Water and Energy Sustainability of Swimming Pools: A Case Model on the Costa Brava, Catalonia
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsAbstract: Some numerical results should be presented.
1. Introduction
The content found on Page 3, specifically lines 84-96, ought to be integrated into the methodology section.
Please endeavor to utilize the following articles to broaden the scope of the literature.
Al-Khatib, I. A., Ghannam, R.S. (2011) Microbiological water quality and sampling policy of public swimming pools. International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 3(2), 192-204.
2. Materials and Methods
The "Literature review" subsection needs to be relocated to the introduction and should not be included within the "Materials and Methods" section. Furthermore, there is redundancy in several statements already presented in the introduction. This redundancy must be eliminated. Aim to condense the primary issues without repeating them.
Results
Page 15, lines 437-448
The authors mentioned that: “In the water model described in Equation 2, where on the one hand we have the volumes of water that enter the pools to compensate for the various water loss variables and thus maintain the volume of water balanced, it is highlighted that the main indicators to be taken into account for the sustainability of the pools are the following: Volume of water lost due to evaporation; Volume of water lost during filter backwashing; and, Volume of water lost due to lack of watertightness of the pool shell or the pool's hydraulic system. The rest of the water loss variables are minor and, under normal conditions, do not represent a significant value with respect to these 3 indicators. It is important to note that, depending on the specific characteristics of each installation, the critical variables may change, which underlines the importance of adapting the analysis to the particular conditions of each case.”
The authors outlined the primary indicators essential for assessing pool sustainability and elucidated the mechanisms behind losses without offering any solutions to mitigate them.
Page 15, lines 476-485 the authors mentioned that“ ………..the analysis of the slopes in Figures 4 and 6, for installations 1 and 2 respectively, where we can see that the green curve, corresponding to the cumulative value of water input between the pool renovation refilling water plus the rainwater collected on the surface of the pool, corresponds to the real water consumption. This value corresponds to the actual water consumption monitored to keep the installation in water balance and reveals that each installation experiences a different water consumption. This variability under lines the influence of factors specific to each installation on water consumption that must be considered.”
What are the practical applications of these findings and how do they affect the sustainability of public swimming pools?
Pages 15 and 16, Lines 487 – 494, the authors mentioned that “Finally, in the interpretation of the energy consumption data, Figures 7 and 8, for installations 1 and 2 respectively, where the energy consumption curves of the filtration pump are shown in superposition of the value of the number of water renewals for treatment. It can be seen that in the case of installation 1, where the pump has a frequency variator that modifies the speed, and therefore the power of the pump, adapting to the physical needs of the installation in terms of water treatment. In this installation the energy consumption is lower than in the case of installation 2, which does not have this technology.”
This fact is very well known for mechanical engineers. What is the added value from these results and what is their impact on sustainability of Public Swimming Pools.
Discussion
Most of the statements mentioned in the discussion are very well known.
Page 16, Lines 514-517 the authors mentioned “In addition to the effect of the cover, the off-season evaporation in installation 1 without this component, although a decrease in evaporation is noted outside the bathing season compared to the summer season. However, the absence of a cover results in continuous evaporative water losses throughout the year.”
The expenses associated with maintaining a pool cover during off-peak tourist seasons and ongoing maintenance costs should be considered when analyzing and comparing water evaporation expenses, cover expenditures, and maintenance expenses.
It is imperative to enrich the discourse on pool operation, specifically focusing on water evaporation, energy efficiency during pool operation, and economic factors. This discussion should be tied to the region's tourism dynamics and how the presence or absence of pool covers affects the economic, social, and health aspects of both tourists and workers.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your insightful comments and queries regarding our manuscript. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns and provide further clarification on the discussed topics.
In response to your inquiries, we have modified and added text to the manuscript according to the following points:
- Introduction
- The content found on Page 3, specifically lines 84-96, ought to be integrated into the methodology section.
Thank you for your guidance. The text has been relocated as per your instructions. Now in lines 148-160.
- Please endeavor to utilize the following articles to broaden the scope of the literature
- Al-Khatib, A., Ghannam, R.S. (2011) Microbiological water quality and sampling policy of public swimming pools. International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 3(2), 192-204.
Thank you very much for your contribution, which presents a highly interesting alternative perspective. In response to your insights, we have incorporated the suggested reference and introduced new text that adds a fresh and intriguing angle to our article. Lines 44-53.
- Materials and Methods
The "Literature review" subsection needs to be relocated to the introduction and should not be included within the "Materials and Methods" section. Furthermore, there is redundancy in several statements already presented in the introduction. This redundancy must be eliminated. Aim to condense the primary issues without repeating them.
Following the recommendations, the literature review section has been repositioned and the text has been revised to remove any redundant statements. This restructuring and clarification exercise helps the goal of improving the readability and comprehension of the document for readers. We also think that these adjustments, in addition, improve the fluency and coherence of the manuscript. Lines 85-145.
Results
Page 15, lines 437-448
The authors mentioned that: “In the water model described in Equation 2, where on the one hand we have the volumes of water that enter the pools to compensate for the various water loss variables and thus maintain the volume of water balanced, it is highlighted that the main indicators to be taken into account for the sustainability of the pools are the following: Volume of water lost due to evaporation; Volume of water lost during filter backwashing; and, Volume of water lost due to lack of watertightness of the pool shell or the pool's hydraulic system. The rest of the water loss variables are minor and, under normal conditions, do not represent a significant value with respect to these 3 indicators. It is important to note that, depending on the specific characteristics of each installation, the critical variables may change, which underlines the importance of adapting the analysis to the particular conditions of each case.”
