Connected pool technology and how it is reshaping aquatic facilities

The role of smart automation in connected pool management

Automation lies at the heart of connected pool technology thanks to its role in streamlining pool management. The central foundation behind automation solutions is to be able to maintain cleaner, safer, and more efficient operations with minimal manual effort.

This not only reduces the impact of potential human errors, but also allows operators to minimize repetitive tasks for humans and focus on high-value activities, such as attending to swimmers’ experiences.

While current available automating technologies are many and diverse, they can be grouped in the following three categories:

• Cloud-based monitoring and control: this involves the integration of smart pools with IoT (Internet of Things) technology, generating connected digital ecosystems where pool conditions are continuously monitored remotely via cloud-based dashboards. The highlight of this approach is having access to real-time data, which improves decision-making and enables proactive corrections.
• Predictive maintenance: this approach to maintenance is rooted in analyzing historical data and real-time input so that AI-driven systems can predict when maintenance will be required. This results in advanced capacities to prevent costly breakdowns, while also expanding the lifespan of pool equipment.
• Energy management systems: these solutions’ main goal is to optimize electricity and water consumption and consequently reduce utility bills and pools’ environmental impact. In order to do so, they leverage the power of connected data analytics to suggest optimizations such as energy-efficient operation schedules.

The right combination of these automation technologies results in advanced connected pools, where real-time monitoring and data enable advantages such as reduced operational costs and improved water quality.

The result is a connected pool that presents patently clear benefits for both operators and users: while the first streamline their daily tasks and bring down costs, users enjoy a safer, more comfortable swimming experience.

Connected pool technology: the key applications

Smart and automated water treatment and filtration

One of the most critical aspects of a connected pool is its ability to maintain optimal water quality via automated solutions that regulate water treatment and filtration systems.

At the center of these intelligent systems is the use of sensors and real-time monitoring to ensure chemical balance in water. Two key benefits of this approach include reducing the need for manual intervention and ensuring water quality at all times. At the same time, operational costs are also reduced, as the need to deal with major imbalances in water chemistry is minimized, and so are the ensuing costs.

Among these technologies, the following two stand out for their capacity to completely reshape water treatment solutions:

• Automated chemical dosing: advanced applications in charge of measuring pH levels, chlorine, and other water parameters to then automatically adjust dosages in order to maintain perfect chemical balance in water. This not only ensures safer swimming conditions but also minimizes chemical waste.
• Monitoring filtration and recirculation systems: based on smart data, these applications enhance efficiency by adjusting flow rates based on demand. Such is the case of variable-speed pumps which, paired with filtration mechanisms, help to extend the life of filters while consuming less energy. A key advancement here are real-time flow sensors, which adjust water recirculation based on usage patterns so that stagnant water is prevented and overall cleanliness, achieved.

The combination of technologies represents a game-changing advancement for commercial and public pools, as they allow them to significantly enhance water clarity and hygiene while reducing operational costs.

Intelligent pool lighting and heating systems

Optimizing lightning in pool facilities stands out as a key measure to increase their functionality and appeal. Additionally, as energy efficiency becomes a priority for commercial and public pool operators, intelligent lighting and heating solutions emerge as a crucial investment to meet these new concerns and standards.

As part of advanced connected pool lightning solutions, three of the most transformative options today include:

• Smart LED lighting: smart pool technology applied to monitoring and optimizing LED lighting systems means customizable illumination is achievable for operators. Thanks to these technologies, brightness and electricity consumption can adapt to natural light conditions, events, or specific operational hours, enhancing savings but also improving safety by ensuring well-lit swimming areas.
• Energy-efficient heating: within the connected pool framework, smart pool applications and thermostats are in charge of analyzing weather conditions and usage patterns to regulate heating efficiently. Modern pool heating solutions work by adjusting heat pumps and dehumidification systems to actual conditions, allowing pools to maintain optimal temperatures and humidity according to real-time data, and optimizing energy consumption as a result.
• Digital twin technologies: in charge of generating virtual replicas of physical pools, they continuously collect and analyze real-time data from sensors and smart devices in order to optimize connected pool design and management.

While a major opportunity of digital twins is related to optimizing lightning and heating, their impact goes beyond, as their true value lies in allowing operators to monitor and analyze a wide variety of data in real time. As such, they represent invaluable allies for predicting potential costs, equipment failures, optimize maintenance schedules, and ensure optimal water conditions at all times.

Enhanced safety and user control

Connected pool technology offers advanced solutions to prevent accidents and ensure compliance with regulations, helping public and commercial pools prioritize swimmer safety.

Among the solutions aiming at increased safety the following stand out:

• Tools for user control and access management: these tools enable operators to monitor use patterns and the intensity of pool use in order to adjust pool settings accordingly. Through mobile applications and cloud-based platforms, these technologies put user experience optimization at the forefront, while also enabling better resource planning for pool operators. For instance, if a pool is heavily used during certain hours of the day, or certain days, the system can automatically increase filtration or adjust lighting to ensure safety and the highest water quality standards at all times.
• Automated pool covers: conventional pool covers help maintain water temperature, reduce evaporation, and prevent debris accumulation. Meanwhile, smart pool covers have the added benefit of being controlled remotely and automatically. This facilitates management, as it ensures the pool remains covered at required times, thereby maximizing its potential for energy efficiency and water conservation.
• Anti-drowning systems: AI-driven drowning detection systems have emerged that use underwater cameras, motion sensors, and AI algorithms to detect irregular swimming patterns. These can be helpful in detecting if a swimmer is at risk, so that an alert is triggered allowing lifeguards to respond immediately.

Why invest in a connected pool?

The benefits of connected pool technology extend beyond automation and convenience. As seen across the article, the connected pool allows for a complete redefinition of how a pool is operated and what its expected costs and needs are.

As such, it allows to break through some of the most common challenges in pool operation, while enabling key transformations in swimmers’ experiences and safety.

Put simply, integrating smart solutions within a connected pool model allows commercial and public pool operators to achieve:

• Reduced operational costs through decreasing energy and water consumption.
• Enhanced user experience, with improved accessibility, safety and comfort for users.
• Improved safety standards, with dedicated systems for providing real-time alerts to prevent accidents, and the possibility to apply automatic adjustments in water filtration and lightning as key measures for pool security
• More sustainable operations, as some of the key connected pool technologies allow for optimizing energy consumption and improving resource management according to real-time data, rather than assumptions.

Connected pool applications: transforming operations in aquatic facilities today and in the future

Connected pool technology is shaping the next generation of commercial and public pools, today. From intelligent water treatment and filtration to AI-driven safety solutions, automation is enabling key benefits and transforming pool operators’ capacities, going from reactive problem-solving, to predictive operations.

By investing in these innovations, commercial aquatic facilities not only see improvements in efficiency and cost reductions, but also create a safer and more enjoyable swimming environment for users.

This raises the bar for swimmers and their experiences, with connected pools gaining a competitive advantage and greater chances of differentiation in today’s market.

As such, all signs point for now being the right time for commercial and public pool operators to embrace smart automation to stay ahead in the industry.