Pumping & Filtration

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With over 22 years experience, Ian Coombes Ltd can provide the best pumping and filtration system, designed and specified for individual applications. All our systems are designed and manufactured to industry standards and there is no compromise on quality.

Filtration systems are manufactured in various options depending on the size and operational aspects of the pool.

Pumping and Filtration has been the most prominent part of our business for the past 24 years. We as engineers, pride ourselves in being successful in design building filtration products, disinfection and reticulation systems for all types of pools, from school/institutional facilities to major public aquatic facilities, both as new projects as well as upgrades and retrofits to existing facilities.

Our infrastructure is made up of:

A qualified engineering design/project management team using CAD facilities
A qualified and experienced team of engineers in our manufacturing workshop. Our workshop team possesses a broad range of engineering skills including substantial experience in stainless steel fabrication
A qualified and experienced sales engineering team with a good mix of engineering, water treatment and aquatic facility management backgrounds. This enables us to design build systems that consider all aspects of the client's wishes, while not forgetting the people who have to operate the equipment once it has been installed

Our goal to the client is to offer what we believe is the best design solution for a chosen project or application, taking into consideration:

Compliance with the relevent water quality standards
Budget
Available space
Safety
Cost effectiveness of operation
Ease of operation

Recent Projects
The following is a list of our recent larger contract work. All of this work has been finished to a high standard with continuing on going technical support from our experienced staff.

You will see by this list of recent projects that we have been involved in a number of different size projects in NZ, as well as more recently in Australia, using various types of filtration technology.

Kingston Waves, Melbourne - Victoria
Recently awarded, this project comprises the removal of three 2,250mm diameter sand filters to be upgraded with a twin tank 108 element ICL Vacuum Media Filtration system including VSD controlled pumps and our patented Dry Hopper Technology for body feeding.

Mildura Waves, Mildura - Victoria
Recently awarded, this project comprises the installation of three Wallace and Tiernan Astron medium pressure UV systems with automatic disinfection control on the 25m lap pool, wave pool and spa pool.

Kaiapoi Aquatic Centre, Canterbury – New Zealand
Recently awarded, this project comprises the installation of two separate Wallace and Tiernan Astron medium pressure UV systems, one each to the existing main and learner’s pools (respective flow rates 140m³/hour and 60m³/hour).

Whangarei Aquatic Centre, Northland – New Zealand
Recently awarded, this project comprises the pool water services fitout of an extension to the existing Whangarei Aquatic Centre. This new indoor development comprises a Lap/Wave Pool, Hydrotherapy Pool, Spa Pool and Tot’s Pool. All pools are to use Waterco SMDD high rate multi media sand filters with disinfection via gas chlorination, controlled via automatic pool water chemistry controllers. The hydrotherapy pool is to be fitted with a Wallace and Tiernan Astron medium pressure UV system. It is envisaged that the completion of this project will be early 2007.

The Pier Apartments, Kapati Coast – New Zealand
Recently awarded, this project comprises the pool water services fitout of an outdoor apartment pool. The project will also include the provision of disinfection systems, heating, as well as associated electrical work etc. The provision of two water feature systems will also be included in the project.

Museum Apartments, Wellington – New Zealand
Recently awarded, this project comprises the pool water services fitout of an apartment pool, separate spa pool and sauna. The project will also include the provision of disinfection systems as well as associated electrical work etc.

Oxford Community Pool, Oxford – New Zealand
Recently awarded, this project comprises the pool water services fitout of an outdoor 25 metre lap pool as well as a 9 metre by 6 metre learner’s pool. These two pools are to be of Myrtha Pool construction and utilise pressure media filtration. The project will also comprise disinfection and electrical fitout etc. Completion of this project is scheduled for November 2005.

Rangi Ruru Girls School, Christchurch – New Zealand
Recently awarded, this project comprises the pool water services fitout of a 25 metre lap pool. This is a design build project incorporating a 40 element vacuum media filtration system with VSD driven pump. The project also includes a heating system comprising a “strip type” solar system and supplementary Hurlcon gas heater with a 105kW output. Also included is a bulk 13.5% sodium hypochlorite storage/dosing system as well as CO2 controlled via a Strantrol Setpoint controller, as well as associated electrical work etc. Completion date at this stage is late October 2005.

