EA044683B1 - METHOD FOR PROVIDING A LARGE RESERVOIR SUITABLE FOR DIRECT CONTACT RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING A LARGE RESERVOIR SUITABLE FOR SIMPLIFYING DIRECT CONTACT RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES - Google Patents

Description

This invention was 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 June 28, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field of technology

The present invention relates generally to the treatment of a large body of water to make the water suitable for recreational purposes; more specifically, to treat water using a low-cost sanitary system and method to minimize the risk of growth of microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost manner. More specifically, the invention relates to an inexpensive and sanitary-effective system and method for creating two distinct treatment zones in large bodies of water to facilitate direct contact recreational activities.

State of the art

Traditional swimming pool technology has been used and used for decades as a standard water treatment for small recreational ponds. However, this swimming pool technology has proven to be ineffective in treating and removing some microorganisms from relatively small bodies of water.

On the other hand, larger bodies of water, such as lakes used for swimming (hereinafter referred to as swimming lakes), with increased dilution capacity also had problems and were ineffective in inactivating and removing some microorganisms, regardless of whether the body of water was periodically treated or not. processed. In addition, applying traditional swimming pool technology to such large bodies of water requires large capital investments and also requires large amounts of energy and chemicals to complete its operation and maintenance. These resulting costs make traditional swimming pool technology very expensive when applied to large bodies of water.

In general, recreational bodies of water such as swimming pools and larger bodies of water such as swimming lakes are always prone to contamination by microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, which may pose risks to swimmers using such bodies of water for swimming, bathing and other recreational uses with direct contact.

A. Swimming pools.

Swimming pool technology has been the most used water treatment technology for decades for small bodies of water used for recreational swimming purposes. During this time, various health agencies around the world have implemented water treatment regulations to regulate minimum health standards for swimming pools.

Traditional swimming pool technology essentially requires constant disinfection of the entire water volume to maintain a constantly high ORP (oxidation reduction potential) or disinfectant concentration, such as free chlorine level, in the water. Additionally, to remove all suspended particles and contaminants from this volume of water, the entire volume of water must be filtered one to six times per day (usually four times per day).

However, it is important to understand that, contrary to popular belief, traditional pool disinfection technology does not kill all pathogens or microorganisms instantly. Instead, there are chlorine-resistant microorganisms that can survive in chlorinated pool water and cause illness from recreational water (hereinafter referred to as RWS). Even though some bacteria are killed in seconds in swimming pools with normal levels of disinfection, there are many microorganisms that are highly resistant to chlorine or other disinfectants. These microorganisms may survive many days after a pool contamination event because swimming pool disinfection is not designed to kill all such microorganisms. One microorganism that is highly resistant to traditional swimming pool disinfection technologies is Cryptosporidium, for example. It is an important cause of RAD, especially in treated bodies of water such as swimming pools, as discussed earlier. In fact, several studies demonstrate that it may take more than 10 days for 99.9% of Cryptosporidium oocysts to be inactivated by free chlorine levels of approximately 1-3 ppm (such as in conventionally treated swimming pools) because such a microorganism It is highly resistant to traditional methods of disinfecting swimming pools. Therefore, a large number of swimmers may swim in a pool treated in accordance with current regulations for swimming pool disinfection standards during this 10-day period and be exposed to such a microorganism.

Additionally, in relation to traditional pool filtration technology, sand filters

- 1 044683 are typically capable of filtering particles in the size range down to 20-25 microns, and cartridge filters are generally capable of removing particles in the size range up to 5-10 microns. However, as an example, the size of Cryptosporidium oocysts is approximately 4-6 µm. This makes them extremely difficult to remove through traditional pool filtration with commonly used filters, which can only remove approximately 25% of oocysts per pass through the filter.

Based on the above, it will be clear that when a contamination event occurs in a pool, the disinfection and filtration systems are not prepared to remove such microorganisms. Traditional disinfection is not sufficient to inactivate or eradicate such microorganisms, and the filtration system is not suitable for removing them from water in an appropriate period of time to ensure that people will not become infected after a contamination event occurs. In particular, this is due to the fact that traditional swimming pool technologies require filtration of the entire volume of pool water, which is a time-consuming process that does not even ensure complete filtration of all oocysts in the appropriate period of time, coupled with the fact that chlorine may not inactivate all oocysts of some microorganisms for a period of less than 10 days. Consequently, when a pool contamination event occurs, such microorganisms may not be detected and may infect large numbers of swimmers before they are properly treated and removed from the pool water.

Swimming pools are therefore susceptible to RWAs caused by microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites present in the water, which may be highly resistant to traditional swimming pool water treatment methods and therefore have the potential to become contaminated. the body of swimmers through swallowing water, inhaling resuspended microorganisms, or simply through direct contact with water.

One study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) summarized 90 reports of recreational water outbreaks that occurred in 2011 and 2012. in 32 states and Puerto Rico, of which 69 outbreaks (76.6%) occurred in conventionally treated swimming pools. Additionally, a 2007 study from the CDC provided a summary of a total of 78 reports of recreational water outbreaks that occurred during the 2005-2006 period. and which included illnesses in 4,412 people, resulting in 116 hospitalizations and five deaths. 31 (40%) of these 78 outbreak reports were caused by Cryptosporidium. Another study demonstrated that an outbreak of Giardia intestinalis occurred in a Massachusetts club pool in June 2003, resulting in 149 cases, including secondary person-to-person transmission. Also in July 2003, a Cryptosporidium outbreak spread through multiple pools and daycare centers in Kansas and resulted in 617 cases. This latest outbreak was the largest recreational water outbreak of 2003-2004. Further, in July 2004, a Cryptosporidium outbreak at a public pool in Ohio caused gastroenteritis in 160 people from three countries, and in August 2004, employees with gastroenteritis at a California water park continued to perform work and recreational activities at the pools, resulting in a Cryptosporidium outbreak , which affected 336 people with related diseases.

Further, in 2008, the CDC reported that cases of RV caused by Cryptosporidium in the United States had tripled since 2004. However, this increase may have been influenced by improved detection methods, meaning, for example, that past cases may have existed but remained undetected. More recently, data collected in 2013-2014. from the CDC indicate that there have been over 71 cases of outbreaks from swimming pools reported in the US, which have resulted in over 950 cases. From 2000-2014 More than 450 outbreaks have been reported, resulting in more than 27,000 cases, with more than half of these cases caused by Cryptosporidium.

