Program, Friday, 30(th) October 2015
09:00 a.m. – 09:45 p.m.
Quality assurance for eco swimming pools - on which levels is quality assurance executed and how can we safeguard and maintain a thriving site ?
Enter the words ‚quality assurance’ and ‚eco swimming pool’, or ‚natural swimming pond’ into a search engine and you get a multitude of hits. It is a much used word which can be interpreted in lots of different ways.
Quality assurance: where does it start ? Perhaps already in the promotional material, containing photos and visualisations suggesting szenarios to the reader which are simply not achievable.
Ultimately the focus of quality assurance is based on:
a) the concept and understanding of a qualitatively well functioning natural swimming pond b) the instruments which are needed to construct a natural swimming pond of superior quality and to maintain its quality in the long run. It is our objective that our customers should still be satisfied customers even after 4 or 5 years following construction of the pool or pond, not just for the first 4 or 5 months of its life.
Speaker: Referent: Dr. Sabine Schmidt-Halewicz(D)
Mrs. Schmidt-Halewicz grew up in Hessen and Berlin and has been living in the region of Konstanz for the last 25 years. She studied Biology at the universities of Berlin (FU Berlin) and Freiburg. She successfully completed her degree dissertation about the effects of phosphate substitutes at a stateowned institute in Bavaria. Later she earned a doctorate for her work at a drinking water reservoirmwhere she analysed the composition and transformation of the food chain in that particular water reservoir. In 1995 Mrs. Schmidt-Halewicz set up her own company. In 2001 the company was named
LimSa Gewässerbüro, where she now works with two co-workers. Limsa operates in the following fields:
• Assessment of water quality, for example the water quality of running waters, based on the composition of Makrozoobenthos.
• Eco-Swimming-Poools: Under contract, Limsa oversees the quality management for Eco-Swimming-Pools in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy for a well established company of designers and constructors.
• Analysis of samples of Zooplankton (crustaceans, rotifers, ciliates)
• Conservation of Species: diverse projects relating to conservation of FFH-species, such as recent crayfish species, mussels, dragonflies
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m
Communication break
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
The diversity of algae
Speaker: Lukas Taxböck (CH)
In this presentation, the algae are presented as an organism group. It covers aspects of the algae systematics, the ecology and its use in water ecology practice. Since algae in swimming ponds are mainly seen as a problem, this is an overview of the young work between the ASC Schweiz and the Swiss working group for microflora.
Lukas Taxböck studied biology at the University of Zurich and was first confronted with diatoms while writing his thesis. During continuing research work, became more focused in the systematics, ecology and spread of diatoms in near-natural Swiss springs and their role as a refuge habitat. During assistance work and teaching obligations as well as applied activities as a water ecologist, he gained knowledge of the remaining algae groups. Luka Taxböck currently works as a water ecologist at AquaPlus AG and as the managing director of the association “Schweizerische Arbeitsgemeinschaft Mikroflora (SAM)”.
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m
Coffee break
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
The influence of temperature and solar energy input on the quality of the natural swimming pool
Speaker: Markus Schmalwieser (A)
In this presentation, the limnologist Markus Schmalwieser discusses the direct and indirect effects of radiation and heat on the swimming pond. What problems can arise when the swimming pond is too warm? How does UV radiation effect organisms, animals and plants? Are there stratification phenomenon regarding heat and chemical parameters? These and other questions on the context between radiation and pond quality will be answered in detail in the presentation.
Markus Schmalwieser has a Master’s degree, is a limnologist and operates a technical office for ecology and limnology in Vienna. He is an Austrian court-appointed expert and appraiser for bathing water.
His focus is on long-term cooperation with pond constructors and landscape planners (scientific consulting), the research of ecological contexts in the area around the swimming ponds as well as checking swimming ponds.
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
WORKSHOP: Freedom from barriers, mobility in bathing facilities
Presentation: Tim Köhler(D), Johanne Glock (D)
Together with the moderators Johann Glock and Tim Köhler, the participants will experience first-hand how large and small hurdles can be overcome. The sensitivity for accessibility for everyone is a social obligation, but unfortunately still a rare qualification. With wheelchairs, walkers, age suits and visual limitation eyewear, together we will overcome and be overcome by the barriers on our tour. The workshop is supported by the Cologne-based self-help group for mobility in wheelchairs (Mobilität im Rollstuhl – mobil wie du und ich) and the German blind and visually handicapped association (Deutschen Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband e.V.).
