What does a failed microbiological test mean?
The presence of bacteria in your hot tub water which makes the water unsafe for use is indicated by a failed microbiological test. Different factors such as contamination through accidents or intentional acts along with polluted water sources and faulty hot tub design and poor water balance management can cause this issue.
How should I respond if my hot tub gives a microbiological test failure result?
The immediate shutdown of your hot tub is necessary before you begin a complete drain-down procedure followed by a deep cleaning process to remove the contamination. This process involves:
Removing and replacing filters: Remove old filters because they could be contaminated and install new ones. The process requires removal of inline feeders with disposal of their contents along with pillow extraction for cleaning purposes.
Disinfecting surfaces: The solution consists of AquaSPArkle Mini Kwik tablets dissolved in water which serves to sanitize hot tub pillows and inline feeders and hot tub cover.
Deep cleaning the hot tub: The system needs hot tub cleaner products such as Gold Horizons Spa Super Cleanse tablets and Hot Tub Flush to remove biofilm according to product instructions for sanitizing the system.
Draining and cleaning the hot tub: The hot tub needs complete draining through a submersible pump followed by scum line cleaning using a surface cleaner before a thorough rinse. The hot tub cover needs disinfectant solution cleaning for both internal and external surfaces.
Refilling and shocking the hot tub: The hose must be flushed before filling the hot tub with water. When the hot tub reaches its full capacity the user should add a high concentration of unstabilized chlorine (such as Gold Horizons Rapid Shock) to reach 50mg/l free chlorine for bacterial elimination.
The process of reducing chlorine levels begins after keeping the solution at high concentration for a minimum of one hour through the addition of Gold Horizons Quick Chlorine Reducer Liquid to achieve a safe free chlorine level of 9mg/l.
Hot tub water should undergo retesting after cleaning up to verify the cleaning effectiveness and safety for use.
How do you evaluate bacteria success and failure rates in hot tubs through their respective pass and fail parameters?
Bacteria Pass (cfu/unit) Fail (cfu/unit)
Legionella< 1000 cfu/litre≥ 1000 cfu/litre
Total Coliforms< 10 cfu/ml≥ 10 cfu/ml
E-Coli< 10 cfu/100ml≥ 10 cfu/100ml
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa< 10 cfu/100ml≥ 10 cfu/100ml
TV (ACC) @ 37°C< 50 cfu/100ml≥ 50 cfu/100ml
What actions should you take if Pseudomonas Aeruginosa exists in your hot tub?
The bacteria Pseudomonas Aeruginosa produces two main health effects which include skin rashes and ear infections. Your immediate response should be to perform testing on a duplicate hot tub water sample after detecting the bacteria at any concentration between 10-50 cfu/100ml.
Repeat testing: A follow-up test sample should be obtained for laboratory verification of bacterial presence.
Deep cleaning: Thoroughly scrub the balance tank walls, clean the filter, and chlorinate the water to 10mg/l free chlorine. Circulate the water and flush the system.
Investigate further: Thorough analysis of filtration and disinfection operations must be performed to detect bacterial origins when Pseudomonas Aeruginosa appears in repeated tests.
Old filters require disposal after a failed test because they often contain bacteria together with biofilm.
The same chemical quantities used for routine hot tub maintenance cannot be employed for cleaning after a microbiological test failure.
The chemical dosages required for deep cleaning after a microbiological test failure exceed standard maintenance levels. Follow the product instructions and use the suggested dosage rates for post-failed test cleaning.
What would happen if we eliminate chlorine during the cleaning process?
The absence of chlorine during the cleaning process turns the water into a bacteria-friendly environment. Residual bacteria remain present even when the hot tub appears clean because they can rapidly multiply and restore water contamination when chlorine levels remain insufficient.
After finishing the deep clean process what steps should I take?
The deep cleaning process completion requires you to schedule another bacteriological water test for validating your cleaning success and ensuring hot tub safety.