Onehunga War Memorial Pool, Auckland – New Zealand
Project comprised the pool water services fitout of the Jellicoe Spa Pool, which is a 14m³ commercial spa pool development at the above Auckland City Council facility. The filtration system comprises two only Waterco SM1400 sand filters with VSD driven pumps. Disinfection is via 13.5% sodium hypochlorite and CO2 gas, controlled by a Strantrol Setpoint automatic chemistry controller. The project also comprises a new heating system including a new plate heat exchanger and digital temperature controller, as well as associated electrical work etc.

Mount Eden Swimming Pool, Auckland – New Zealand
Project comprises the installation of a Heliocol solar pool water heating system, as well as two 35m³ timber tanks for rainwater retention which is to be used as make up water.

Waihi College – New Zealand
Project comprised the removal of an old sand filtration system and associated equipment. A new 40 element vacuum media filtration system will be put in its place. The project also includes the installation of an automatic water chemistry controller as well as an upgrade of all valves etc within the balance tank.

Splash Palace, Invercargill – New Zealand
Project comprised the pool water services fitout of a new 120m³ indoor learners’ pool. The scope includes the installation of three 1600mm diameter high rate multimedia sand filters (Waterco SMD1600’s), associated pumps (including VSD drives) and pipework, as well as chlorine gas dosing equipment controlled by an automatic chemistry controller, ozone dosing equipment and automatic turbidity monitoring etc.

Bolton Street Apartments, Wellington – New Zealand
Project comprised the pool water services fitout of an apartment pool, separate spa pool and sauna. The project included the provision of automatic chemistry control as well as heating via an electric heat pump.

Hokitika Swimming Pool – New Zealand
Project comprised the removal of an old 2000mm diameter sand filter through the plantroom roof. A new Waterco 2000mm diameter sand filter was installed in its place.

Southland Hospital, Invercargil – New Zealand
Project comprised the pool water services fitout of a new hydrotherapy pool. The system comprised a sand filtration system, chemical dosing along with Ozone, as well as heating via a heat exchanger run off the hospitals existing boiler.

Sanctum Apartments, Wellington – New Zealand
Project comprised the pool water services fitout for an apartment swimming pool, separate spa pool and sauna. The project included the provision of automatic chemistry control as well as heating via a gas heater.

Wellington Rugby Union (Hurricanes/Lions Training Facility), New Zealand
Project comprised the pool water services installation for two plunge pools. One was a hot pool that utilised a pressure media sand filtration system as well as a heat pump to maintain the pool at 35 to 38°c. This pool incorporates a series of massaging water jets operated by a separate pumping system to the filtration system. The other was a cold plunge pool which also uses a pressure media filtration system as well as a chiller unit to maintain the pool at 10°c.

Trinity College, Perth - Western Australia
Supply and oversee the installation of a twin tank, 132 element vacuum media filtration system for a 1950 m³ college pool.

Geraldine Community Swimming Pool – New Zealand
Supply and installation of a new vacuum media filtration system for the new learner’s pool including all pipework and balance tank valves etc. Supply and install new reticulation pipework for main pool, including new balance tank valves and relocate the existing filters.

Napier Salt Water Baths – New Zealand
Comprises a new Outdoor Swimming Pool Complex in Napier. Supply and installation of 4 new Vacuum Media Filtration systems to service various pools. Supply and installation of a 3 Pressure Media Filtration systems to service new spa pools. Supply and installation of a dual filter sand filtration system to service a stream pool.

TSB Pool, Stratford – New Zealand
Remove an existing horizontal Sand Filter and pipework. Install a new 60-element Vacuum Media Filtration system in its place.

Lichfield Towers – Auckland, New Zealand
Comprises a new Indoor Swimming Pool Apartment Complex in Auckland. Supply and installation of new Pressure Media Filtration system and disinfection systems. Supply and installation of Spa-pool and other proprietary pool equipment. Supply and installation of a heat pump “run around” heat recovery system for enclosure ventilation.

