Low cost and sanitary efficient system and method that creates two different treatment zones in large water bodies to facilitate direct contact recreational activities

SANITARY EFFICIENT METHOD AND SYSTEM THAT CREATES, AT LOW COST, TWO DIFFERENT TREATMENT ZONES IN LARGE BODIES OF WATER FOR

FACILITATE DIRECT CONTACT RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

This application is being filed on May 28, 2020, as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Application Serial No. 16/456,762, filed on June 28, 2019, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

1. FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the treatment of a large body of water to make it suitable for recreational purposes; more specifically, to treating the water using a low-cost sanitary system and method that eliminates the risk of growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others, thereby addressing the inefficiencies of conventional methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost manner. More specifically, the invention relates to a low-cost, sanitary-efficient system and method that creates two different treatment zones in large bodies of water to facilitate direct-contact recreational activities.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional pool technology has been used and applied to treat water in small recreational bodies of water for decades. However, this technology has proven inefficient in treating and eliminating several microorganisms from relatively small bodies of water.

On the other hand, large bodies of water, such as lakes used for swimming (hereafter referred to as swimming lakes or “swimming lakes”) with higher dilution capacities, also present problems and are inefficient in inactivating and eliminating some microorganisms, regardless of whether the water in the body is treated periodically or not.

Furthermore, conventional pool technology, when applied to large bodies of water, requires significant capital, energy, and chemical costs to complete its operation and maintenance. These costs make the use of conventional pool technology very expensive when applied to large bodies of water.

In general, recreational water bodies such as swimming pools and large bodies of water such as swimming lakes are always prone to contamination by microorganisms such as bacteria,

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, among others, that can generate risks for bathers who use such bodies of water for swimming, bathing and for other recreational uses of direct contact.

A. Swimming pools

For decades, swimming pool technology has been the most widely used water treatment technology for recreational swimming bodies of water. During this time, various health authorities around the world have adopted water treatment regulations to establish minimum health standards for swimming pools.

Conventional pool technology essentially requires continuous disinfection of the entire volume of water to maintain a high ORP (oxidation reduction potential) or disinfectant level, such as free chlorine, in the water. In addition, filtration of the entire water volume is required between one and six times per day (usually four times per day) to remove all suspended particles and contaminants.

However, it's important to understand that, contrary to popular belief, conventional pool disinfection technology doesn't instantly kill all germs or microorganisms. In fact, there are chlorine-resistant microorganisms that can survive in chlorinated pool water and cause Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs). Although some bacteria are killed within seconds by normal pool disinfection levels, many microorganisms have a high tolerance to chlorine or other disinfectants. These microorganisms can survive for several days after a pool contamination event, as pool disinfection treatment is not designed to kill all of these microorganisms. One microorganism that is highly resistant to conventional pool disinfection technologies is Cryptosporidium, for example. This is a major cause of RWI, especially in treated bodies of water such as swimming pools, as discussed above. In fact, several studies show that free chlorine levels of approximately 1 to 3 ppm (as found in conventionally treated pools) can take more than 10 days to inactivate 99.9% of Cryptosporidium oocysts, since this microorganism is highly resistant to conventional pool disinfection methods. Therefore, many swimmers may swim in a pool treated in accordance with the relevant regulations for pool disinfection standards during that 10-day period and be exposed to infection by that microorganism.

Furthermore, with regard to conventional pool filtration technology, it is important to mention that sand filters are generally capable of filtering particles in the size range of up to 20-25 microns while cartridge filters are typically capable of removing particles in the size range of up to 5-10 microns. Furthermore, as an example, Cryptosporidium oocysts have

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal approximately 4 to 6 microns in size. This makes them very difficult to remove using conventional filtration in swimming pools, as commonly used filters can only remove about 25% of the oocysts that pass through the filter.

In view of the above, it will be clear that when a contamination event occurs in a swimming pool, disinfection and filtration systems are not equipped to eliminate such microorganisms. Traditional disinfection is not sufficient to inactivate or kill such microorganisms, and traditional filtration systems cannot eliminate them from the water in a timeframe that guarantees that people will not become infected once contamination occurs. In particular, this is because conventional pool technologies require the entire volume of water in the pool to be filtered, which is a slow process that does not even allow for the complete filtration of all oocysts in an appropriate time frame, coupled with the fact that chlorine may not inactivate all oocysts of certain microorganisms in a period of less than 10 days. Consequently, if a contamination event occurs in the pool, these microorganisms can go undetected and infect many swimmers before they are properly treated and removed from the pool water.

Therefore, swimming pools are prone to RWIs caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others present in the water, which can have a high resistance to conventional pool water treatment methods and, therefore, can reach bathers either by swallowing the water, breathing resuspended microorganisms, or simply by having direct contact with the water.

A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) summarized 90 reports of recreational waterborne disease outbreaks that occurred during 2011 and 2012 in 32 states and Puerto Rico, where 69 outbreaks (76.6%) were found in conventionally treated pools. Similarly, a 2007 CDC study summarized the 78 overall reports of recreational waterborne illness outbreaks that occurred during 2005–2006, indicating that 4,412 people were ill, resulting in 116 hospitalizations and five deaths. Of those 78 outbreak reports, 31 (40%) were caused by Cryptosporidium. Another study notes that in June 2003, a Giardia intestinalis outbreak occurred in a group of Massachusetts membership clubs, resulting in 149 cases, including secondary person-to-person transmission. Additionally, in July 2003, a Cryptosporidium outbreak spread to several Kansas swimming pools and daycare centers, resulting in 617 cases. This latest outbreak was the largest recreational water outbreak during 2003-2004. In July 2004, a Cryptosporidium outbreak at a community pool in Ohio caused gastroenteritis in 160 people in three counties, and in August 2004, employees at a California aquatic facility with gastroenteritis continued to engage in work and recreational activities at pools, resulting in a Cryptosporidium outbreak involving 336 people with related illnesses.

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In 2008, the CDC reported that cases of RWI caused by Cryptosporidium in the U.S. had tripled since 2004. However, this increase may have been influenced by more advanced detection methods, for example, meaning that earlier cases may have existed but gone undetected. More recently, data collected during 2013–2014 by the CDC indicates that there were more than 71 reported cases of swimming pool outbreaks in the U.S. U.S., resulting in more than 950 cases. From 2000 to 2014, more than 450 outbreaks have been reported, resulting in more than 27,000 cases, with more than half of these cases due to Cyptosporidium.

The cases described above reinforce the fact that some microorganisms, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, among others, are not effectively eliminated by conventional pool treatment methods or systems. Therefore, although it is a common belief that RWIs are a risk only in untreated water bodies, most cases where RWIs have caused multiple people to become ill have occurred in conventionally treated water bodies, such as swimming pools, highlighting the need for improved methods and systems for treating and maintaining recreational water bodies.

In addition to contamination due to microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, swimming pools are prone to RWIs caused by amoebae present in the water. For example, a 2003 study in Santiago, Chile, found that five of eight public swimming pools had free-living amoebae during the summer, and that Naegleria fowleri and Acanthoamoebas were present in 36.3% of the samples. Furthermore, the study reported that one such public pool where no free-living amoebas or microorganisms were found, had an extremely high chlorine concentration that made the surrounding air inhalable and caused eye irritation (especially since it was an indoor pool with poor air circulation).

More recently, in Spain, a 10-year-old girl from the province of Toledo recovered from the first recorded case in Spain of primary amoebic encephalitis (PAM) caused by Nayria Fowleri, which was contracted in a public swimming pool treated and maintained with Standard Pool Technology. Primary amebic meningitis (PAM) is an extremely aggressive disease that causes severe headache, fever, and stiff neck for several days and leads to death in 97% of detected cases. This case surprised doctors and health officials because the public pool where the girl contracted the disease met chlorine levels and filtration standards considered safe.

