Case Study: How a Canine Hydrotherapy Centre Eliminated Biofilm and Improved Water Quality with ChloroKlean

Background: a well-run centre with a persistent problem

A registered canine hydrotherapy centre in the north of England had been operating for over eight years, treating dogs recovering from orthopaedic surgery, managing chronic conditions like arthritis, and supporting rehabilitation after spinal injuries. The centre ran a heated pool at 30 degrees Celsius and an underwater treadmill unit, treating an average of 15-20 dogs per day across a team of four qualified hydrotherapists.

Water management followed industry best-practice guidelines to the letter. Chemical levels were tested four times daily. Monthly UKAS-accredited bacteriological testing was carried out without fail. The centre used bromine as its primary disinfectant, maintaining levels between 2-4 ppm, with regular shocking to manage the heavy organic load from canine clients.

On paper, the centre was doing everything right. In practice, they were fighting a losing battle.

The challenges

Recurring Pseudomonas detections

Despite consistent bromine levels, the centre experienced intermittent Pseudomonas aeruginosa detections in their monthly UKAS testing. Three times in an 18-month period, results came back above acceptable limits. Each time, the response was the same - superchlorination, system drain-down, deep clean, refill, and a retest. Each episode cost approximately 1,200 pounds in booking revenue lost, chemicals, water, and staff time. More importantly, it raised questions about the centre's water quality record at a time when they were seeking further professional accreditation.

Staff health concerns

Two of the four hydrotherapists had developed persistent skin irritation on their hands and forearms - dry, cracked skin that worsened through the working week and partially recovered over weekends. One therapist reported ongoing eye irritation and had started wearing goggles during pool sessions. The centre manager had begun investigating occupational health implications and was concerned about potential employer liability.

Biofilm: the hidden root cause

During a routine service visit, the centre's water treatment advisor noted a slimy residue inside the balance tank and on sections of pipework that were accessible for inspection. This was biofilm - a complex matrix of bacteria embedded in a protective polysaccharide layer. The advisor explained that bromine, like chlorine, cannot penetrate this layer. The bacteria within the biofilm were effectively shielded from disinfection, periodically releasing planktonic bacteria into the pool water and causing the intermittent Pseudomonas detections.

The centre was treating the symptoms but not the cause.

The solution: switching to ChloroKlean chlorine dioxide

Following a free water management consultation with ChloroKlean, the centre agreed to transition from bromine to chlorine dioxide. The process was carried out in three phases:

Phase 1: system assessment and flush (Day 1-2)

ChloroKlean's technical team assessed the full water system - pool, underwater treadmill, balance tank, filtration, and all pipework circuits. A high-concentration ClO2 flush was applied to the entire system with the pool drained. The volume of biofilm that emerged from the pipework during flushing was, in the centre manager's words, "genuinely shocking - we had no idea it was in there."

This initial flush removed years of accumulated biofilm that bromine had been unable to touch - biofilm that was harbouring the bacteria responsible for failed UKAS tests.

Phase 2: dosing setup and commissioning (Day 3)

The centre was set up with ChloroKlean's dosing system, calibrated to maintain a residual of 0.3-0.5 ppm ClO2 in the pool water. The system was simple to operate, with clear documentation and staff training provided on-site. Testing protocols were updated to include ClO2 residual measurement alongside the existing pH, temperature, and water balance checks.

Phase 3: monitoring and validation (Weeks 1-12)

Weekly water samples were taken during the initial three-month period, in addition to the standard monthly UKAS testing, to validate the system's performance.

The results

Bacteriological testing

Every UKAS test during the first 12 months on ChloroKlean chlorine dioxide returned clear results. Zero Pseudomonas detections. Total viable counts consistently below the reporting threshold. The centre's water quality record, which had been a source of anxiety, became a point of confidence - particularly when their professional accreditation assessment took place six months into the transition.

Staff health improvements

Within three weeks of the switch, both hydrotherapists with skin irritation reported significant improvement. By week six, the skin issues had resolved completely. The therapist who had been wearing goggles stopped needing them within two weeks. No staff member reported any chemical smell, skin dryness, or respiratory symptoms in the 12 months following the transition.

The centre manager noted: "The difference for our team has been remarkable. They are in the water for five or six hours a day. On bromine, they were coming out with red, cracked hands. On ChloroKlean, their skin is completely normal. It has removed an occupational health worry that I was genuinely concerned about."

Operational benefits

• No system shutdowns: Zero unplanned closures for water quality remediation in 12 months, compared to three in the previous 18 months on bromine.
• Less chemical, simpler management: With ChloroKlean's effective dose at just 0.3-0.5 ppm ClO2 - compared to the 2-4 ppm of bromine previously required - the centre uses significantly less chemical overall. The pH independence of chlorine dioxide also eliminated the constant pH correction and frequent shocking that bromine demanded. Day-to-day water management became far simpler and more predictable, freeing up staff time that had previously been spent juggling multiple chemical balances.
• Better water clarity: Pool water clarity improved visibly within days of the initial biofilm flush. Several dog owners commented on how much clearer the water looked.
• No chemical odour: The pervasive bromine smell that had characterised the pool hall was gone. Visiting veterinary professionals and dog owners noticed immediately.

Compliance and governance

The centre achieved professional accreditation with a clean water quality record. Their registration was renewed without any water quality concerns noted. The BPR-compliant status of ChloroKlean products provided documented regulatory compliance that satisfied both governance bodies and the centre's insurance provider.

Key metrics: before and after

Why this matters for every canine hydrotherapy centre

This centre's experience is not unusual. Many hydrotherapy facilities across the UK are managing the same combination of challenges - intermittent bacteriological failures, staff health concerns, and the hidden problem of biofilm - using disinfectants that were never designed for this specific application.

Chlorine dioxide, and specifically ChloroKlean's BPR-compliant formulations, addresses all three simultaneously. It is not a marginal improvement over chlorine or bromine. It is a fundamentally different approach to water hygiene that is better suited to the unique demands of canine hydrotherapy.

"The governance bodies are rightly focused on water quality outcomes. ChloroKlean gives centres the tools to achieve those outcomes consistently, without compromising the health of their staff or the comfort of the animals they treat." - Gavin Owen, Managing Director, ChloroKlean

If your hydrotherapy centre is dealing with biofilm, inconsistent bacteriological results, or staff health concerns related to chemical exposure, contact ChloroKlean for a free water management consultation.