Sterling Upgrade Pool Plant as part of £1.3m refurbishment to Ongar LC

During 2020, a £1.3m refurbishment was given to the 25m five lane swimming pool at Ongar Leisure Centre in Chipping Ongar, Essex. The project aimed to upgrade the pool plant and plant room, add LED lighting and extend its life by around seven years. The Mechanical & Electrical Engineers for the project was Balm and Davies who, in November 2020, sub-contracted the replacement of the pool plant to Sterling Hydrotech, who were given the responsibility of increasing energy efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.

Analysing the health of the plant and identifying upgrade options

The overall aim of the project was to increase energy efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. On inspection, Sterling found that the existing steel filter vessels, circulation pumps and pipework in the plant room were beyond economical repair and would need to be replaced, although the existing plate heat exchanger was in good condition and was retained.

The new system required a new Category 5 raw water feed tank and booster pump set to comply with the water company’s regulations, a new bulk sodium hypochlorite storage tank for disinfection, a hydrochloric acid dosing system for pH correction and new polyaluminium chloride dosing system using a Flocdos dosing pump to provide coagulation of particles and removal of Cryptosporidium. The existing Ezetrol chemical dosing controller was in good condition and was retained.

Read the full story here.