Currently, if such a contamination event occurs in a pool, there are generally one of two outcomes:

- If the contamination event goes undetected, which is usually the case, then the microorganisms will remain and spread in the water, potentially infecting many bathers.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal (even if the water is being treated by the conventional pool system) which means there could be more than 10 days of exposure of bathers to dangerous microorganisms. Furthermore, as emphasized above, conventional pool filtration systems take a long time to remove oocytes from the water, as there is only partial filtration and, in some cases, due to their size, the oocytes cannot be removed at all.

- If contamination is detected, inactivating and eliminating oocytes requires closing the pool for several days and sometimes even draining the entire pool volume, which rarely occurs. Alternatively, the pool may undergo a hyperchlorination process, which requires an extremely high chlorine concentration. As described above, this can make the surrounding air inhalable and cause eye and skin irritation.

In conclusion, conventional pool technologies, which combine disinfection and filtration processes, are not equipped to treat some microorganisms, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, among others, making it difficult to ensure that water used for direct recreational purposes is free of disease-causing microorganisms. Conventional pool systems are slow or ineffective at eliminating these types of microorganisms, even though they comply with required local regulations.

B. Large bodies of water

As mentioned above, there are also large bodies of water, such as swimming lakes used for direct contact purposes, which are partially treated. These bodies of water are also prone to high risks associated with the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others. In some cases, deaths occur after a person becomes infected.

Generally, these large bodies of water are partially treated using methods that essentially consist of reduced applications of conventional pool technologies. Therefore, when these bodies of water are treated, the disinfectant levels and filtration rates are typically much lower than those required in conventional pools. For example, instead of maintaining a permanent 1 ppm of free chlorine in the entire water volume (as in a conventional pool), such large bodies of water maintain much lower levels and not necessarily permanently, and instead of filtering the entire water volume four to six times a day (as required in a conventional pool), the water volume is filtered partially and/or less frequently. This partial disinfection and filtration is applied in such large bodies of water mainly due to economic reasons, since the use of conventional pool technologies in large bodies of water would require very high capacity system and equipment costs, as well as

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal high operating costs related to the amount of chemicals needed and electricity for filtration purposes.

It's also important to note that such partially treated swimming lakes generally have low water clarity and transparency. This contrasts with the clarity and crystal-clear conditions of conventional pools, which are primarily the result of partial filtration of the water volume.

When dealing with confined recreational water bodies, such as partially treated lakes and larger man-made ponds, it is important to note that when not treated with conventional pool technology, significant health risks can arise. For example, there have been many accidents caused by dangerous microorganisms in large man-made bodies of water that were not treated using traditional pool technologies, but instead used a partial application of such technology.

A representative case is Disney's River County, where an 11-year-old boy died from Naeglma Fowleri, which he contracted while swimming in its man-made lagoon. Another case occurred at the National Whitewater Center in North Carolina, where an 18-year-old woman died approximately a week after contracting the amoeba while rafting there.

Another recent accident occurred at an artificial surfing lake in Waco, Texas, which did not use conventional pool technology, but rather partial water disinfection and filtration. In this accident, a 29-year-old surfer contracted the Naegleria fowleri amoeba and died on September 21, 2018. Although this accident had fatal consequences, when water quality tests were conducted on September 27, 2018, the amoeba was not found in the surf lake, but in nearby bodies of water. Therefore, it is very important to emphasize that a simple water quality analysis is generally not adequate to prevent these types of accidents, as these microorganisms may be present in specific sectors within water bodies and/or located in corners.

As an indication of the size of the problem, there have been more than 140 reported cases in the United States of the amoeba Natgleria fowleri, with a mortality rate of 97%.

Natgleria fowleri enters the body through the nose, from where it travels to the central nervous system and causes acute brain inflammation, ultimately leading to primary meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that results in the destruction of brain tissue. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the brain-eating amoeba. Meningoencephalitis has an incubation period of between two and eight days, and in almost all cases results in the death of the infected patient.

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Acanthoamoebas, on the other hand, enter the human body through the eyes or cuts in the skin, traveling to the central nervous system and with an incubation period of only a few days. In the latter case, most cases end in death.

Both amoebas and Acanthoamoebas are particularly dangerous when present in bodies of water with strong currents or constant water movement that resuspends sediment accumulated on the bottom surface of the water. This resuspension increases the chances of the bacteria reaching the noses and eyes of swimmers.

Monitoring amoebas through water quality analysis is extremely complex and requires specific knowledge. Furthermore, it is not sufficient to conduct a few water samples at different locations within water bodies, as such an analysis would not allow for the same results to be drawn for other locations, as mentioned above. Such amoebae can be present in certain locations within water bodies, hiding in corners or in bottom sediments. Therefore, detecting these amoebae requires training, specific analysis, and controls, all of which illustrates the need for a system and method to properly treat recreational swimming lakes to prevent or minimize such risks.

Therefore, there are currently no methods or systems that provide complete sanitary safety in conventional swimming pools or in large, partially treated bodies of water used for recreational purposes. Conventional systems, even for swimming pools, would require very high levels of disinfectants, which, in addition to being extremely expensive, can create a toxic environment and unsafe conditions for swimmers and bystanders. Furthermore, it has been shown that even when all standards generally considered safe in a pool are met, RWI can still occur.

C. Disinfection index

The standards and requirements for treating and maintaining swimming pools or large bodies of water include conventional swimming pool requirements and US EPA bacteriological standards, among others. However, these standards may sometimes fall short of ensuring that there will be no health risks due to the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others, in the water.

One way to apply the appropriate disinfection to inactivate different microorganisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, among others, is the use of the CT index. This index is the result of a specific concentration of a disinfectant C and the amount of time T that the disinfectant is in contact with water at said specific concentration to achieve a

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal adequate disinfection. Therefore, the CT index is determined by multiplying both values, as can be seen in the following equation:

" . · ...... Γ^m91

CT = Disinfectant concentration [-^-] χ Contact time [mm]

Different CT values allow for the inactivation of different microorganisms, parasites, and protozoa, depending on the type of disinfectant used, the temperature and pH of the water, and the level of inactivation required. Table 1 below illustrates the CT values for the inactivation of microorganisms.

TABLE 1

<td></td><td>Disinfectant</td><td>Inactivation</td><td>Temperature</td><td>CT value</td>

<td>Giardia oocytes</td><td>Ozone</td><td>^{1 it}g</td><td>10 ° C</td><td>0.48 (6 &lt;pH &lt;9)</td>

<td>Giardia oocytes</td><td>Ozone</td><td>^{1 it}g</td><td>25 ° C</td><td>0.16 (6 &lt;pH &lt;9)</td>

<td>Giardia oocytes</td><td>Chlorine</td><td>^{1 it}g</td><td>10 ° C</td><td>112 (for pH = 7)</td>

<td>Giardia oocytes</td><td>Chlorine</td><td>^{1 it}g</td><td>10 ° C</td><td>162 (for pH = 8)</td>

<td>Cryptosporidium</td><td>Chlorine</td><td>^{3 it}g</td><td>25 ° C</td><td>15,300 (pH &lt;7.5)</td>

<td>01011.1 Fowleri (trophozoites)</td><td>Chlorine</td><td>^{3 it}g</td><td>25 ° C</td><td>9 (for pH 7.5)</td>

<td>Naeglma Fowleri (Trophozoites)</td><td>Chlorine</td><td>^{3 it}g</td><td>25 ° C</td><td>23 (for pH 9)</td>

