Keeping your splash pad safe & clean: maintenance best practices
Splash pads are fantastic community amenities that cater to all ages and abilities, creating splashy play zones that encourage kids to play collaboratively, challenge themselves to take risks, and have fun. While these aquatic play spaces often become gathering places within a community, it’s important to remember that beyond being a fun space to play, a splash pad does require regular maintenance to keep it safe, clean, and ready for action.
Conducting regular splash pad maintenance allows you to ensure that your system is running efficiently and safely, while still looking great. We’ve pulled together a list of splash pad maintenance best practices to help you keep your splash pad clean, safe, and ready for play all season long.
Why Splash Pad Maintenance Matters
Splash pad maintenance can be easily overlooked, especially if your space is only used seasonally, but it’s important to remember that routine maintenance is imperative to the long-term success of your splash pad.
Following a regular maintenance schedule helps to ensure that the water quality remains safe for children and families and meets local health and safety standards. It can also help prevent costly breakdowns by catching potential issues early on and helps extend the longevity of your splash pad. Following a routine maintenance schedule will help preserve the visual appeal of your splash pad, protecting your investment for years to come.
Daily, Weekly, and Seasonal Maintenance Checklist
When it comes to creating maintenance schedules, there are a few different factorsyou’ll need to consider. Firstly, you’ll want to break down maintenance tasks based on how often they need to be done. Some tasks will need to be performed on a daily or weekly basis, while others might take place once a month or once a year. Having a few maintenance lists to follow will ensure that everything gets done in a timely manner to keep your splash pad running smoothly, and that nothing is overlooked.
We’ve highlighted some important maintenance tasks to help get you started:
Daily Maintenance
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Test and balance chlorine and pH levels to keep water clean and safe.
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Inspect spray nozzles, drains, and activators to ensure everything is in good working order.
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Remove any debris from the splash pad (fallen leaves, sticks, etc.) and remove any standing water from splash pad surfaces.
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Check for any slip hazards or obstructions on the splash pad that might hinder movement throughout the space.
Weekly/Monthly Maintenance
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Inspect water filtration and disinfection systems.
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Clean and flush filters, cartridges, and strainers.
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Run a full system diagnostic test to check for issues with water pressure or sensors.
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Check splash pad features for any wear and tear or vandalism that might impact their operation.
It’s also important to factor the seasonality of your splash pad into your maintenance plan. While some regions may have a climate that allows their splash pad to run year-round, others may cease operations through the winter months, then re-open during the summer. Waterplay has both Spring Startup and Winterization Guides available that are extremely helpful resources to aid in seasonal splash pad maintenance.
Surface Cleaning & Slip Prevention
Keeping your splash pad surfacing clean and safe for use is also an important part of routine maintenance. When designing your splash pad, you’ll want to make sure you choose a surface that’s durable, non-slip, and easy to clean.
LifeFloor is a great surfacing choice for those wanting a bold colour palette or design to accentuate a splash pad, and their cushy, vibrant tiles are slip-resistant and easy to clean. Concrete is also a popular surfacing option for splash pads, whether it be left as-is or painted to fit your splash pad’s theme, due to its cost-effectiveness and durability. Taking the time to regularly remove any algae, mildew or film buildup will help keep your splash pad surface clean and ready for hours of splashy fun.
Be sure to use non-toxic cleaners that are approved for use on your surface of choice to protect both the kids playing on the splash pad and the environment. This is also a great time to inspect the surface itself for any wear and tear, cracks, or fading that may need to be addressed before opening to the public.
Staff Training & Recordkeeping
Once you’ve established a maintenance checklist and schedule, it’s important to make sure that all staff who work with the splash pad are aware of what needs to be done. Following a consistent maintenance checklist helps ensure that nothing is missed, and also helps document any inspections, tests, or repairs that are made. Make sure that safety protocols are clearly outlined, and schedule routine training to keep staff aware of current maintenance practices and any changes that may occur from season to season.
It’s also important that staff members feel empowered to identify and report any concerns they may have. Catching issues early is the best way to stay on top of them and ensure that the splash pad remains safe and functional for use by the community.
Repairs & Part Replacements
If at any point you discover that your splash pad features require repairs or part replacements, Waterplay can help! Our expert customer support team is available to help you identify what parts you may need and can help get your splash pad back up and running quickly, efficiently, and safely.
When it comes to conducting splash pad maintenance, it isn’t just about checking items off of a list, it’s about ensuring the splash pad is safe, accessible, and ready for the community to enjoy. Taking the time to routinely inspect the space helps maintain the longevity of the splash pad, allowing for years of splashy fun for the community.
With Waterplay’s proven systems and top-notch support, you can rest easy knowing that your splash pad will be safe, clean, and ready to deliver joyful play to families for years to come.