The cases described above reinforce the fact that some microorganisms, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, among others, are not effectively removed by traditional swimming pool treatment methods or systems. Therefore, although there is general agreement that the risk of RDV is only present in untreated water bodies, the majority of cases where RVV has caused illness in multiple people have occurred in conventionally treated water bodies such as swimming pools, highlighting the need for improved treatment methods and systems. and maintaining water bodies for recreational purposes.

In addition to contamination from microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, swimming pools are susceptible to SAD caused by amoebae found in the body of water. For example, a 2003 study in Santiago, Chile found that five of eight public swimming pools had free-living amoebas during the summer and that Naegleria Fowleri and Acanthoamoebas were present in 36.3% of samples. Further, this study reported that one of the listed public swimming pools, in which no free-living amoebas or microorganisms were found, had extremely high concentrations of chlorine, making the surrounding air unbreathable and causing 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

- 2 044683 following the first case of primary amoebic encephalitis (PAE) reported in Spain, which was caused by Naegleria Fowleri and was exposed in a public swimming pool treated and maintained according to standard swimming pool technology. Primary amoebic encephalitis (PAE) is an extremely aggressive disease that causes severe headache, fever and neck stiffness over several days and is fatal in 97% of diagnosed cases. The case stunned doctors and health officials because the public swimming pool where the girl became ill met both chlorine levels and filtration standards considered safe.

Currently, if these types of contamination events occur in a swimming pool, there are typically one of two outcomes:

If a contamination event goes undetected, which is usually the case, the microorganisms will remain and spread in the water, potentially infecting many swimmers (even if the water is treated with a traditional pool system), meaning that swimmers could be exposed to harmful microorganisms for more than 10 days . Also, as emphasized earlier, traditional pool filtration systems take a long time to remove oocysts from the water, since it is a partial filtration, and in some cases, due to their size, the oocysts cannot be removed at all.

When a contamination event is detected, in order to inactivate and remove the oocysts, it is necessary to close the pool for several days and sometimes even drain the entire full volume of the pool, which rarely happens. Alternatively, the swimming pool may be subjected to a hyperchlorination process, which requires extremely high concentrations of chlorine, which, as described above, can make the surrounding air unbreathable and also cause eye and skin irritation.

In conclusion, traditional swimming pool technologies that combine disinfection and filtration processes are not prepared to treat certain microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, among others, making it difficult to ensure that water used for direct recreational purposes is free of microorganisms , causing diseases. Traditional pool systems are slow or ineffective in eliminating these types of microorganisms, even if they meet required local codes.

B. Larger bodies of water.

As stated above, there are also larger bodies of water such as swimming lakes that are used for direct contact purposes that are treated to some extent. These bodies of water are also subject to high risks associated with the presence of microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites. In some cases, deaths occur after human infection.

Typically, such large bodies of water are partially treated using methods that essentially involve limited use of traditional swimming pool technologies. Thus, when these ponds are treated, sanitizer levels and filtration levels are typically much lower than required in traditional swimming pools. For example, instead of maintaining a constant level of 1 ppm of free chlorine throughout the entire volume of water (as in a traditional swimming pool), such large bodies of water are maintained at significantly lower levels, not necessarily continuously, but instead of filtering the entire volume of water four to six times per day ( as required in a traditional swimming pool), the volume of water is filtered partially and/or at less frequent intervals. This partial disinfection and filtration is used in these large bodies of water mainly for economic reasons, since the use of traditional swimming pool technologies in large bodies of water would require very large systems and equipment costs, as well as high operating costs associated with the large number of chemicals and electricity required for filtering purposes.

It is also important to note that the water in these partially treated swimming lakes usually has poor clarity. This contrasts with the transparency and crystal clear conditions of traditional swimming pools, which are largely the result of partial filtration of the water volume.

When dealing with restricted recreational water bodies, such as partially treated large artificial lakes and lagoons or the like, it is important to note that if they are not treated using traditional swimming pool technology, important sanitation risks may arise. For example, there have been many emergencies caused by dangerous microorganisms in limited artificial large bodies of water that were not treated using traditional swimming pool technology, but instead the technology was partially applied to them.

A case in point is that of Disney's River County, where an 11-year-old boy died from Naegleria Fowleri, which he contracted while swimming in the man-made lagoon there. Another incident occurred at the National Whitewater Center, North Carolina, when a woman

- 3 044683, 18 years old, died approximately a week after becoming infected with an amoeba while going rafting in this center.

Another recent emergency occurred at a man-made surf lake in Waco, Texas, that did not use traditional swimming pool technology and instead used partial disinfection and filtration. In this emergency, a 29-year-old surfer was infected with the amoeba Naegleria Fowleri and died on September 21, 2018. Even with the fatal consequences of this emergency, no amoeba was detected in this surf lake after water quality tests were conducted on September 27, 2018. however, it was detected in nearby bodies of water. Therefore, it is very important to emphasize that a simple analysis of water quality is usually not enough to prevent emergencies of this kind, since these microorganisms may be present in specific sectors of water bodies and/or located in the corners.

As an indication of the scale of the problem, more than 140 cases of the amoeba Naegleria Fowleri have been reported in the United States, with a mortality rate of 97%.

Naegleria Fowleri enters the body through the nose, from where it travels to the central nervous system and causes acute inflammation of the brain and ultimately leads to primary meningoencephalitis (PAE), an infection of the brain leading to the destruction of brain tissue. For this reason, it is sometimes called the brain-eating amoeba. The incubation period for meningoencephalitis ranges from two to eight days and in almost all cases results in death of the infected patient.

Acanthamoebas, on the other hand, enter the human body through the eyes or skin cuts, pass into the central nervous system, and have an incubation period of only a few days. In the latter case, most cases are fatal.

Both amoebas and acanthamoebas are especially dangerous when they are found in bodies of water with strong currents or constant movement of water, which causes the resuspension of sediments that have accumulated on the surface of the bottom of the reservoirs. Resuspension increases the chances of bacteria reaching swimmers' noses and eyes.

Tracking amoebas through water quality analysis is extremely complex and requires specialized knowledge. Also, taking multiple water samples from different locations of water bodies is not enough as such analysis will not help to get the same results from other locations as mentioned earlier. Such amoebas may be present in certain areas of water bodies, hidden in corners or in bottom sediments. Consequently, identification of these amoebae requires training, specific analysis and monitoring - all of which illustrate the need for a system and method for properly treating swimming lakes for recreational use to prevent or minimize such risks.