<td>Naegleria Fowleri (Oocytes)</td><td>Chlorine</td><td>^{3 it}g</td><td>25 ° C</td><td>42 (for pH 7.5)</td>

<td>Naegleria Fowleri (Oocytes)</td><td>Chlorine</td><td>^{3 it}g</td><td>25 ° C</td><td>50 (for pH 9)</td>

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Inactivation is measured as 1 log, 2 log, 3 log or 4 log, as illustrated in Table 2 below:

TABLE 2

<td>^{1 it}g</td><td>90% inactivation</td>

<td>^{2 it}g</td><td>99% inactivation</td>

<td>^{3 it}g</td><td>99.9% inactivation</td>

<td>^{4 it}g</td><td>99.99% inactivation</td>

In general, bacteria are easily inactivated, while microorganisms such as Giardia intestinalis and C. poridium, among others, are very difficult to inactivate. For example, inactivating 1 log of Giardia oocytes at 10°C and a pH of 7 requires a CT value of 112. This means that the following disinfection alternatives can be used:

- A C concentration of 1 ppm can be used for a T time of 112 minutes, achieving a CT of 112

CT = 1 \-^]% 112[min] = 112 [—^xmin]

- A C concentration of 2 ppm can be used for a T time of 56 minutes, achieving a CT of 112

CT = 1 [-^] x 112[min] = 112 \~^^x min]

Therefore, in the previous example, it can be seen that to achieve the same CT value, a higher concentration of C results in a lower application time T.

Adequate disinfection must be achieved in recreational water bodies to provide safe sanitary conditions for direct contact purposes. Although some microorganisms are easily inactivated with conventional pool disinfection methods, there are microorganisms that are resistant to conventional disinfection and filtration methods and therefore require other types of treatment to provide a safe, sanitary body of water.

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Therefore, there is a need to provide a method and system that performs water treatment and minimizes the risk of contamination in large bodies of water from microorganisms commonly found in recreational waters, such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, among others, thus solving the inefficiencies of current methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost way.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a system and method for treating a large body of water to make the water suitable for recreational purposes.

The methods and systems according to the principles of the invention provide a low-cost sanitation system and a method that minimizes the risks of contamination from microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others. This system and method can be used in swimming lakes and large artificial bodies of water, among others.

In any case, the principles of the invention include the designation of two different treatment zones in the large body of water. The two zones have different configurations and treatment methods. The first zone is a settling zone. This zone is primarily used to provide treatment and settling of microorganisms and/or contaminants to inactivate and/or remove them from the water body. The second zone is a dissipation zone. This zone is where most recreational activities are intended to occur. In this dissipation zone, a water flow is established that, together with natural currents produced by winds and/or water temperature differences, allows for a water dissipation pattern from the water volume within dissipation zone 2 to sedimentation zone 1. In addition, continuous disinfection of the water volume in the dissipation zone is provided.

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an efficient, low-cost and sanitary method for providing large bodies of water for direct contact recreational purposes, of at least 3,000 m2, the method comprising: designate a settling zone 1 and a dissipation zone 2 in the large body of water, apply a disinfection method based on a CT index and apply an efficient amount of a flocculant composition in settling zone 1 that helps in the settling of different microorganisms and/or contaminants that are present in settling zone 1, and minimize the movement of water volume within the settling zone, so as to minimize disturbance of the settling process; maintaining a permanent residual chlorine level in the volume of water in the dissipation zone 2 by adding an effective amount of a chlorine-based disinfectant to the dissipation zone 2 such that at least a level of 0.5 mg/L of free chlorine is maintained in the volume of water contained within the dissipation zone 2; injecting water into the dissipation zone by means of one or more nozzles

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal inlet that, together with natural currents produced by winds and/or water temperature differences, allow the generation of a water dissipation pattern from the volume of water within dissipation zone 2 towards sedimentation zone 1, and where dissipation zone 2 is configured and arranged to allow a Pollution Reduction Index (CRI) of up to 30 minutes.

According to other aspects according to the method described in the previous paragraph, the sedimentation zone 1 and the dissipation zone 2 are not separated by a physical barrier and the ratio of the water volume within the dissipation zone to the water volume within the sedimentation zone is 1:2 to 1:40. The method further comprises designing the settling zone such that, on a daily average, no more than 20% of the total number of bathers utilizing the large body of water are present in the settling zone 1, and wherein the settling zone 1 is primarily intended for secondary, non-direct contact recreational purposes; where the method further comprises designing the dissipation zone for direct contact purposes such as swimming; and/or further design the dissipation zone so that, on a daily average, 80% or more of the bathers using the large body of water are present in dissipation zone 2.

It will be appreciated that large bodies of water with which the principles of the present invention can be used include natural bodies of water (such as swimming lakes) or artificial bodies of water.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for establishing a large body of water suitable for direct contact recreational purposes, where the large body of water covers at least 3,000 m² and has a periphery of 12 and a bottom, where the system comprises:

a sedimentation zone 1 located within a portion of the large body of water 3 and along a portion of the periphery 12;

a system for dosing chemical products 19 within the sedimentation zone arranged and configured to apply:

i) disinfecting agents in the volume of water within the sedimentation zone to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours, where C is defined as the concentration and T is defined as the minimum contact time, and ii) flocculant agents in the sedimentation zone that help in the sedimentation process of the different microorganisms, parasites and protozoa that are present in the water body and inactivated by the CT cycle;

a dissipation zone located within a portion of the large body of water and along a portion of the periphery 12;

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal a system for dosing chemicals 29 into the dissipation zone, configured to maintain a residual chlorine in the volume of water within the water of the dissipation zone, wherein at least a free chlorine level of 0.5 mg/L is maintained in the volume of water located within the dissipation zone; and one or more inlet nozzles 26 along the dissipation zone 2 within the dissipation zone, arranged and configured to inject water into the dissipation zone, which together with natural currents produced by winds and/or differences in water temperature, They allow the generation of a water dissipation pattern from the volume of water within the dissipation zone 2 towards the sedimentation zone 1 and minimally disturb the volume of water within the sedimentation zone, thus minimizing the disturbance of the sedimentation process.

The advantages and features that characterize the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims appended to this document and forming a part thereof. However, for a better understanding of the inventions, reference should be made to the drawings that form part of this document and to the accompanying descriptive material, in which preferred embodiments of the inventions are illustrated and described.

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like parts in the various views:

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a large body of water comprising two separate zones, a sedimentation zone 1 and a dissipation zone 2.

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a large body of water including a sedimentation zone 1 and two dissipation zones 2.

Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged portion of the water body of Figure 1 showing an embodiment of the sedimentation zone 1 and the dissipation zone 2.

Figs. 4A-4G show an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating the method of the invention.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a functional block diagram of the various components that may be used in an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 schematically illustrates a portion of the periphery 12 of a large body of water in an area of the dissipation zone 2.

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Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment method used in connection with the present invention.

4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying figures. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are also possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, rearranging, or adding steps to the described methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the scope of the invention.

The present invention relates to a low-cost and sanitary-efficient method for providing large bodies of water with two different treatment zones for direct contact recreational purposes.

The low cost and sanitary efficient method of the present invention addresses the technical inefficiencies of conventional swimming pool technologies for maintaining safe and sanitary conditions in bodies of water by combining the technical characteristics of a dissipation zone 2 for direct contact recreational purposes, having a particular and efficient water dissipation pattern, as well as a permanent minimum concentration of a chlorine disinfectant, together with a settling zone 1 that is primarily intended for secondary non-direct recreational contact purposes, which is not physically separated from the dissipation zone 2 and is configured to inactivate, flocculate and remove previously dissipated hazardous microorganisms from the dissipation zone 2.

