidly address problems before they become a safety issue.

5. Reducing Labor Costs

Aquatic software systems require extraordinarily little labor to run so you save time and reduce labor costs when running your facility. You can more effectively delegate your resources, so you save a considerable amount of money over time.

6. Greater Sustainability

If you want energy savings, then it is imperative that you focus your sights on increasing your aquatic facility’s sustainability. With comprehensive data tracking, aquatics software helps you quickly pinpoint areas of your pool or spa which are not functioning at peak performance and instead result in wasteful misuses. You can then make the necessary adjustments to focus on greater sustainability.

7. Reducing Energy Consumption

Aquatic operations programs provide you with features that let you reduce your facility’s energy consumption such as real-time water quality monitoring and automatic temperature controls. Implementing the processes lets you reduce your carbon footprint without sacrificing services. Your pool facility patrons can also rest easy knowing that you are focused on doing your part to help the environment.

8. Greater Efficiency All Around

With proper management of all aquatic facility systems, you enjoy far greater efficiency.

• Effectively operate the heating and cooling systems
• Regulate temperatures
• Lighting systems
• Chemical management systems

Shopping for an Aquatic Operations System

Whether you manage a single pool or several commercial pool and spa properties, aquatic management software helps you better oversee all processes. When shopping for the right system, consider your facility’s own particular needs and features. Then you’ll want to weigh the many factors that will influence which aquatic operations software you choose, such as the following:

• Aquatic facility size
• Pool types
• Financial and management needs
• Management level required
• Scalability goals

6 Things to Consider When Choosing Commercial Pool Management Software

You have made the decision that you want to achieve unbeaten ROI which means you truly need to focus on the efficiency of your aquatic facility’s operations. The best way to take control is by investing in commercial pool management software.

However, after running an online search, the first thing you probably noticed is that there is a wide assortment of aquatic management systems to pick between

When choosing commercial pool management software, you’ll want to think about the following key points:

1. Ease of Use

With any new software program, there is a learning curve, and it takes time to master the intricacies. However, you should not feel like you have to be Bill Gates to learn aquatic operations software.

Ideally, whichever software program you work with should be easy to learn and use. It should provide you with all of the features you need to carry out your aquatic facility’s functions quickly and effectively. The goal of aquatics software is to make everyone’s job easier, so you increase your ROI while remaining safe and compliant.

2. Flexibility and Adaptability

You want the software you choose for your aquatic operations to provide flexibility coupled with adaptability. It should meet your needs and requirements while functioning effectively. Every aquatic facility is different.

You might need certain features that another operator does not. Ask the vendor about the software’s flexibility and adaptability prior to making the purchase. You’ll want to ensure that the software truly is customizable to meet your particular needs.

3. Security

The software should provide a layer of protection to keep all of your data safe and sure from unauthorized access. Security breaches are not only dangerous and cost your business, but they also tarnish your reputation.

4. Price

Yes, price always matters. You want to ensure that you are not spending too much, and that you are truly gaining the requirements you need before making the purchase. Ideally, the pool aquatic software should meet your facility’s needs while having a low cost of ownership. Never buy software simply because it seems more affordable or cheap because it will probably end up costing your business more in the long run and fail to provide any efficiency savings.

Some programs carry a high price tag to purchase outright but others require ongoing monthly fees, or they charge for support or updates.

5. Diverse Functionality

The aquatics software system should give you broad functionality so you can manage scheduling, reservations, cleaning, maintenance, and more. The best systems meet all of your aquatic facility’s needs.

6. Ongoing Support

With VivoAquatics software, you can effortlessly manage your pool day or night. If your facility’s equipment breaks down, then you can turn to our seven-day-a-week customer service for help. We offer support via chat, email, and phone.

Our water management software provides round-the-clock monitoring, so you know your chemical readings and more. You’ll feel better equipped to tackle minor or serious issues. If you have a problem, we are here to help every step of the way.

Our goal at VivoAquatics is to ensure that you get the most out of our automated water management software system. We give you all of the training and documentation you need to succeed.

3 Additional Ways to Drive Efficiency at Your Aquatics Facility

Here are three more ways to achieve greater savings through more efficient processes and technology.

1. Save By Upgrading Pool Lighting

Reducing energy expenditures such as improving the pool’s pump and lighting systems can all point an aquatic facility in the right direction. Small tweaks like switching from incandescent lighting to LED pool lights within the facility promise to save thousands of dollars each year.

Just the added perk of not having staff waste valuable man hours often replacing bulbs saves on labor expenses. Your staff can focus their efforts on other areas instead of wasting time swapping bulbs.

Many LED pool lights have been designed to use low watts while creating the same output as higher energy use halogen pool lights. In addition, the LED lights will last up to 10 times or longer than incandescent bulbs.

2. Replace the Pool Pump

If your aquatic facility has an older pump and filtration system, then you’re probably experiencing a significant energy waste. As a pump ages, its capacity takes a steep nosedive. If the pump flows as 400 gallons when new, then it's probably producing only 250 to 300 gallons per minute due to age.