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

C. Disinfection index.

The schemes and requirements by which swimming pools or large bodies of water are treated and maintained represent, among other things, traditional swimming pool requirements, as well as bacteriological standards from the U.S.E.P.A.. However, these standards may sometimes be insufficient to ensure the absence of sanitary risks due to the presence of water microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites.

One way to apply proper disinfection to inactivate various microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites is through the use of the CT index. This index is derived from a specific concentration of disinfectant C and the amount of time T the disinfectant is in contact with water at that specific concentration to achieve suitable disinfection. Therefore, the CT index is determined by multiplying both values, which can be seen in the following equation:

G ^mg 1

CT = Disinfectant concentration j x Contact time [min]

Different CT values provide inactivation of different microorganisms, parasites and protozoa based on the type of disinfectant used, the temperature and pH of the water, and the level of inactivation required. In the table below. Figure 1 illustrates the CT values for the inactivation of microorganisms.

- 4 044683

Table 1

Disinfectant Inactivation Temperature Meaning ST [uХ min] Giardia cysts Ozone 1 logarithm 10°C 0.48 (6 < pH < 9) Giardia cysts Ozone 1 logarithm 25°C 0.16 (6 < pH < 9) Giardia cysts Chlorine 1 logarithm 10°C 112 (For pH = Ό Giardia cysts Chlorine 1 logarithm 10°C 162 (For pH = 8) Cryptosporidium Chlorine 3 logarithms 25°С 15 300 (pH < 7.5) Naegleria Fowleri (trophozoites) Chlorine 3 logarithms 25°С 9 (For pH 7.5) Naegleria Fowleri (trophozoites) Chlorine 3 logarithms 25°C 23 (For pH 9) Naegleria Fowleri (cysts) Chlorine 3 logarithms 25°С 42 (For pH 7.5) Naegleria Fowleri (cysts) Chlorine 3 logarithms 25°C 50 (For pH 9)

Inactivation is measured as 1 log, 2 log, 3 log, or 4 log, as illustrated in the table below. 2.

table 2

1 logarithm Inactivation 90% 2 logarithms Inactivation 99% 3 logarithm Inactivation 99.9% 4 logarithm Inactivation 99.99%

In general, bacteria are easily inactivated, while microorganisms such as, but not limited to, Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium are very difficult to inactivate. For example, 1 log inactivation of Giardia cysts at 10°C and pH 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 time T of 112 min, reaching a ST of 112.

[MG1 _g , gMG -j x 112 [min] = 112 min

- 5 044683

A ppm concentration of C2 can be used for a T of 56 min, reaching a T of 112.

γμγί _g , g ^mg 1 ST - 2 j x 56 [min] = 112 x muhJ

Thus, from the above example it will be clear that to achieve the same CT value, a higher concentration of C gives a shorter application time of T.

In recreational waters, adequate disinfection must be achieved to ensure safe sanitary conditions for direct contact purposes. Even though some microorganisms are easily inactivated by traditional levels of pool disinfection, there are microorganisms that are resistant to traditional methods of disinfection and filtration, and therefore other types of treatment are necessary to ensure a sanitary pool.

There is therefore a need for a water treatment system and method that minimizes the risk of contamination of large bodies of water with microorganisms commonly found in recreational waters, such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, by eliminating the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems. in an innovative way and at low costs.

Disclosure of the invention

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 of the invention provide a low-cost sanitation system and method that minimizes the risks of contamination from microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites. Such a system and method can be implemented, among other things, in swimming lakes and large artificial reservoirs.

In any case, it is the intent of the invention to define two different treatment zones in a large body of water. The two zones have different configurations and processing methods. The first zone is the deposition zone. This area is primarily used to provide treatment and sedimentation of microorganisms and/or contaminants to inactivate and/or remove them from the body of water. The second zone is the dispersion zone. This is an area where basic recreational water activities with direct contact are expected to take place. In this dispersion zone, a flow of water is provided, which, together with natural currents created by winds and/or differences in water temperatures, provides a water dispersion pattern for the volume of water in dispersion zone 2 into settling zone 1. Additionally, in the dispersion zone, continuous disinfection of the water volume is provided.

Therefore, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, there is provided an inexpensive and sanitary effective method for providing large bodies of water for recreational purposes with direct contact of at least 3000 m ² , comprising: determining the settling zone 1 and dispersal zone 2 in a large body of water, applying a CT-based disinfection method -index and the use of an effective amount of flocculating composition in the sedimentation zone 1, promoting the sedimentation of various microorganisms and/or pollutants located in the sedimentation zone 1, and minimal disturbance of the volume of water in the sedimentation zone, thereby minimizing interference in the sedimentation process; maintaining a constant chlorine balance in the volume of water contained in the settling zone 2 by adding an effective amount of a chlorine disinfectant to the dispersion zone 2 such that the volume of water contained in the dispersion zone 2 maintains a free chlorine level of at least 0.5 mg/L; introduction of water into the dispersion zone by means of one or more inlet nozzles, which, together with natural currents created by winds and/or differences in water temperatures, provide a pattern of dispersion of the volume of water in the dispersion zone 2 into the deposition zone 1, and wherein the dispersion zone 2 is configured and located so as to provide a pollution reduction index (CRI) of up to 30 min.

According to additional aspects of the method described in the previous paragraph, the deposition zone 1 and the dispersion zone 2 are not separated by a physical barrier, and the ratio between the volume of water in the dispersion zone and the volume of water in the deposition zone is from 1:2 to 1:40. The method also includes providing a settling zone such that the settling zone 1 contains, on average, no more than 20% of the total number of swimmers using the large body of water on a daily basis, and wherein the settling zone 1 is primarily intended for recreational purposes with minor indirect contact; further includes providing a dispersion zone for direct contact targets such as swimming; and/or also includes establishing a dispersion zone such that an average of 80% or more of the swimmers using the major body of water are in dispersal zone 2 each day.