As described herein, the disinfection methods, efficient diffusion patterns, and settling capacity of water bodies according to the present invention create unprecedented, safer environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not been previously described or applied and that overcome the inefficiencies of conventional swimming pool technologies and those of large, partially treated water bodies. thus allowing the creation of recreational water bodies that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, among others), thus solving the inefficiencies of current methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost way.

In the context of the present invention, direct contact recreational activities involve repeated or continuous direct contact of bathers with water, which entails a significant risk of water ingestion, such as swimming, water skiing, diving, surfing and wading by children. On the other hand, secondary recreational contact or non-contact uses do not involve direct contact of bathers with the water and therefore do not pose a significant risk of water ingestion, such as fishing or boating activities.

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The method of the present invention allows inactivating and/or eliminating contaminants and/or microorganisms from large bodies of water, where said microorganisms may come from the air, water sources, external contamination, but mainly from bathers who access the body of water, who bring such contaminants with them.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a low-cost and sanitary-efficient method for providing large bodies of water suitable for direct-contact recreational purposes, the method comprising at least:

- designate a sedimentation zone 1 and a dissipation zone 2 in the large body of water, both with different configurations and treatment methods, where

- the sedimentation zone 1 and the dissipation zone 2 are located within the same water body 3, and are not separated by a physical barrier,

- settling zone 1 may have a second purpose (e.g., in addition to functioning as the settling zone), which is an aesthetic purpose and is primarily intended for secondary, non-direct recreational contact purposes and is therefore designed to have a lower bather density than dissipation zone 2,

- Dissipation Zone 2 is used for direct contact purposes such as swimming and bathing and is designed to have a high density of bathers,

- apply a disinfection method based on a CT index in the water volume of sedimentation zone 1,

- applying an effective amount of a flocculant composition in the settling zone 1 that aids in the settling of different microorganisms and/or contaminants that are present in the settling zone 1, and wherein water flows and water circulation within the settling zone 1 are maintained to allow for proper settling, preferably water flows and water circulation within the settling zone 1 are kept to a minimum, thus minimizing the disturbance of the sedimentation process;

- maintain a residual chlorine level in the water volume of dissipation zone 2, and

- injecting water into the dissipation zone 2 by means of one or more inlet nozzles which, together with natural currents produced by winds and/or water temperature differences, allow generating a water dissipation pattern from the volume of water within the dissipation zone 2 towards the sedimentation zone 1, and

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal where dissipation zone 2 is configured to allow a Pollution Reduction Index (CRI).

More specifically, the present invention also relates to a system for establishing a large body of water 3 suitable for direct contact recreational purposes, wherein the system comprises:

a) a sedimentation zone 1 located within a portion of the large water body 3 and along a portion of the periphery;

b) a system for dosing chemicals along the periphery within the settling zone 1 arranged and configured to apply:

(i) disinfecting agents in the water volume within the sedimentation zone to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours, where C is defined as the concentration and T is defined as the minimum contact time; and (ii) a flocculant composition in sedimentation zone 1 that aids in the sedimentation process of the different microorganisms, parasites and protozoa present in the water body and inactivated by the CT cycle;

c) a dissipation zone 2 located within a portion of the large body of water and along a portion of the periphery;

d) one or more inlet nozzles 26 along the periphery within the dissipation zone 2 arranged and configured to inject water into the dissipation zone 2 to generate a volume diffusion pattern of water within the dissipation zone,

e) a system for dosing chemicals 29 in the dissipation zone 2 configured to maintain a residual chlorine level in the volume of water within the water dissipation zone, wherein at least a free chlorine level of 0.5 mg/L is maintained in the volume of water located within the dissipation zone.

Large bodies of water with which the principles of the present invention may be practiced may be natural or man-made bodies of water and may have a surface area of at least 3,000m2, more preferably at least 8,000m2, and even more preferably at least 12,000m2, and most preferably at least 24,000m2.

Referring to Figure 1, two different zones are designated within the large water body 3, a first sedimentation zone 1 and a second dissipation zone 2 which have different configurations, disinfection methods, cleaning requirements and dissipation conditions.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

Both zones are located within the same large body of water 3, and are not separated by a physical barrier, since the dissipation zone 2 is open in the sedimentation zone 1. Both zones can be delimited by the use of a delimitation means or device 4. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, a delimitation means 4 separates the sedimentation zone 1 and the dissipation zone 2. The delimitation means 4 according to the invention may be selected from the group comprising a visual delimitation, aerial flags, a series of buoys, a waterline, a delimitation line, a change in slope, different depths and combinations thereof, among others. In other embodiments, the approximate location of the delimiting means may be established by other means, such as in a brochure, signage or rule designations, a manual, a user guide, and by written and/or verbal instructions, among others.

According to the invention, the ratio between the volume contained within the dissipation zone 2 and the volume contained within the sedimentation zone 1 is preferably 1:2, more preferably 1:10, even more preferably 1:30 and most preferably 1:40.

Sedimentation zone 1 is configured to provide treatment and sedimentation of contaminants and/or microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, among others, to inactivate and eliminate them from water body 3. Sedimentation zone 1 has specific characteristics that allow efficient sedimentation of suspended contaminants and microorganisms and prevent their resuspension, including: (a) has a defined depth, (b) is designed to have a limited density of bathers, (c) has means to generate a disinfection treatment based on a CT index, (d) includes the application of flocculants to help the sedimentation of microorganisms and/or contaminants, and (e) has a defined surface that ensures the maintenance of a low-turbulence water body to minimize water flows and circulation that could interfere with the sedimentation process. The above characteristics are described in detail below:

a) A defined depth: sedimentation zone 1 is designed so that its depth allows efficient sedimentation of microorganisms. In one embodiment of the invention, the depth of the settling zone 1 is at least 1.8 meters at its deepest point, which helps prevent bathers from stepping on the bottom surface of the settling zone, which could cause resuspension of microorganisms and impurities that have already settled to the bottom of the settling zone 1. In other embodiments of the invention, the depth of the settling zone 1 is at least 2 meters at its deepest point, and preferably at least 2.2 meters at its deepest point.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

b) A limited density of bathers: the sedimentation zone is mainly intended for secondary purposes of non-direct recreational contact; and due to its depth, bathers wishing to access and remain in that area would tend to return to dissipation zone 2, which is suitable for direct contact recreational purposes, and therefore, the settling zone 1 is designed such that the density of bathers in said settling zone is limited to less than 20% of the total bathers present in the large body of water 3 and more preferably to less than 10% of the total bathers present in the large body of water 3. Such 20% and 10% of the total bathers are calculated as a daily average, taking into account the total number of bathers entering the body of water 3.

c) A disinfection treatment based on a CT index: Sedimentation zone 1 is treated based on a CT index, in which it is required to determine the CT that is adequate to inactivate the most dangerous microorganisms such as Naeglma Fowleri, Giardia or Cryptosporidium, among others. Disinfection treatment based on a CT index requires that settling zone 1 be treated by adding disinfecting agents to achieve a specific concentration C for a minimum contact time of T in the entire water volume of settling zone 1. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a disinfection method is carried out such that disinfectant agents are applied to the volume of water contained in the sedimentation zone 1 to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours, since this has proven to be a CT Index that provides sanitary and safe conditions to inactivate not only Natgleria Fowleri but also other dangerous microorganisms that are present in recreational water bodies.