Epsom Girls Grammar School – Auckland, New Zealand
Comprises a new 25 metre Indoor Swimming Pool Complex in Auckland Supply and installation of a new 50 element Vacuum Media Filtration plant. Supply of other proprietary pool equipment.

Nelson Hospital – New Zealand
Comprises a new Indoor Hydrotherapy Swimming Pool at Nelson Hospital. Design and supply and of new Pressure Media Filtration system and associated disinfection systems etc.

Thorndon Public Pool – Wellington, New Zealand
Comprises an existing Outdoor Swimming Pool in Wellington. Remove an existing Sand Filter and associated pipework. Supply and installation of a new 40-element Vacuum Media Filtration system.

Greerton Public Pool - New Zealand
Comprises an existing Outdoor Swimming Pool in Tauranga. Remove an existing Sand Filter and associated pipework. Supply and installation of a new 18-element Vacuum Media Filtration system.

Upper Hutt Aquatic Centre - Wellington
Comprises a new Outdoor Swimming Pool in Wellington. Supply and installation of a new 70-element Vacuum Media Filtration system. Supply of other proprietary pool equipment.

Century Public Pool – Timaru, New Zealand
Comprises an existing Indoor Swimming Pool in Timaru. Supply and installation of a new 48 element Vacuum Media Filtration system.

Ian Coombes Ltd is able to offer a wide range of filtration systems for both the commercial as well as residential swimming pool market.

Filtration systems...the best customised solution to suit you:

Sand Filtration
Pressure Media Filtration (DE or Fibre)
Vacuum Media Filtration (DE or Fibre)

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Vacuum Media Filtration is our companies specialist filtration area. It is the technology that we believe suits most commercial filtration applications. Following is an overview of this extremely efficient and cost effective filtration method.

Vacuum Media Filtration, or Vacuum DE as it is called in some circles, has a long history of successful/economic operation in many swimming pools around both New Zealand as well as other countries. The first Vacuum Media Filtration system to be installed in New Zealand was in Christchurch for the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

As you will see by the enclosed photograph and drawing, vacuum media filters are based on the principal of elements that are contained within an open tank usually constructed from concrete. The elements are constructed from ABS and are enclosed in a bag constructed from polyethylene fabric. This fabric supports the media through which the water passes. When one of these filters is started up or after one is backwashed, a "precoat" of media is added to create a layer approximately 1.5mm thick on the fabric. After this a dosing pump adds a small "body feed" amount of the media continuously until the filter requires backwashing. Addition of the bodyfeed stops the top layer of media becoming clogged with filtered dirt and thus lengthens the filter cycle, keeping the operation as economic as possible. Through our experiences of operating these filters we would expect filter cycles of at least 6 to 8 weeks between backwashes.

Backwashing involves shutting down the pumps, hosing down the elements and then starting up the system again before adding the precoat. Typically backwashing takes about 2 to 2½ hours depending on the filter size.

One of the big benefits of a vacuum media system is that the open tank allows you to view the elements and directly see the point of filtration. This allows you to gauge the filters condition and performance at a glance. This is particularly helpful during busy periods such as school holidays when increased loadings place much more stress on filtration systems.

Typically Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filter media has been used in both pressure and vacuum media filters. Unlike our competitors, we offer a safer and usually less expensive option overall to DE, this is Purifibre. You may be aware that for several reasons DE is no longer looked on as a favoured filter media, in fact in several US states, DE is a banned substance. While DE is still widely used in NZ, it is fair to say that its days are numbered.

With this in mind our company has been distributing a food grade cellulose based filter media called Purifibre for a number of years. This filter media has proven itself to be cheaper than DE, it isn't carcinogenic, its biodegradable and in the NZ situation it has proven that it can filter out Cryptosporidium Cysts. While Purifibre is far more expensive than DE on a per weight basis, far less is required in comparison, usually resulting in a saving of up to 25%.