It should be understood that large bodies of water to which the teachings of the present invention may be applied include existing bodies of water (eg, swimming lakes) or constructed bodies of water.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for creating a large body of water suitable for direct contact recreational purposes, a large body of water of this type covering at least 3000 m ² and having a periphery 12 and a bottom containing a settling zone 1 located in a portion of the large body of water 3 and along part of the periphery 12; chemical dosing system 19 V

- 6 044683 a settling zone located and configured to apply i) disinfecting agents to the volume of water in the settling zone to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours, where C means concentration and T means minimum contact time; and ii) flocculating agents in the sedimentation zone, which promote the process of sedimentation of various microorganisms, parasites and protozoa present in the reservoir and inactivated by the ST cycle; a dispersion zone located in part of a large reservoir and along part of the periphery 12; a system for dosing chemicals 29 into the dispersion zone, configured to maintain a constant chlorine residual in the volume of water in the dispersion zone, and in the volume of water located in the dispersion zone, a free chlorine level of at least 0.5 mg/l is maintained; and one or more inlet nozzles 26 in the dispersion zone in the dispersion zone 2, located and configured to introduce water into the dispersion zone, which, together with natural currents created by winds and/or differences in water temperatures, provide a water dispersion pattern for a volume of water in dispersion zone 2 into deposition zone 1 and minimally disturb the volume of water in the deposition zone, thereby minimizing interference in the deposition process.

The advantages and features that characterize the inventions are noted, in particular, in the claims attached to this document and forming a part thereof. However, for a better understanding of the inventions, reference should be made to the drawings which form a part thereof and to the accompanying descriptive material in which preferred embodiments of the inventions are illustrated and described.

Brief description of the figures

Referring to the drawings, in which similar numerical positions indicate similar parts in several views:

in fig. 1 depicts one example embodiment of a large reservoir containing two separate zones: sedimentation zone 1 and dispersion zone 2;

in fig. 2 shows one example of an embodiment of a large reservoir containing a sedimentation zone 1 and two dispersion zones 2;

in fig. 3 shows an enlarged part of the reservoir shown in FIG. 1, which shows an embodiment of the deposition zone 1 and the dispersion zone 2;

in fig. 4A-4G show an example embodiment of the invention depicting a method according to the invention;

in fig. 5 is a schematic functional block diagram of various components that may be used in an embodiment of the invention;

in fig. 6 schematically shows part of the periphery 12 of a large reservoir in the area of the dispersion zone 2;

in fig. 7 depicts an embodiment of a method used in connection with the present invention.

Detailed description

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying figures. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other embodiments are possible. For example, elements depicted in the drawings may be replaced, supplemented, or modified, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding steps to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the scope of the invention.

The present invention relates to an inexpensive and sanitary effective method for providing large bodies of water with two different treatment zones for direct contact recreational purposes.

The inexpensive and sanitary effective method of the present invention solves the technical inefficiencies of traditional swimming pool technologies in maintaining safe and sanitary conditions in bodies of water by combining the technical features of a direct contact recreational dispersion zone 2 that has a specific and effective water dispersion pattern as well as a minimum constant concentration of chlorine disinfectant, together with a sedimentation zone 1, which is primarily intended for recreational purposes with minor indirect contact, which is not physically separated from the dispersion zone 2 and is configured to inactivate, flocculate and eliminate harmful microorganisms previously dispersed from the dispersion zone 2.

As described herein, the combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion patterns, and sedimentation capabilities of bodies of water according to the present invention create unprecedented safer environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not previously been described or applied and which overcome the inefficiencies of traditional technologies for swimming pools and partially treated large bodies of water. , thus enabling the creation of recreational water bodies that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms (such as, for example, but not limited to bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites), thereby reducing

- 7 044683 addressing the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems in an innovative way and at low cost.

In the context of the present invention, direct contact recreational activities include repeated or continuous contact of swimmers with water involving a high risk of water ingestion, such as swimming, water skiing, diving, surfing and wading with children. On the other hand, recreational uses with minor or no contact do not involve direct contact of swimmers with water and therefore do not involve a high risk of water ingestion, such as fishing or boating activities.

The method of the present invention provides the ability to inactivate and/or remove contaminants and/or microorganisms from large bodies of water where such microorganisms may be introduced through the air, water sources, external pollution or, more likely, through swimmers carrying such contaminants who visit the body of water.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an inexpensive and sanitary effective method for providing large bodies of water suitable for direct contact recreational purposes, the method being defined by, among other things, the following:

defining a deposition zone 1 and a dispersion zone 2 in a large body of water, both having different configurations and processing methods, with the deposition zone 1 and dispersion zone 2 located within the same body of water 3 and not separated by a physical barrier;

settling zone 1 may have a secondary purpose (e.g., in addition to functioning as a settling zone) for aesthetic purposes, and is primarily intended for recreational purposes with secondary indirect contact, and is therefore designed to have a bather density lower than in the dispersal zone 2, dispersion zone 2 is used for direct contact purposes such as swimming and bathing, and is designed to have a high density of bathers;

application of a disinfection method based on the CT index in the volume of water in deposition zone 1;

applying an effective amount of a flocculating composition to the settling zone 1 that promotes the settling of various microorganisms and/or contaminants that are present in the settling zone 1, and wherein water flows and circulation in the settling zone 1 are maintained to ensure proper settling, preferably water flows and circulation water in sedimentation zone 1 is kept to a minimum, thereby minimizing interference with the sedimentation process;

maintaining a constant chlorine residue in the water volume of dispersion zone 2;

introducing water into the dispersion zone 2 by means of one or more inlet nozzles, which, together with natural currents created by winds and/or differences in water temperatures, provide a pattern of dispersion of the volume of water in the dispersion zone 2 into the settling zone 1, and wherein the dispersion zone 2 is configured as follows: , to provide a Pollution Reduction Index (CRI).

More specifically, the present invention also relates to a system for providing a large body of water 3 suitable for recreational purposes with direct contact, the system comprising:

a) sedimentation zone 1 located in part of a large reservoir 3 and along part of the periphery;

b) a system for dosing chemicals along the periphery in deposition zone 1, located and configured to use:

i) disinfecting agents in the water volume in settling zone 1 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 flocculating composition in settling zone 1 that promotes the process of sedimentation of various microorganisms, parasites and protozoa located in the reservoir and inactivated by the ST cycle;

c) dispersion zone 2, located in part of a large body of water and along part of the periphery;

d) one or more inlet nozzles 26 along the periphery in the dispersion zone 2, located and configured to introduce water into the dispersion zone 2 to form a diffusion pattern for the volume of water in the dispersion zone;

e) a system for dosing chemicals 29 into the dispersion zone 2, configured to maintain a constant chlorine residual in the water volume of the dispersion zone, and in the volume of water located in the dispersion zone, a free chlorine level of at least 0.5 mg/l is maintained.