It is important to emphasize that some microorganisms, such as Natgleria fowleri, do not survive in seawater or saltwater. However, if the water body 3 according to the present invention contains seawater, saltwater, or a combination thereof, the settling zone 1 is configured in any case so that disinfectants are applied to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours. In other embodiments of the invention, the disinfecting agents are applied to achieve a CT index according to any of the indices listed in Table 1, or another defined accordingly, in a time frame of at least 24 hours, preferably at least 48 hours and even more preferably up to 72 hours.

d) Application of flocculants: Sedimentation zone 1 is treated with a flocculant composition that helps in the sedimentation process of contaminants and/or microorganisms that are present in the water body and that may have been inactivated through the CT cycles.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

In one embodiment of the invention, the flocculant composition comprises one or more flocculants selected from the group consisting of organic and inorganic flocculants. Preferably, the flocculants are selected from inorganic flocculants comprising synthetic polymers, cationic quaternary ammonium polymers, polycationic polymers, aluminum salts, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flocculant agents are preferably selected from the group comprising a cationic or anionic polymeric flocculant and are preferably added to the settling zone 1 at least once every 7 days at a rate of 0.03 to 3.0 g per m³ of the volume of water in sedimentation zone 1.

e) A large surface area: sedimentation zone 1 has a large surface area of at least 1,500 m2, preferably at least 6,000 m²and even more preferably at least 10,000 m^2, which allows minimizing the effect of water flows and water circulation that can affect the resuspension of sedimented contaminants from the lower surface of sedimentation zone 1.

The dissipation zone 2 according to the present invention is suitable for direct contact recreational purposes and is preferably located near the periphery 12 of the water body 3 and is open to the sedimentation zone 1. The dissipation zone 2 is the area designated to have a high density of bathers. Dissipation zone 2 has specific characteristics and conditions to provide continuous disinfection to the water volume within dissipation zone 2 and to allow efficient dissipation of water in sedimentation zone 1. Therefore, the dissipation zone is defined by the following three main technical characteristics:

a) Continuous disinfection: a permanent residual chlorine level is maintained in dissipation zone 2, where said zone is disinfected so that at least a free chlorine level of 0.5 mg/L is maintained in the volume of water contained within the dissipation zone. According to the main embodiment of the invention, chlorine is the preferred disinfectant agent to be applied in the dissipation zone, however, other types of disinfectants that achieve suitable disinfection parameters can also be used, such as bromine, ozone, their derivatives and mixtures thereof.

b) A specific depth and geometry: The dissipation zone 2 is designed to have a design and depth suitable for bathers to access and enter the dissipation zone. In one embodiment of the invention, the dissipation zone has a downward slope and a depth of 1.4 meters at its deepest point. Preferably, the dissipation zone comprises a downward slope from the periphery 12 towards the lower surface at an angle α resulting in a slope

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal of up to 15% to achieve safe entry into the large body of water, and so that it is suitable for bathers to remain in that area. In an alternative embodiment, dissipation zone 2 is designed to have a depth of 1.6 meters at its deepest point, and more preferably 1.8 meters at its deepest point.

c) One or more inlet nozzles: The dissipation zone 2 comprises one or more inlet nozzles 26 located within said zone to provide a flow of water towards the dissipation zone 2, which together with the natural influence of water currents produced by the winds and/or horizontal and vertical temperature differences of the water in the water body, will cause the movement of the water and the renewal of said volume of water contained in the dissipation zone 2 that is open to the sedimentation zone 1.

In one embodiment of the invention, the location, design, and configuration of one or more inlet nozzles 26 may vary to achieve different types of water renewal patterns within the dissipation zone. The one or more inlet nozzles 26 may be located along any section of the dissipation zone, such as its periphery and/or center. In a particular embodiment, the one or more inlet nozzles 26 may be configured to add an effective amount of a chlorine disinfectant into the dissipation zone in order to maintain a free chlorine concentration of at least 0.5 mg/L free chlorine level described in (a).

Dissipation zone 2 is the zone designated to have a high density of bathers, where at least 80% and more preferably at least 90% of the total number of bathers within the large body of water 3 are present in the dissipation zone 2 with a maximum density of 1 bather per 2 m2, preferably a maximum density of 1 bather per 4 m2, more preferably a maximum density of 1 bather per 6 m2.² and most preferably a maximum density of 1 bather per 8 m². Such 80% and 90% are calculated as a daily average, taking into account the total number of bathers entering water body 3, and where at least 80% and more preferably 90% of said bathers are located in dissipation zone 2.

The combination of the elements of the dissipation zone 2 in relation to the depth, geometry and one or more inlet nozzles 26, together with the natural influence of the water currents produced by the winds and/or the horizontal and vertical temperature differences of the water in the water body, will cause the movement of the water and the dissipation of the volume of water contained in the dissipation zone 2 towards the sedimentation zone 1, in addition to providing continuous disinfection within said dissipation zone 2 as described in (a).

Surprisingly, it has been discovered that the efficient, low-cost sanitary method of the present invention addresses the technical inefficiencies of conventional pool technologies to maintain

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal sanitary and safe conditions in large bodies of water by combining the technical characteristics of a dissipation zone 2 for recreational purposes of direct contact, provide a particular and efficient water dissipation pattern, as well as a permanent minimum amount of disinfectant, which in the event of a contamination event can safely and timely inactivate and dissipate hazardous microorganisms to a settling zone 1 that is primarily intended for direct recreational contact purposes, where said settling zone 1 is not physically separated from the dissipation zone 2 and which is configured to inactivate microorganisms by a CT disinfection method, as well as to efficiently and safely flocculate and remove them, at low cost.

There are currently no methods or systems that can address the technical inefficiencies of conventional swimming pools in an efficient and low-cost manner for large bodies of water such as those of the present invention, which combine the effects of an efficient water dissipation pattern and a minimum disinfection standard in the area intended for direct contact recreational purposes, with a sedimentation zone 1 that is configured to inactivate, flocculate and remove previously dissipated contaminants and/or dangerous microorganisms from the dissipation zone. Although some large bodies of water, such as natural swimming lakes, may somewhat recreate a dissipation pattern, they lack the technical features of the present invention, namely: a dissipation zone 2 having a permanent minimum concentration of a disinfectant and a particular and efficient dissipation pattern, as well as a sedimentation zone 1 combining the application of a CT disinfection method with the application of flocculant agents that allow adequate inactivation and elimination of contaminants and/or microorganisms to maintain a sanitary and safe area for recreational purposes.

Therefore, the combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern and settling capacity of water bodies according to the present invention create unprecedented safe environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not been described or applied before and that overcome the inefficiencies of conventional swimming pool technologies and those of large partially treated water bodies. Thus, allowing the creation of recreational water bodies that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others, thereby resolving the inefficiencies of current methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost manner.

As mentioned above, the dissipation zone 2 is configured to create an effective volume diffusion pattern within the dissipation zone 2 due to the combined effect of the one or more inlet nozzles 26 injecting a flow of water into said zone, and together with the natural influence of water currents produced by winds and/or horizontal and vertical water temperature differences of the water body, They create a water flow and an efficient diffusion pattern within the dissipation zone 2 that forces said volume of water to leave the dissipation zone.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal dissipation 2 and cross into sedimentation zone 1. The circulation created by one or more inlet nozzles 26 and the natural influence of water currents produced by winds and/or horizontal and vertical differences in water temperature in the water body, contribute to generating a dissipation rate in said dissipation zone 2, as the water flows entering said zone push the volume of water towards the exit of the dissipation zone 2 and reach the sedimentation zone 1. Therefore, there is a dissipation pattern that allows the volume of water contained within the dissipation zone 2 to be renewed according to the configuration and capacity of one or more inlet nozzles 26, on the natural influence of water currents produced by the winds and/or the horizontal and vertical distribution of the water temperature in the water body, as well as in the presence of an open hydraulic connection to the sedimentation zone.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the body of water may be subject to stronger winds that may influence the dissipation pattern within the dissipation zone. In such a case, the circulation created by one or more inlet nozzles within the dissipation zone may be adjusted as needed to maintain a suitable dissipation pattern. For example, when winds positively influence the dissipation pattern within the dissipation zone, the water flow from one or more inlet nozzles can be minimized or completely suppressed if the dissipation pattern created by the winds is sufficient to generate the necessary dissipation of water volume from the dissipation zone to the settling zone. On the other hand, when winds negatively influence the dissipation pattern within the dissipation zone, the water flow from one or more inlet nozzles can be adjusted to generate the necessary dissipation of the water volume from the dissipation zone to the sedimentation zone.