Tim Köhler landscape architecture team plans open-air areas, swimming and natural pools. The demand for a variety of uses for recreational areas requires pragmatic and at the same time creative solutions. Examples are biological salt water treatment, load-bearing filters (some with Kneipp treatment functions), non-swimmer safety grates or secure year-round concepts for open-air pools. Additional activities:
➔ FLL recommendations and regulatory bodies➔ Working group for the DGfnB leaflet on public safety and supervisory obligations in swimming pools with biological water treatment 2015
Johanne Glock is a landscape architect at tim köhler LandschaftsArchitektur – die aquatekten. Her focus on pool and swimming pond systems started early with her scholarly work. After completion of her master with a focus on urban development at the University of Kassel, the planning and development of swimming ponds as well as open-air pools with biological water treatment have remained her work focus. This also includes accessibility.
VENUE: Koelnmesse Congress Centre East Conference level 2nd floor
11.45 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Wet meadows and alpine flora – alternative vegetation on filter bodies depending on P- or C- limitation
Speakers: Dr. Andreas Thon (D) & Professor Dr. Wolfram Kircher (D)
Percolated filter bodies are mostly constructed completely submerged and aim in a Phosphorus-limitation. The range of suitable plant-species is very restricted. In a research project at Anhalt University, Bernburg, alternative plantings were tested on filters, which provide a substrate surface shortly above the water line. In result a rich spectrum of species from lime-fens, raised bogs and alpine vegetation was proofed to provide an exciting appearance. It is important to distinguish between plants for C- or for P-limited systems.
Contents
• Overview on filter variant sand their possibilities to be planted
• P or C as limiting factor
• Trials at Anhalt University in Bernburg
• Species for submerse filter bodies in P-limited pools
• Wet-meadow vegetation on filter bodies in P-limited pools
• Wet-meadow vegetation on filter bodies in C-limited pools
• The rock-garden-filter
• Pilot projects
Dr. Andreas Thon, IBW-Thon is a private Organisation which designs and manages construction for irrigation, biological water purification and planting design. By advanced training and an International network with other Research centers precise analysis and assignment are verified.
Prof. Dr. Wolfram Kircher, Anhalt University, Bernburg. Teaching and research in planting design for landscape architecture. Work focuses: randomly mixed perennial plantings, marsh and aquatic plants, Xerophytes, low maintenance plantings.
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch break
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Lecture by sponsors: Wasserwerkstatt / Polyplan
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m
Natural pool as an essential part of a new kind of garden, the ecosystem-garden, Conservation of endangered species in Chilean meditteranean ecosystem
Speaker: Cristobal Elgueta Marinovic (CL)
Gardening in the 21 st centrury is facing a big transformation. We can even say, “ bigger than everything gardening has faced before”, when fashion, new technologies, changes in the plant industry, discoveries, science and all our new technology, have pulled far away what it was known before those changes happened. Our exponential growth as humans, and all the ressource needed in this process, have produced in our enviroment, a big pressure, with lost of habitat, animal extinction and greenhouse effect.
We can think gardening in terms of just a mix of different plants, or we can finally understand that gardening offers us a big opportunnity in plant and animal conservation, just planning and viewing our garden as a complex and rich ecosystem. Natural pools offers us a great opportunity, allowing us include water in our new created garden-ecosystem. The absence of any kind of chemicals in our pool, create superbs conditions for animals and plants, providing us habitat to permit the recovery of endangered species.
Chile´s meditteranean area is facing the extinction of almost all it native amphibians due to loss of hábitat, pollution, exotic predators and climate changes due to Green house gases. Natural pools appears as an opportunnity for conservation.
Cristóbal Elgueta Marinovic, born in 1975, studied forestry in Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and has been gardening since he was six years old. What in the begenning was his hobby, became after, his job, creating about 250 gardens sinde 1999, most of them designed in a naturalistic way.