Large bodies of water in which the teachings of the present invention may be practiced may be natural or artificial bodies of water and may have a surface area of at least 3000 m ² , more preferably at least 8000 m ² , even more preferably at least 12000 m ² and most preferably at least 24,000 m ² .

Referring to FIG. 1, in a large body of water 3, two different zones are defined, a first settling zone 1 and a second dispersal zone 2, both of which have different configurations, disinfection methods, cleaning requirements and dispersal conditions.

Both zones are located in the same large body of water 3 and are not separated by a physical barrier, since dispersion zone 2 is open to settling zone 1. Both zones can be limited using

- 8 044683 restrictive means or device 4. Therefore, in an embodiment of the invention, the restrictive means 4 separates the deposition zone 1 and the dispersion zone 2. The restrictive means 4 according to the invention can be selected from the group including, but not limited to, visual restriction, hanging flags, a series of buoys, a floating line, a boundary line, a change in slope, different depths and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the approximate location of the restraint may be established by other means, such as, but not limited to, a brochure, signage or regulations, a handbook, a user's manual, and written and/or verbal instructions.

According to the invention, the ratio between the volume contained in the dispersion zone 2 and the volume contained in the deposition zone 1 is preferably 1:2, more preferably 1:10, even more preferably 1:30 and most preferably 1:40.

The sedimentation zone 1 is configured to provide treatment and sedimentation of contaminants and/or microorganisms, such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, for their inactivation and removal from the reservoir 3. The sedimentation zone 1 has specific features that provide the ability to effectively settle suspended contaminants and microorganisms, as well as to prevent their resuspension, including (a) it has a certain depth, (b) it is designed to have a limited bather density, (c) it includes disinfection treatment based on the CT index, ( d) it involves the use of flocculants to promote the settling of microorganisms and/or contaminants and (e) it has a defined surface that ensures that the body of water is maintained in a calm state to minimize water flows and water circulation that may interfere with the settling process. The above features are detailed below:

a) Defined depth: The settling zone 1 is designed such that its depth allows effective settling of microorganisms. In an embodiment of the invention, the depth of the settling zone 1 is at least 1.8 m at its deepest point, which helps to prevent swimmers from stepping on the surface of the bottom of the settling zone, which could lead to the resuspension of microorganisms and contaminants that are already deposited at the bottom of the settling zone 1 In other embodiments, the depth of the deposition zone 1 is at least 2 m at its deepest point and preferably 2.2 m at its deepest point.

b) Limited bather density: The deposition area is primarily intended for recreational purposes with minor indirect contact; and due to its depth, potential swimmers who want to enter and stay in this zone will have to return back to dispersion zone 2, which is suitable for recreational purposes with direct contact, and therefore sedimentation zone 1 is designed such that the number of swimmers in this zone deposition is limited to less than 20% of the total number of bathers in the major body of water 3, and more preferably less than 10% of the total number of bathers in the major body of water 3. These 20 and 10% of the total number of bathers are calculated as a daily average values, taking into account the total number of swimmers who enter the reservoir 3.

c) Disinfection treatment based on CT index: Treatment of deposition zone 1 is carried out on the basis of CT index, and CT may be determined to be suitable for inactivating the most dangerous microorganisms, such as, but not limited to, Naegleria Fowleri, Giardia or Cryptosporidium. Disinfection treatment based on the CT index requires that the deposition zone 1 be treated by adding disinfectant agents to achieve a specific concentration C in a minimum contact time T in the entire volume of water in the deposition zone 1. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the disinfection method is carried out such that disinfection agents are applied to the volume of water contained in deposition zone 1 to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours, since this value has been proven to be the CT index that provides a safe and sanitary environment for the inactivation of not only Naegleria Fowleri, but also other dangerous microorganisms found in recreational waters.

It is important to emphasize that some microorganisms, such as Naegleria fowleri, do not survive in sea or salt water. However, if the body of water 3 according to the present invention contains sea water, salt water or a combination thereof, the settling zone 1 is in any case configured such that disinfectants are applied to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours. In other embodiments implementation of the invention, disinfecting agents are used to achieve a CT index corresponding to any of such indices listed in table. 1, or another, suitably defined over a period 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 flocculating composition that promotes the sedimentation process of pollutants and/or microorganisms that are present in the reservoir and that may have been inactivated by the CT cycles.

In an embodiment of the invention, the flocculating composition contains one or more flocculating agents selected from the group consisting of organic and inorganic flocculants.

- 9 044683

Preferably, the flocculating agents are selected from inorganic flocculants including synthetic polymers, cationic quaternary ammonium polymers, polycationic polymers, aluminum salts, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment of the invention, the flocculating agents are preferably selected from the group consisting of a cationic or anionic polymer flocculant, and are preferably added to the settling zone 1 at least once every 7 days in an amount of from 0.03 to 3.0 g per 1 m ³ volume of water deposition zones 1.

e) Large surface area: Settlement zone 1 has a large surface area of at least 1500 ^m2 , preferably at least 6000 ^m2 and even more preferably at least 10000 ^m2 , which minimizes the impact of water flows and water circulation that may affect resuspension of precipitated pollutants from the bottom surface of sedimentation zone 1.