This is a clear advantage compared to conventional swimming pools, as swimming pools do not have a separate dissipation zone 2 to create a dissipation pattern, and therefore in the method of the present invention combining a permanent residual disinfectant concentration and an efficient dissipation pattern in the dissipation zone 2, This area can withstand massive use by bathers without compromising the sanitary quality of the area due to the fact that in case of contamination, microorganisms can be dissipated more efficiently and safely compared to a conventional pool.

By having an efficient dissipation pattern, when a contamination event occurs, for example, contamination introduced by new bathers with infectious microorganisms or by other means, said contamination can be dissipated from dissipation zone 2 to sedimentation zone 1 for inactivation and/or elimination. In the context of the invention, a contamination event is defined as any event where organic or inorganic substances that represent a risk to the health of bathers or microorganisms enter the body of water.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

The efficient dissipation pattern of the present invention is different from conventional swimming pools, where any contamination introduced by newly infected bathers or by an infection event can remain in the same confined volume of water for hours or even longer before it is properly removed or inactivated, causing a potential risk to other bathers. As mentioned above, certain microorganisms are highly resistant to conventional pool filtration and disinfection methods and can therefore survive for many hours or even days within the pool water volume before being eliminated.

It is important to mention that, although the method and system of the present invention do not require filtering the entire volume of water at the rates required by conventional swimming pools (i.e., one to six times per day), the use of conventional filtration systems may be used as an additional treatment for the water body. Such use may be due to local regulatory requirements or decisions by the owner/developer. The use of a conventional water body filtration system is compatible with the method and system of the present invention, however, water flows in the sedimentation zone should allow for adequate sedimentation of the particles. However, the use of a conventional filtration system as an additional treatment for the water body may entail higher construction and operation costs and, therefore, can be implemented in water bodies with a volume preferably up to 50,000 m3.

Furthermore, although it is not necessary to maintain a permanent level of free chlorine in the sedimentation zone, such levels may be required by local regulations or by the decisions of the owner, which are not incompatible with the method and system of the present invention.

The permanent chlorine level in the dissipation zone 2 may be achieved by the use of chlorine tablets, by applying diluted chlorine through one or more inlet nozzles 26 located in the dissipation zone 2, or by manually adding chlorine to said zone in an amount effective to maintain at least a free chlorine level of 0.5 mg/L.

In one embodiment of the invention, water injected into the dissipation zone 2 through one or more inlet nozzles 26 is treated with ultraviolet (UV) light.

In one embodiment of the invention, the water body comprises a plurality of separate dissipation zones 2, preferably located along the periphery 12 of the water body 3 and open to the sedimentation zone 1, wherein the dissipation zones 2 are used for swimming, bathing, and other direct contact recreational purposes, while sedimentation zone 1 has an aesthetic purpose and is primarily intended for secondary recreational contact purposes.

For settling zone 1, daily cleaning of the bottom surface to remove settled particles and fallen debris is not essential, as the zone may have a more

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vNatural environment, such as natural lakes and lagoons, where the bottom surface may have a darker shade than the bottom surface in the settling zone 2. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the settling zone 1 is cleaned at least once every 7 days. However, other time periods may be used. In one embodiment of the invention, a bottom surface cleaning device is provided for cleaning a bottom surface.

The dissipation zone 2 requires periodic cleaning of the bottom surface to keep it free of particles that could have an aesthetic, safety, or health impact on the water. Furthermore, this zone must be cleaned periodically to prevent any resuspension of settled microorganisms. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the dissipation zone 2 is cleaned at least once every 72 hours. However, other time periods may be used.

In one embodiment of the invention, the settling zone 1 is limited to an even lower density of bathers of less than 10% of the total bathers present in the large body of water 3. In other preferred embodiments, the settling zone 1 does not allow the presence of bathers for direct contact recreational purposes and is configured to allow only the practice of water sports for secondary contact purposes.

The ratio between the volume contained within the dissipation zone 2 and the volume contained within the sedimentation zone 1 is preferably 1:2, more preferably 1:10, even more preferably 1:30 and most preferably 1:40, wherein said ratio is calculated as the sum of all the volumes of water contained within the dissipation zones 2, divided by the volume of water in the sedimentation zone 1.

In one embodiment of the invention, water from the sedimentation zone 1, which has already been treated, can be extracted from the sedimentation zone 1 and sent to the dissipation zone 2. Said water can be partially or completely mixed with makeup water.

In addition to minimizing the risk of microbial growth, the present invention also removes particles and contaminants susceptible to flocculation. In one embodiment of the invention, the flocculating agents can be selected from the group comprising organic and inorganic flocculants. Preferably, the flocculants are selected from inorganic flocculants comprising synthetic polymers, cationic quaternary ammonium polymers, polycationic polymers, aluminum salts, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the flocculants added to the settling zone 1 are selected from the group comprising a cationic or anionic polymeric flocculant and mixtures thereof and are preferably added to the settling zone 1 at least once every 7 days at a rate of 0.03 to 3.0 g per m3 of water volume of the settling zone 1.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

Referring to Figure 5, a functional block diagram is shown illustrating the various components that may be used in connection with one embodiment of the present invention. The large body of water is shown at 3. It will be appreciated that while the shape of the body of water in Figure 5 is shown as having a four-sided shape, the shape is illustrative only. Other embodiments are illustrated in Figures 1-3. The sedimentation zone 1 and the dissipation zone 2 are shown as designated portions of the large water body 3. The boundary for the delimitation means 4, which is not a physical barrier, is shown at the meeting or intersection point of the sedimentation zone 1 and the dissipation zone 2. The periphery 12 extends around the edge of the large water body 3.

Inlet water to pump 25 is provided from dissipation zone 2, treated water from settling zone 1, and any required or desired makeup water from block 27. The amount of water from the various locations can be adjusted based on establishing proper current/flow within the large water body 3, and evaporation, among other factors. The pump 25 provides water to the one or more inlet nozzles 26, which together with the natural influence of water currents produced by the winds and/or the horizontal and vertical water temperature differences of the water body, establish the current or flow (indicated by the plurality of arrows 14) from the dissipation zone 2 to the sedimentation zone 1. The chemical dosing system 29 supplies chemicals to the pump 25 and optionally supplies chemicals directly to the dissipation zone 2.

The chemical dosing system 19 comprising one or more inlet nozzles provides the necessary chemicals to the settling zone 1. For example, the chemical dosing system 19 provides the necessary disinfectant for the desired CT cycle and flocculant composition. The chemical dosing system 19, comprising one or more inlet nozzles may be extended to additional lengths or positions along the periphery 12 for treatment based on the size of the large body of water 3. Treated water may also be withdrawn from the settling zone 1 via a pump 30 to the pump 25 or to the chemical dosing system 19.