Replace the pump’s motors any time you start seeing rust or corrosion or start having to replace the pump’s internal parts. Once the pump starts to take a downturn, it becomes more costly to continue replacing parts than simply buying a new pump model.  

Choose to invest in a high-efficiency model to enjoy greater energy efficiency and savings. Purchasing a newer pump has the capability of increasing energy savings by up to 75% depending on the model.

Large pumps require extensive maintenance costs, so ideally bigger is not always better. If you can use a smaller pump, then your best bet is to downsize to an efficient model that effectively meets your aquatic facility’s needs.

To figure out your pool pump needs, you should consult the manufacturer's specifications to ensure that the pump’s hydraulic characteristics meet the pool’s flow and piping. If your facility is using a pool heating system, then you’ll pump the water through the collectors.

Added ways to improve efficiency include:

• Use a large filter that is rated 50% more than the actual flow rate.
• Decrease or increase the length of the pipe
• Replace any 900-degree elbows with flexible pipes or use 45-degree ones
• Lower the circulation system's hydraulic resistance which will reduce the pump’s electricity use.

If you currently cannot afford to replace your aquatic facility’s pump you can still use certain tips to increase efficiency and enjoy greater savings. Pools that have an old open drift proof (ODP) motor benefit from being replaced with an enclosed fan cooled (TEFC).

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are considered the new go-to for energy conservation. Having a VFD is an excellent long-term investment that can improve savings. You can add the VFD to an existing pump or include one as a part of any new aquatic facility’s construction.

Installing a VFD lets the aquatic facility avoid running its pump system excessively. Instead, you can slow the system down after hours or when the aquatic facility is closed. One report shows that at a YMCA facility, slowing down the pump after hours and then turning it back on an hour before the facility opened provided a savings of $3,700 on the energy bill which came close to paying for the drive within a single year.

3. Improve Heating System Efficiency

Installing a more efficient heating system at your pool and spa facility can increase your savings substantially, especially if your current system is older than 15 or 20 years. Many variables exist to decide the amount of savings with an HVAC system such as the space of the aquatic facility being air-conditioned and heated, geographic location, and temperature flexibility.

A commercial HVAC system for a natatorium or any commercial pool or spa facility differs significantly from systems used for office buildings, stores, warehouses, etc. Indoor pool areas are designed with very cavernous interiors and span a great deal of open square footage.

Aquatic buildings also have extremely soaring ceilings. The sheer magnitude of moisture within the facility from the water, people using the aquatics, and the intake area is excessive. An HVAC system must maintain a comfortable environment for swimmers, and staff while providing safe air quality.

It takes a significant amount of energy to maintain the pool and spa’s water temperature, air quality, and air temperature. You need an HVAC system that has been specially designed to reduce the carbon footprint so you can cut your facility’s energy savings.

Here are a few aquatic facility HVAC tips to consider:

• Never place the HVAC’s air handler over the swimming pool. The pool’s warm, moist air will easily migrate to the HVAC system and lead to costly operational problems.
• Pay attention to the thermostat temperature setting of your HVAC system to help conserve energy. If the pool is used for aquatic therapy, then the water is typically set at 90 degrees or higher. In such a situation, the air temperature of the building is lower than the water temperature to support a comfortable environment. However, in a recreational water facility, the water temperature is usually around 80 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, so the facility’s room temperature is set a few degrees higher to ensure the comfort of the swimmers. The differential between the air and water all changes the HVAC air handling system.
• Depending on the size of your aquatic facility, it might require different HVAC zone temperatures and ventilation. Ventilation near a spa is greater than that of the area by the pool.
• Chemicals used to support the water’s purity are easily dispersed into the air. However, an indoor pool facility requires extensive ventilation to prevent a buildup of chemical concentrations, especially above the water’s surface to help swimmers breathe easier.
• Temperature balance to save energy still is a challenge. In the north, it is expensive to heat an indoor pool facility, but in locations with a southern climate, the summer months are a challenge as an HVAC system struggles to keep the temperature low to prevent swimmers and staff from becoming overheated.
• Moisture is still one of the most pressing problems in any aquatic facility. The HVAC system must supply a sufficient amount of warm air and air movement to combat condensation buildup on doors, windows, and skylights. The main duct design must take into consideration condensation to ensure the system runs smoothly to save energy.

Aquatics operations software lets you effortlessly control your facility’s HVAC system to ensure greater efficiency, so you enjoy more potential savings each month. You can control the ventilation and temperature from any mobile device to set them to the necessary parameters to ensure optimum savings.

We have given you a good foundation on areas of your aquatic facility that consume an excessive amount of energy and how you can curtail them by either regular maintenance or upgrading to more energy-efficient systems. Your pool’s filtration system, lighting, pump, and HVAC system are major players when it comes to energy use and achieving greater efficiency. The next step that you can take to pave the way for higher ROI through efficiency is to bring all the components together for easier management using aquatic operations software.

The Bottom Line

If you want to improve your aquatic facility’s efficiency and gain better ROI, the first step is to invest in the right aquatic operation management software. Think about the features that are important to you and how you want to save on your operation’s energy use. VivoAquatics offers aquatic operations software that helps you manage your commercial pool and spa your way while saving money. Contact us today for a free demo!