The dispersion zone 2 according to the present invention is suitable for direct contact recreational purposes and is preferably located near the periphery 12 of the body of water 3 and open to the settling zone 1. The dispersion zone 2 is an area that is designated to have a high density of swimmers. The dispersion zone 2 has specific characteristics and conditions to ensure continuous disinfection of the water volume in the dispersion zone 2 and to ensure the effective dispersion of water into the deposition zone 1. Therefore, the dispersion zone is characterized by the following three main technical features:

a) Continuous disinfection: A constant chlorine balance is maintained in the dispersion zone 2, the zone being disinfected in such a way that the volume of water contained in the dispersion zone maintains a free chlorine level of at least 0.5 mg/l. According to a basic embodiment of the invention, chlorine is the preferred disinfectant for use in the dispersion zone, however other types of disinfectants that achieve suitable disinfection parameters, such as bromine, ozone, its derivatives and mixtures thereof, can also be used.

b) Specific Depth and Geometry: Dispersal Zone 2 is designed to be of a design and depth suitable for swimmers entering and entering the dispersal zone. In an embodiment of the invention, the dispersion zone slopes downward and is 1.4 m deep at its deepest point. Preferably, the dispersion zone slopes downwards from the periphery 12 towards the bottom surface at an angle α, which gives a slope of up to 15% to ensure safe entry into a large body of water, and therefore it is acceptable for swimmers to remain in this area. In an alternative embodiment, the dispersion zone 2 is configured to be 1.6 m deep at its deepest point, and more preferably 1.8 m deep at its deepest point.

c) One or more inlet nozzles: The dispersion zone 2 contains one or more inlet nozzles 26 located in this zone to ensure the flow of water in the dispersion zone 2, which, together with the natural influence of water currents created by winds and/or differences in horizontal and vertical temperatures of water in the reservoir will ensure the movement of water and renewal of such volume of water contained in the dispersion zone 2, which is open to the settling zone 1. In an embodiment of the invention, the location, design and configuration of one or more inlet nozzles 26 can be varied to provide different types water renewal schemes in the dispersion zone. One or more inlet nozzles 26 may be located along any section of the diffusion zone, such as its periphery and/or center. In a specific embodiment, one or more inlet nozzles 26 may be configured to add an effective amount of chlorine sanitizer to the dispersion zone to maintain a free chlorine concentration at the 0.5 mg/L free chlorine level described in (a).

The dispersion zone 2 is an area that is designed to have a high density of swimmers, with at least 80% and more preferably at least 90% of the total number of swimmers in a large body of water 3 located in the dispersion zone 2 with a maximum density of 1 swimmer per 2 m ² , preferably at a maximum density of 1 bather per 4 m ² , more preferably at a maximum density of 1 bather per 6 m ² and most preferably at a maximum density of 1 bather per 8 m ² . These 80 and 90% are calculated as a daily average, taking into account the total number of swimmers who enter the body of water 3, and at least 80% and more preferably 90% of these swimmers are in the dispersion zone 2.

The combination of the above zone elements related to depth, geometry and one or more inlet nozzles 26, together with the natural effects of water currents generated by winds and/or differences in horizontal and vertical water temperatures in the reservoir, will cause water movement and dispersion of the volume of water contained in dispersion zone 2, to deposition zone 1, in addition to providing continuous disinfection in said dispersion zone 2, as described in (a).

Surprisingly, it has been discovered that the inexpensive and sanitary effective method of the present invention solves the technical inefficiencies of traditional swimming pool technologies in maintaining safe and sanitary conditions in large bodies of water by combining the technical features of a direct contact recreational dispersion zone 2 that has

- 10 044683 provides a specific and effective water dispersion scheme, as well as a minimum constant amount of disinfectant, which, when a contamination event occurs, can safely and promptly inactivate and disperse dangerous microorganisms into deposition zone 1, which is intended primarily for recreational purposes with minor indirect contact, wherein said deposition zone 1 is not physically separated from the dispersion zone 2 and is designed to inactivate microorganisms through the CT disinfection method, as well as to flocculate and eliminate them in an effective, safe manner at low cost.

There are currently no methods or systems that can effectively and inexpensively solve the technical inefficiencies of traditional swimming pools when applied to large bodies of water, as in the present invention, which combine the effects of an effective water dispersion scheme and a standard of minimal disinfection in an area that is intended for recreational purposes with direct contact, with settling zone 1, which is designed to inactivate, flocculate and eliminate pollutants and/or hazardous microorganisms previously dispersed from the dispersion zone. Even though some large bodies of water, such as natural swimming lakes, can recreate the dispersion pattern to some extent, they do not have the technical features of the present invention, namely a dispersion zone 2 having a constant minimum concentration of disinfectant and a specific and effective dispersion scheme, as well as sedimentation zone 1, which combines the use of the CT disinfection method and the use of flocculating agents that provide the ability to properly inactivate and eliminate contaminants and/or microorganisms to maintain a sanitary and safe zone for recreational water purposes.

Therefore, the combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern and settling ability of bodies of water according to the present invention create unprecedented safe environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not previously been described and applied, and which solve the inefficiencies of traditional technologies of swimming pools and partially treated large bodies of water, thus providing the opportunity creating recreational waters that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as, for example, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, thereby addressing the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems in an innovative manner and at low cost.

As stated above, the dispersion zone 2 is configured to create an effective volume diffusion pattern in the dispersion zone 2 due to the combined effect of one or more inlet nozzles 26 that introduce water flow into this zone, and the natural influence of water currents created by winds and/or differences in horizontal and vertical water temperatures of the body of water, which creates a water flow and an effective diffusion pattern in dispersion zone 2, forcing this volume of water to leave dispersion zone 2 and move into settling zone 1. Circulation created by one or more inlet nozzles 26 and the natural effect of water flows created winds and/or differences in horizontal and vertical water temperatures in a reservoir, contributes to the formation of a dispersion rate in this dispersion zone 2, since the flows of water that enter this zone push the volume of water to exit the dispersion zone 2 and reach the deposition zone 1. Therefore there is a dispersion scheme that ensures the renewal of the volume of water located in the dispersion zone 2, based on the configuration and capabilities of one or more inlet nozzles 26, based on the natural influence of water currents created by the wind and/or the distribution of horizontal and vertical water temperatures in the reservoir, and also based on the presence of an open hydraulic connection with the deposition zone.

In some embodiments, there may be strong winds on a body of water, which may affect the dispersion pattern in the dispersion zone. In this case, the circulation created by one or more inlet nozzles in the dispersion zone can be adjusted as necessary to maintain a suitable dispersion pattern. For example, if the winds have a positive effect on the dispersion pattern in the dispersion zone, then the flow of water from one or more inlet nozzles can be minimized or completely suppressed if the dispersion pattern created by the winds is sufficient to create the necessary dispersion of the volume of water from the dispersion zone to the deposition zone . On the other hand, if winds have an adverse effect on the dispersion pattern in the dispersion zone, then the flow of water from one or more inlet nozzles can be adjusted to create the desired dispersion of the volume of water from the dispersion zone to the deposition zone.