Referring now to Figure 6, a schematic cross-section of a portion of the dissipation zone 2 is illustrated. The periphery 12 is shown as the demarcation between the shore or edge 15 and the water within the large body of water 3. The downward slope from the periphery 12 to the lower surface is preferably at an angle α resulting in a gradient of up to 15%. This provides an entry to the water 16 from the shore 15 that is safe and generally comfortable for bathers entering the water.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

The Pollution Reduction Index (CRI) is an index calculated based on a standardized protocol developed in the present disclosure to represent the health and safety conditions of a body of water treated according to the method of the invention.

In the context of the invention, the Contamination Reduction Index (CRI) is an index that determines the time in minutes required to dissipate a sample of an aqueous solution outside a defined water zone. In particular, the Contamination Reduction Index (CRI) indicates the time in minutes counted from the moment a sample of a dyed solution is added to a particular point within a dissipation zone 2 until the dyed solution dissipates and is not visually detectable in said dissipation zone 2.

The Contamination Reduction Index (CRI) represents the time it will take for an aqueous contaminant introduced by a bather or by other means into a dissipation zone 2 to dissipate from that dissipation zone 2 to sedimentation zone 1. The CRI is therefore an appropriate and objective standard for assessing the capacity of said water zone to dissipate a contaminant in a short period of time towards sedimentation zone 1, where said contaminant can subsequently be inactivated, flocculated and removed from sedimentation zone 1, thus maintaining sanitary and safe conditions in the event of a contamination event.

The CRI, which counts the time from when a sample of a specific dyed solution is added to dissipation zone 2 until it is no longer visually detectable in dissipation zone 2, depends on several factors. In the context of the present invention, the CRI of the dissipation zone 2 is mainly influenced by: the presence of an open connection to a sedimentation zone 1, the arrangement of one or more inlet nozzles that inject a flow of water into the dissipation zone 2 and the natural influence of water currents produced by winds and/or horizontal and vertical water temperature differences of the water body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dissipation zone 2 is configured to allow a Pollution Reduction Index (CRI) of up to 30 minutes, more preferably up to 25 minutes, more preferably up to 20 minutes and even more preferably up to 15 minutes and even more preferably up to 10 minutes.

The CRI can be determined in several ways, either from qualitative and/or quantitative data and analysis.

In one embodiment, information on the time required for complete dissipation of a sample of a dye solution may be obtained qualitatively by visual inspection, experience-based methods, or projections by estimates. In another embodiment, the

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal information regarding the time required to complete the dissipation of a sample from a stained solution may be obtained from one or more manual or automatic monitoring devices.

The standardized protocol for determining the Pollution Reduction Index (CRI) according to the present invention comprises evaluating the time required for a water zone (a dissipation zone 2) of 144 m3 to dissipate 7L of a dyed aqueous solution comprising 30 g/L of carmine (natural red 4) and 77 g/L of NaCl out of said water zone until the dyed solution is no longer visually detectable in said water zone. While the test is being conducted, and to ensure visual detection of the dyed solution in dissipation zone 2, the water zone must be free of chemicals that can reduce dye detection, such as chlorine and other disinfectants. Once the test is completed, the chemicals must be restored according to the specifications for dissipation zone 2.

The Contamination Reduction Index (CRI) therefore provides an objective projection of the efficient water dissipation patterns of the dissipation zone 2 according to the present invention, which combined with a minimum permanent disinfectant concentration, as well as with an open connection to a settling zone 1 that is configured to inactivate, flocculate and eliminate dangerous microorganisms, among other factors, It allows for providing sanitary and safe conditions for large bodies of water for direct contact recreational purposes.

The combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern and settling capacity of water bodies according to the present invention create unprecedented safe environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not been described or applied before and that overcome the inefficiencies of conventional swimming pool technologies and partly treated large bodies of water, This allows for the creation of recreational water bodies that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others, thereby addressing the inefficiencies of current methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost manner.

In addition to the above, the method of the present invention also allows for cost reduction compared to conventional pool systems and methods, where for example a conventional 2 hectare pool would require an annual operating cost of up to US$1.9MM considering chemical usage and electricity usage, While the method of the present invention would bring an annual operating cost of less than US$140,000 (also considering chemical and energy costs) up to a 90% reduction in annual maintenance costs.

Furthermore, the method of the present invention makes it possible to minimize the risk of contamination by microorganisms that current technologies are not capable of treating. As mentioned above, conventional swimming pool technologies or partial treatment technologies for

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings English vFinal Artificial bodies of water do not allow for the efficient provision of sanitary conditions and are not capable of inactivating and/or eliminating microorganisms that cause recreational waterborne diseases or other infections that could even lead to fatal outcomes. On the other hand, the method of the present invention, in addition to having low capital and operating costs, allows microorganisms to be inactivated and/or eliminated from recreational water bodies in an innovative way, generating a new concept of water sanitation at low costs.

By using the method of the present invention, optimal sedimentation and sanitary conditions are achieved, where the sedimentation zone 1 is designed to efficiently sediment the microorganisms contained within said volume of water in the sedimentation zone 1, and where the dissipation zone 2 allows maintaining sanitary and safe conditions for a high density of bathers at low cost.

Referring to Fig. 7, an overview is provided of the steps designated at 700 in an embodiment in accordance with the principles of the invention. The steps illustrated in Fig. 7 need not be performed in the same order as illustrated.

First in step 701, a sedimentation zone 1 and a dissipation zone 2 are designated within the same large body of water 3. The two zones are not separated by a physical barrier and the ratio of the volume of water contained within the dissipation zone 2 to the volume contained within the sedimentation zone 1 is 1:2 to 1:40. In addition to allowing for disinfection and settling, settling zone 1 also serves an aesthetic purpose and is primarily used for water sports with secondary contact. Therefore, it is designed to have a lower bather density than dissipation zone 2, where, on a daily average, no more than 20% of the total number of bathers within the large body of water 3 are present in settling zone 1. Dissipation Zone 2 is used for direct contact purposes, such as swimming and bathing. It is designed to have a high bather density, with, on a daily average, at least 80% of the total number of bathers within the large body of water 3 present in Dissipation Zone 2, with a maximum density of one bather per 2 m2.

Next, in block 702, a disinfection method based on a CT index is applied to the water volume of settling zone 1. The CT index requires that settling zone 1 be treated by adding disinfecting agents to achieve a specific concentration C of the disinfectant for a minimum contact time of T in the entire water volume of settling zone 1. The disinfection method is carried out in such a way that the disinfectant agents are applied to the volume of water contained in sedimentation zone 1 to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

In block 703, an efficient amount of a flocculant composition is applied to the settling zone 1. The flocculant aids in the settling of various microorganisms and/or contaminants present in the settling zone 1. Water flows and circulates within the settling zone 1, preferably at a position to allow for proper settling.

In block 704, a permanent residual chlorine level is maintained in the water volume of dissipation zone 2 by adding an efficient amount of chlorine such that a level of at least 0.5 mg/L of free chlorine is maintained in the water volume contained within dissipation zone 2.

In block 705, water is inject into the dissipation zone by means of one or more inlet nozzles which, together with natural currents produced by winds and/or water temperature differences, allow a dissipation pattern of the water volume to be generated within dissipation zone 2 in sedimentation zone 1. Dissipation zone 2 is configured to allow a Pollution Reduction Index (CRI) of up to 30 minutes.