Cristóbal has been a pionner in his country, chile, in the use and experimentation with native plants, and creates in 2008 what he called “Jardines ecosistémicos”, a way of gardening where conservation is the based of the desing. At this time, natural pools design and searching for amphibians conservation started.
Many natural pools have then been designed and constructed since, trying to conciliate gardening, humans need and conservation
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WORKSHOP: Water plants
Knowledge in the field of water plants is one of the fundamentals for the successful design of a natural swimming pool.
Presentation: Dr. Klaus van de Weyer (D)
Dr. Klaus van de Weyer, born 10th of May 1961, studied Biology in Berlin and Oldenburg (1982-1988). Since 1989 he is partner of the consultancy lanaplan in Nettetal. In 1997 he received his doctorates degree (Dr. rer. nat.) at the University of Cottbus (Ecology and population biology of the Pondweed Potamogeton polygonifolius). He lives in Nettetal, is married and has three children.
Dr Klaus van de Weyer has worked on macrophytes for 25 years and is a recognized expert in his field. He published various scientific articles, presented his work at various conferences and offered courses on macrophyte taxonomy and identification. As macrophyte expert Dr. Klaus van de Weyer is member of national and international working groups (e.g. CEN/German working group DIN-NAW DIN-NA 119-01-03-05-06 Biological-ecological methods, ICPR - International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine, IUCN - Freshwater Plant Specialist Group).
Dr. Klaus van de Weyer is author of different books („Faszination Niederrhein“ - Fascination Niederrhein, „Bestimmungsschlüssel Wasserpflanzen Deutschland“ - Identification key of the aquatic macrophytes in Germany, „Handbuch Wasserpflanzen“ - Aquatic plants handbook). The Aquatic plants handbook contains information on identification, use and maintenance of aquatic plants in swimming ponds.
Dr. Klaus van de Weyer works as reviewer for national and international scientific journals in the field of botany, nature protection and limnology. He supervises bachelor as well as master studies at different universities.
Dr. Klaus van de Weyer is a scuba diver and underwater photographer. He regularly publishes underwater pictures in national and international journals, books and exhibitions.
VENUE: Koelnmesse Congress Centre East Conference level 2nd floor
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
The vitreous filter
Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Fabian (D)
In many swimming ponds a streamed packed gravel bed is used for biofixation of phosphates. To ensure safe operation, detailed knowledge of the flow guidance is necessary. Mostly the homogeneity of fluid flow is measured by tracer tests that only allow rough estimates of the homogeneity. It could also be possible that the tracer measurements lead to wrong conclusions of the flow through the filter if they are simply analyzed visually. The fluid velocity and the path of the fluid influence the efficacy of phosphate consumption of the biofilm. Therefore a detailed knowledge of the flow through the filter would be useful. Siempelkamp-NIS has developed and validated a numerical model that is able to predict the flow in the filter and the surrounding bathing region in 3D. This program allows the calculation of the homogeneity of the flow through the filter before building it or the determination of the homogeneity of the flow before modification to an existing filter are done. Using this tool allows the evaluation of the best price-performance ratio during the planning time. Furthermore an outlook will be given to extend the model with a phosphate-fixation model or to other applications such as modelling of back-flushing of filters and surface flows.
Graduate physicist Dr. Benjamin Fabian comes from NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH and as project manager specialises in flow and thermal calculations.
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Communication break
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The swimming pond scene in the US
Speaker: James Robyn (USA)
The Swimming Pond Scene in the USA
Robyn will discuss what is happening with NSP installations in the USA marketplace. Examples of installations all across the USA will be shown. The formation of the Association for Swimming Ponds and Natural Swimming Pools (ASPNSP) as the USA member of the IOB will be presented along with an outlook as to the future of NSPs in the USA.
James Robyn is a 2nd generation swimming pool builder – his father, Rin Robyn, began building swimming pools in New Jersey in 1958.
Today Robyn continues to operate a “traditional” swimming pool company, called Rin Robyn Pools®, and he is the President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools in North America. Robyn introduced NSP technology as a systems provider to the USA in 2008 and is the founder of the USA’s Association for Swimming Ponds and Natural Swimming Pools (ASPNSP).
VENUE: Congress Centre East Koelnmesse, Congress-Saal 4th floor
4:00 p.m.
End of the event