This represents a clear advantage over traditional swimming pools, since swimming pools do not have a separate dispersion zone 2 to create a dispersion pattern, and therefore, in the method according to the present invention, by combining a constant concentration of residual disinfectant and an effective dispersion pattern in the dispersion zone 2 , such an area provides the ability to withstand use by a large number of swimmers without compromising the sanitary quality of the area due to the fact that in the event of contamination, microorganisms can be dispersed in a more efficient and safe manner compared to a traditional swimming pool.

Due to the presence of an effective dispersion scheme, in the event of a contamination event,

- 11 044683 for example, contamination is introduced by new swimmers with infectious microorganisms or otherwise, said contamination can be dispersed from dispersion zone 2 to deposition zone 1 for its inactivation and/or removal. In the context of the invention, a pollution event means any event in which organic or inorganic substances that pose a risk to the health of swimmers, or microorganisms, enter a body of water.

The effective dispersion scheme of the present invention differs from traditional swimming pools, in which any contamination introduced by newly infected swimmers or an infection event may remain in the same limited volume of water for hours or even longer before being removed or properly inactivated, presenting a potential risk to others. bathers. As noted earlier, some microorganisms are highly resistant to traditional swimming pool filtration and disinfection methods and therefore can survive for many hours or even days in the pool water volume before being removed.

It is important to note that although the method and system of the present invention does not require filtering the entire volume of water at the same frequency as traditional swimming pools (i.e., one to six times per day), traditional filtration systems can be used in as an additional treatment of the reservoir. Such use may be subject to local regulatory requirements or owner/developer decisions. The use of a traditional pond filtration system is compatible with the method and system of the present invention, however, the water flows in the settling zone must ensure proper particle settling. However, such use of a traditional filtration system as an additional pond treatment may involve higher construction and operating costs and can therefore be implemented in ponds that preferably have a volume of up to 50,000 m ³ .

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

A constant level of chlorine in dispersion zone 2 can be achieved through the use of chlorine tablets, by applying dilute chlorine through one or more inlet nozzles 26 located in dispersion zone 2, or by manually adding chlorine to this zone in an effective amount to maintain the free chlorine level. at least 0.5 mg/l.

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

In an embodiment of the invention, the body of water contains a plurality of separate dispersion zones 2 located preferably along the periphery 12 of the reservoir 3 and open to a settling zone 1, wherein the dispersing zones 2 are used for swimming, bathing and other direct contact recreational purposes, while the settling zone 1 has an aesthetic purpose and is intended primarily for recreational purposes with minor indirect contact.

Daily cleaning of the bottom surface to remove sediment and settled debris is not essential for sedimentation zone 1, since this zone may have a more natural appearance, such as natural lakes and lagoons, which may have a darker bottom surface tone compared to the bottom in dispersal zone 2 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the deposition zone 1 is cleaned at least once every 7-day period. However, other time periods may be used. In an embodiment of the invention, a device is provided for cleaning the bottom surface.

Dispersion Zone 2 requires periodic cleaning of the bottom surface to maintain the bottom surface of such zones free of particles that could affect the aesthetics, safety or sanitary condition of the water. Also, such an area should be periodically cleaned to prevent any resuspension of deposited microorganisms. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the scattering zone 2 is cleaned at least once every 72 hour period. However, other time periods may be used.

In an embodiment of the invention, the settling zone 1 is limited to an even lower density of swimmers, constituting less than 10% of the total number of swimmers present in a large body of water 3. In other preferred embodiments, the settling zone 1 does not involve the presence of swimmers for recreational purposes with direct contact and is made only to ensure the conduct of aquatic sports for non-essential contact purposes.

The ratio between the volume contained in the dispersion zone 2 and the volume contained in the deposition zone 1 is preferably 1:2, more preferably 1:10, even more preferably 1:30 and most preferably 1:40, this ratio being calculated as the sum all volumes of water contained in dispersion zones 2, divided by the volume of water in deposition zone 1.

In an embodiment of the invention, water from the settling zone 1, which has already been treated, can be extracted from the settling zone 1 and directed to the dispersion zone 2. This water can be partially or completely mixed with make-up water.

In addition to minimizing the risk of microbial growth, the present invention also

- 12 044683 removes particles and pollutants that are sensitive to flocculation. In an embodiment of the invention, the flocculating agents may be selected from the group consisting of organic and inorganic flocculants. Preferably, the flocculating agents are selected from inorganic flocculants including 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 consisting of a cationic or anionic polymer flocculant and mixtures thereof, and are preferably added to the settling zone 1 at least once every 7 days in an amount of from 0.03 to 3.0 g per 1 m ³ volume of water in deposition zone 1.

Turning now to FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating various components that may be used in connection with an embodiment of the present invention. A large body of water is indicated at 3. It should be understood that, despite the fact that in FIG. Figure 5 shows a body of water with four sides, this shape being shown for illustrative purposes only. Implementations with other shapes are shown in FIG. 1-3. The settling zone 1 and the dispersal zone 2 are shown as designated parts of the large body of water 3. The boundary for the restrictive means 4, which is not a physical barrier, is shown at the point of contact or intersection of the settling zone 1 and the dispersal zone 2. The periphery 12 extends along the edge of the large body of water 3 .

The water input to the pump 25 is provided from the dispersion zone 2, the treated water from the settling zone 1, and any necessary or desired additional water from the block 27. The amount of water from different places can be adjusted based on the establishment of a suitable current/flow in the large body of water 3 and evaporation, among other factors. The pump 25 supplies water to one or more inlet nozzles 26, which, together with the natural influence of water currents created by winds and/or differences in the horizontal and vertical temperatures of the water of the reservoir, create a current or flow (indicated by a plurality of arrows 14) from the dispersion zone 2 to the settling zone 1. The chemical dosing system 29 supplies chemicals to the pump 25 and optionally supplies the chemicals directly to the dispersion zone 2.

A chemical dosing system 19, comprising one or more inlet nozzles, supplies the required chemicals to the settling zone 1. For example, the chemical dosing system 19 supplies the necessary disinfectant for the desired CT cycle and the flocculating composition. The chemical dosing system 19, comprising one or more inlet nozzles, may extend to additional areas 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 through pump 30 to pump 25 or to system for dosing chemicals 19.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic cross-section of part of the dispersion zone 2 is shown. The periphery 12 is shown as the separation between the shore or edge 15 and the water in the large body of water 3. The downward slope from the periphery 12 to the bottom surface is preferably at an angle α, which gives a slope of up to 15%. This provides an entrance to the water 16 from the shore 15 that is safe and generally convenient for swimmers entering the water.

