Aqua activities in the world of sports requires mega infrastructure basically consisting of four types water infrastructure which are universally classified as

• Private facilities

• Public facilities

• Commercial facilities

• Fantancy facilities

The major form activities indulged in these facilities health, recreation, competition, and therapy. The main elements of these structures are water and water as such is a natural compound found through various sources. Water obtained from these source cannot be taken for granted and with heightening level of pollution. One has to pay a lot of attention towards maintenance of water in any of the facilities.

This paper is designed with the objective of bringing forth all essential concepts related to water which not only a swimmer, coach, a physical education teacher or management of the facility should understand but also any layman who wants to enter the water in these facilities should have the knowledge of the same.

1. Maintenance of PH value [7.2-7.6] 2. Disinfection of water 3. Filtration 4. Calcium hardness [200-400ppm] 5. Total dissolved solids [1000-2000ppm]

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Present paper is limited only to the concept of maintenance of P.H value. PH is the most important element in aqua activity‘s water chemistry –it affects every other chemical balance in the water. The term P.H stand for potential of hydrogen. It is basically a measure of the acidity or alkality of a solution. The P.H value below 7.2 is considered as acidic, above 7.6 is alkalic and 7.4 is considered as neutral. The desirable PH value which is considered as normal for both human body and water is 7.4. Hence it is desirable to maintain the PH value of water it any of the water facilities between 7.2 to 7.6.

EFFECT OF LOW P H VALUE [BELOW 7.2]

 Water corrodes equipment  Eye and skin irritating  Increases algae growth

EFFECT OF HIGH PH VALUE [ABOVE 7.6]

 Chlorine becomes ineffective [kills more slowly]  Leads to formation of scaling  Filter run of water is too short  Eye and skin irritation

 Increased alkality  Temperature  Algae  Incorrect dosage of water  Calcium hardness  Excessive total dissolves chlorine  Improper practice by the swimmers.

The two common methods adopted for testing the ph value of water is by  PH strips

 Reduce increased alkality adding miratic acid/sodium sulfate.  As temperature increases chlorine starts evaporating is higher rate hence compensate by adding necessary chlorine.  Maintain proper balance of chlorine to reduce algue and other bacterial infection.  Check the pool water at necessary and proper intervals [on an average 4 to 6 times a day]  Inculcate discipline of costume and pre bath among the bathers/ swimmers.  Educate bathers/ swimmers not to use costumes before entering water.

 Skin infections  Eye, ear, throat, infections  Respiratory infections  Intestinal infections  Blood borne infections

Maintenance of P H value in any aquatic facility is a major challenge for any facilitator, but if not maintained correctly it may lead to many infectious diseases health issues and hampered performance since the people who use these facilities are the one who suffer if water is not maintained. Hence they have to be educated and enlightened in this regard.

Euro School, Dept. of Physical Education, Bangalore