5. EXAMPLE I

To demonstrate the technical effect of the present invention, the following tests were carried out:

Figure 3 shows a water body 3 having a sedimentation zone 1 and a dissipation zone 2 according to the present invention, wherein the dissipation zone 2 comprises a nozzle system and has a residual chlorine concentration of approximately 0.5 mg/l. Figure 3 shows the estimated location of the delimitation means 4, represented as a dotted line, which is not a physical barrier and also represents an adjacent (but completely independent) pool (7) having conventional pool technology, i.e. not having a separation of dissipation zones 2 and sedimentation 1 according to the present invention.

Figure 4 A shows that at = 0.7L of a red dyed solution (5) comprising 30g/L of natural red dye 4 and 77g/L of NaCl was added directly to a point located in the dissipation zone 2 of the water body 3 to determine the CRI of said zone and emulate, for example, the behavior of an aqueous fecal contamination or other type of contamination occurring in the dissipation zone 2, which is the zone mainly used for swimming, bathing, and direct contact for recreational purposes. Figure 4A also shows that an equivalent amount of a second red-dyed solution (6) was added at a location within the adjacent pool (7).

At t = 0, the water nozzles in dissipation zone 2 were activated while the pool's standard recirculation systems (7) were operated according to their standard operating parameters.

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At t = 5 minutes (Figure 4 B), it is observed that the red-stained solution dissipates rapidly in the sedimentation zone 1 while in the pool (7) the presence of the red-stained solution does not seem to have decreased since t = 0.

At t = 10 minutes and at t = 16 minutes (Figure 4 C and 4 D, respectively) there is a significantly less visible presence of the red-stained solution (5) in dissipation zone 2, while pool (7) still shows a substantial amount of the red-stained solution (6).

At t = 20 minutes and at t = 25 minutes (Figure 4 E and 4 F, respectively), the red-stained solution (6) was still visibly present in pool (7) while there is no visible presence of the red-stained solution (6) in dissipation zone 2. Figure 4G shows that at t = 60, the red-stained solution (6) is visibly present in pool (7).

At the end of the test, it was determined that sedimentation zone 2 of the example presented a CRI of 20 minutes, while the pool (7) presented a CRI of 100 minutes, both indices represent the time in minutes until there is no visual presence of the red-stained solution.

The above allows us to predict that in the case of a contamination event (for example, aqueous fecal contamination or other type of contamination) occurring in a body of water according to the present invention, the dissipation zone 2, together with the natural influence of water currents produced by winds and/or temperature differences in the body of water, It is capable of safely and efficiently dissipating such contamination that could include dangerous microorganisms in a sedimentation zone 1 for subsequent inactivation, flocculation and elimination in a short period of time, thus minimizing the risk of bathers becoming infected with dangerous microorganisms. Furthermore, since dissipation zone 2 is configured to have a residual free chlorine concentration of at least 0.5 mg/L, said dissipation zone 2 can allow massive use by bathers without compromising the sanitary quality of said zone due to the fact that in case of contamination, Microorganisms can be dissipated more efficiently and safely compared to conventional pools while maintaining sanitary and safe conditions in Dissipation Zone 2, which is the area used for direct contact recreational purposes. In the same scenario, when fecal contamination or traces of dangerous microorganisms occur in a conventional swimming pool (7), the contamination will remain for a prolonged period in the water volume, increasing the risk of bathers becoming infected by such dangerous microorganisms.

Therefore, it has been demonstrated that the combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern and settling capacity of water bodies according to the present invention create unprecedented and safer environments for aquatic recreational purposes compared to swimming pool technologies, thus enabling the creation of recreational water bodies.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, among others, thus solving the inefficiencies of current methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost way.

6. EXAMPLE II

An artificial lake constructed in Florida, USA, with a total surface area of approximately 7 acres (2.8 hectares) was highly contaminated during the filling process with water due to the presence of a nearby sand pile containing organic matter that was blown into the lake. Following laboratory testing, dangerous microorganisms, particularly Cystoporidium oocysts, were identified in the water, which remained present even several weeks after the contamination occurred.

The method according to the present invention was applied to the artificial lake.

The artificial lake was designated to include two distinct zones: a direct-contact recreational zone designated as dissipation zone 2, and a secondary contact recreational zone, i.e., for aesthetic purposes and water sports, designated as sedimentation zone 1. The volume ratio between the dissipation zone and the sedimentation zone was designed to be approximately 1:6 and sedimentation zone 1 comprised a depth of 2 meters at its deepest point, allowing efficient settlement of microorganisms.

The following parameters were applied to the artificial lake:

- Sodium hypochlorite was added to dissipation zone 2 to achieve a permanent residual chlorine concentration of at least 0.5 mg/L free chlorine.

- The nozzles located on the periphery 12 of the dissipation zone were activated with an average water flow of 30 m3/hour.

- A CT-based disinfection treatment was applied by adding chlorine to sedimentation zone 1 to achieve a CT index of 42 over a 72-hour interval in sedimentation zone 1.

- A composition comprising a cationic polymeric flocculant was added to the sedimentation zone 1 so that 1.5 g/m3 of water volume was incorporated over a period of 7 days.

- Water flows were kept to a minimum in sedimentation zone 1, thereby minimizing disturbance to the sedimentation process.

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal

Following application of the method of the present invention, laboratory tests were performed and no Cysto.sporidium oocysts were identified, a result that was confirmed in two subsequent tests as summarized in the following Table 2.

Table 2

<td>Sample location</td><td>Appearance of water</td><td>Smell</td><td>pH</td><td>Oocysts of Cristoporodium</td>

<td>Sedimentation zone 1</td><td>Clara</td><td>No</td><td> 8.28</td><td>Not detected</td>

<td>Dosing line of dissipation zone 2</td><td>Clara</td><td>No</td><td> 8,30</td><td>Not detected</td>

Furthermore, as shown in the following Table 3, all water samples met even stricter physicochemical and microbiological water quality standards, such as the Chilean Standard NCh 409/1 2005 (Drinking Water) for water requirements.

Table 3

<td colspan="2">NCh Norm 409/1 2006</td><td>Sample area</td><td>Sample area</td>

<td>Test</td><td>Standard</td><td>Zone of Sedimentation 1</td><td>Zone of Dissipation 2, dosing line 1</td>

<td>Turbidity (NTU)</td><td> &lt; 20</td><td> 0.8</td><td> 0.5</td>

<td>True color (Pt - Co)</td><td> &lt; 20</td><td> &lt; 5</td><td> &lt; 5</td>

<td>Total Coliform NMP bacteria/100mL</td><td>Exempt</td><td> &lt; 2</td><td> &lt; 2</td>

<td>Escherichia coli NMP/100mL</td><td>Exempt</td><td> &lt; 2</td><td> &lt; 2</td>

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P015 WO + PC - Description + Claims + Drawings Spanish vFinal * &lt; 2 = undetectable

This example confirms that the method according to the present invention provides an efficient, low-cost and sanitary method for providing large bodies of water with two different treatment zones for direct contact recreational purposes, thereby minimizing the risk of growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, among others. thus solving the inefficiencies of current methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost way.

The combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern and settling capacity of water bodies according to the present invention create unprecedented safe environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not been described or applied before and that overcome the inefficiencies of conventional swimming pool technologies and partly treated large bodies of water, This allows for the creation of recreational water bodies that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites, among others, thereby addressing the inefficiencies of current methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost manner.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, any disclosed step or method step may be modified in any manner, including by reordering steps and/or inserting or deleting steps, without departing from the invention. While the specification includes a detailed description and associated drawings, the scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, although the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological aspects, the claims are not limited to the features or aspects described above. Rather, the specific features and aspects described above are described as illustrative aspects and embodiments of the invention. Various other aspects, embodiments, modifications and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may be suggested to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the claimed subject matter.