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What water treatment does a commercial splash pad need?
Quick answer
Recirculating commercial pads need primary chlorination (1-3 ppm), pH balance (7.2-7.8), filtration, and secondary disinfection — UV at 40 mJ/cm² or ozone — to inactivate cryptosporidium. Flow-through pads can sometimes skip secondary if water is single-pass potable. Codes vary by state and specific pad type.
Commercial splash pad water treatment requirements derive from state pool codes, increasingly aligned with the CDC's Model Aquatic Health Code. Recirculating pads (treating and reusing water) require: primary chlorination maintained at 1-3 ppm with continuous monitoring; pH at 7.2-7.8; alkalinity 80-120 ppm; sand or cartridge filtration sized for the loop turnover (typically 30-60 minutes); and secondary disinfection — UV at 40 mJ/cm² or ozone — because chlorine alone takes days to kill cryptosporidium and crypto is the leading cause of recreational water outbreaks. Flow-through pads using single-pass potable water sometimes qualify for reduced treatment under state code, since the water is discarded after one cycle. Either system needs a backflow preventer on the potable supply, automated chemical feed, and continuous logging. Treatment failure is the #1 cited inspection violation. Budget $25K-$75K for treatment equipment in new builds.