The authors outlined the primary indicators essential for assessing pool sustainability and elucidated the mechanisms behind losses without offering any solutions to mitigate them.
In response to your comments, we have added text on lines 455-461 of the manuscript, outlining possible solutions to the issues raised. This addition is intended to directly address and provide an overview of the strategies we propose to mitigate the challenges identified.
Page 15, lines 476-485 the authors mentioned that“ ………..the analysis of the slopes in Figures 4 and 6, for installations 1 and 2 respectively, where we can see that the green curve, corresponding to the cumulative value of water input between the pool renovation refilling water plus the rainwater collected on the surface of the pool, corresponds to the real water consumption. This value corresponds to the actual water consumption monitored to keep the installation in water balance and reveals that each installation experiences a different water consumption. This variability under lines the influence of factors specific to each installation on water consumption that must be considered.”
What are the practical applications of these findings and how do they affect the sustainability of public swimming pools?
In response to your query regarding the implications of our study, we have addressed this concern in lines 499-505 of the revised manuscript.
In these lines, we have emphasized the importance of considering specific factors inherent to each facility when analyzing the sustainability of swimming pools. Furthermore, we have highlighted that the model outlined in our study has the potential to facilitate the assessment of sustainability across various installations.
Pages 15 and 16, Lines 487 – 494, the authors mentioned that “Finally, in the interpretation of the energy consumption data, Figures 7 and 8, for installations 1 and 2 respectively, where the energy consumption curves of the filtration pump are shown in superposition of the value of the number of water renewals for treatment. It can be seen that in the case of installation 1, where the pump has a frequency variator that modifies the speed, and therefore the power of the pump, adapting to the physical needs of the installation in terms of water treatment. In this installation the energy consumption is lower than in the case of installation 2, which does not have this technology.”
This fact is very well known for mechanical engineers. What is the added value from these results and what is their impact on sustainability of Public Swimming Pools.
Similar to the previous question, the importance of taking facility-specific factors into account when analyzing the sustainability of swimming pools is highlighted. In addition, we have highlighted that the model outlined in our study has the potential to facilitate the assessment of sustainability in a variety of facilities.
Discussion
Most of the statements mentioned in the discussion are very well known.
Page 16, Lines 514-517 the authors mentioned “In addition to the effect of the cover, the off-season evaporation in installation 1 without this component, although a decrease in evaporation is noted outside the bathing season compared to the summer season. However, the absence of a cover results in continuous evaporative water losses throughout the year.”
The expenses associated with maintaining a pool cover during off-peak tourist seasons and ongoing maintenance costs should be considered when analyzing and comparing water evaporation expenses, cover expenditures, and maintenance expenses.
In response to your questions, we have included additional text from lines 528-532 of the manuscript. This text highlights the additional benefits of installing pool covers and the consequent operational improvements.
It is imperative to enrich the discourse on pool operation, specifically focusing on water evaporation, energy efficiency during pool operation, and economic factors. This discussion should be tied to the region's tourism dynamics and how the presence or absence of pool covers affects the economic, social, and health aspects of both tourists and workers.
In response to your recommendations, additional text has been added to lines 557-560 highlighting the advantages and benefits associated with the implementation of sustainability improvements, which are derived towards operational improvements. These improvements not only reduce operational costs, but also increase the competitiveness of facilities, therefore contributing to their overall long-term sustainability and viability.
In the attached file you will find the manuscript modified according to the points explained. In addition, at the end of the manuscript you will also find the text with the revisions and the answers.
We trust that this new content will address your questions and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of sustainability initiatives within the context of our study. Should you require further elucidation or have any additional concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you once again for your valuable feedback and for your continued interest in our work.
Sincerely,
Juan José Gómez Guillén
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe title must be changed. I was expecting something completely different in the paper based on the title.
The paper needs some moderate editing for grammar and English
The paper is really about water and energy management, not necessarily about public pools. The title should reflect this
You did all the analyses, but no recommendations for policy makers. What would your recommendations for pools be for policy makers making laws?
Comments on the Quality of English Languagemoderate editing necessary
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your insightful comments and queries regarding our manuscript. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns and provide further clarification on the discussed topics.
In response to your inquiries, we have modified and added text to the manuscript according to the following points:
The title must be changed. I was expecting something completely different in the paper based on the title.
Thank you for your comment. We have indeed simplified the title text to better align it with the commentary and ensure consistency with the content of the manuscript. The title now reads " Water and Energy Sustainability of Swimming Pools: A Case Model on the Costa Brava, Catalonia".
The paper needs some moderate editing for grammar and English
Once the manuscript is accepted, we will use the English Language Editing Services of MDPI for English language revision and correction.
The paper is really about water and energy management, not necessarily about public pools. The title should reflect this
The title now reads " Water and Energy Sustainability of Swimming Pools: A Case Model on the Costa Brava, Catalonia".
You did all the analyses, but no recommendations for policy makers. What would your recommendations for pools be for policy makers making laws?
In accordance with your suggestion, the text has been expanded and enhanced in lines 586-594, emphasizing that legislative actions aimed at improving hotel facilities not only benefit the sector but also the country, particularly in regions where tourism accounts for a significant percentage of the GDP.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
moderate editing necessary
Once the manuscript is accepted, we will use the English Language Editing Services of MDPI for English language revision and correction.
In the attached file you will find the manuscript modified according to the points explained. In addition, at the end of the manuscript you will also find the text with the revisions and the answers.
We hope that this new content will address your questions and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of sustainability initiatives within the context of our study. Should you require further elucidation or have any additional concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you once again for your valuable feedback and for your continued interest in our work.
Sincerely,
Juan José Gómez Guillén
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe article can be accepted for publication.