The Pollution Reduction Index (CRI) is an index calculated based on the standardized protocol developed in the present invention to represent the safe and sanitary conditions of a body of water treated in accordance with the method of the invention.

In the context of the invention, the Contaminant Reduction Index (CRI) is an index that determines the time in minutes required to disperse a sample of an aqueous solution from a specific aquatic zone. Specifically, the Contaminant Reduction Index (CRI) indicates the time in minutes calculated from the time a sample of colored solution is added to a specific point in dispersion zone 2 until the time the colored solution is dispersed and visibly undetectable in said dispersion zone 2.

The Contaminant Reduction Index (CRI) objectively represents the time it would take for an aquatic pollutant introduced by bathing or other means into dispersal zone 2 to dissipate from dispersal zone 2 to deposition zone 1. Therefore, CRI is a suitable and objective standard for assessing the ability of said water zone to disperse the contaminant in a short period of time into deposition zone 1, wherein said contaminant can subsequently be inactivated, flocculated and removed from deposition zone 1, thereby maintaining a safe and sanitary environment in the event of a contamination event.

The CRI, which takes into account the time from the time a sample of a particular colored solution is added to dispersion zone 2 until it becomes visually undetectable in said dispersion zone 2, depends on several factors. In the context of the present invention, the CRI of dispersion zone 2 is mainly affected by: the presence of an open connection to settling zone 1, the placement of one or more inlet nozzles that introduce water flow into dispersion zone 2, and the natural influence of water currents created by winds and/or differences in horizontal and vertical water temperatures of the reservoir.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispersion zone 2 is configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 30 minutes, more preferably up to 25 minutes, more preferably up to 20 minutes, even more preferably up to 15 minutes and even more preferably up to 10 minutes.

CRI can be determined in several ways from qualitative and/or quantitative data

- 13 044683 and analysis.

In one embodiment, information regarding the time required to complete dispersion of a sample of colored solution can be obtained qualitatively by visual inspection, by methods based on experience, or by estimated predictions. In another embodiment, information regarding the time required to complete dispersion of a sample of the colored solution may be obtained from one or more manual or automatic tracking devices.

The standardized protocol for determining the Contaminant Reduction Index (CRI) according to the present invention involves estimating the time required for a 144 m ³ aqueous zone (dispersion zone 2) to disperse 7 L of a colored aqueous solution containing 30 g/L carmine (natural red 4) and 77 g/l NaCl, from the specified water zone until the colored solution becomes visually invisible in the specified water zone. When testing and to ensure visual detection of the colored solution in dispersion zone 2, the water zone should not contain chemical agents that could reduce the detection of the dye, such as chlorine and other disinfectants. Once testing is completed, the chemical agents must be reconstituted to Dispersion Zone 2 specifications.

Therefore, the Contamination Reduction Index (CRI) provides an objective prediction of effective water dispersion patterns in dispersion zone 2 according to the present invention, which in combination with a constant minimum concentration of disinfectant, as well as an open connection to settling zone 1, which is configured to inactivate, flocculate and eliminating harmful microorganisms, among other factors, provides a safe and sanitary environment for large bodies of water for direct contact recreational purposes.

The combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern, and settling ability of water bodies according to the present invention create unprecedented safe environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not previously been described or applied and which eliminate the inefficiencies of traditional swimming pool technologies and partially treated large bodies of water, thereby enabling the creation of recreational bodies of water that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as, for example, but not limited to bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems in an innovative and low cost manner.

In addition to the above, the method of the present invention also provides the potential for cost savings compared to traditional swimming pool systems and methods, in which, for example, a traditional 2 hectare swimming pool would require annual operating costs of up to US$1.9 million, including the use of chemicals and the use of electricity, whereas the method of the present invention would have an annual operating cost of less than US$140,000 (also including chemical and energy costs), reducing annual maintenance costs by up to 90%.

Additionally, the method according to the present invention minimizes the risk of contamination from microorganisms that cannot be eliminated using existing technologies. As stated previously, existing swimming pool technologies or partial treatment technologies for artificial ponds have not been able to effectively provide a strong sanitation effect and have not been able to inactivate and/or remove microorganisms that cause illnesses from recreational water, or other infections that can even lead to fatal outcomes. On the other hand, the method of the present invention, in addition to its low capital and operating costs, provides the ability to inactivate and/or remove microorganisms from recreational waters in an innovative manner, creating a new concept for water sanitation at low cost.

By using the method according to the present invention, optimal settling conditions and sanitary conditions are achieved, in which the settling zone 1 is designed to effectively settle microorganisms contained in the water volume of this settling zone 1, and in which the dispersion zone 2 is able to maintain safe and sanitary conditions for high densities bathers at low cost.

Referring to FIG. 7 provides an overview of the steps indicated at 700 in an embodiment in accordance with the inventive principles. Additionally, the steps depicted in FIG. 7 do not require the steps to be performed in the order shown.

First, at step 701, a deposition zone 1 and a dispersion zone 2 are determined in the same large body of water 3. The two zones are not separated by a physical barrier, but the ratio between the volume of water contained in the dispersion zone 2 and the volume contained in the deposition zone 1 is ranges from 1:2 to 1:40. In addition to the function of disinfection and deposition, deposition zone 1 also has an aesthetic purpose and is used primarily for water sports with secondary contact purposes. Therefore, it is designed to have a density of swimmers lower than in dispersion zone 2, with deposition zone 1 averaging no more than 20% of the total number of swimmers in large body of water 3 on a daily basis. Dispersion zone 2 is used for purposes with direct con

- 14 044683 tact, such as swimming and bathing. It is designed to have a high density of swimmers, with the dispersion zone 2 containing on average at least 80% of the total number of swimmers in the large body of water 3 every day, with a maximum density of 1 swimmer per 2 m ² .

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

At block 703, an effective amount of the flocculating composition is applied to settling zone 1. The flocculant promotes the settling of various microorganisms and/or contaminants that are present in the settling zone 1. Water flows and water circulation in the settling zone 1 are preferably maintained to ensure proper settling.

At a block 704, the volume of water contained in dispersion zone 2 is maintained at a constant chlorine balance by adding an effective amount of chlorine such that the volume of water contained in dispersion zone 2 maintains a free chlorine level of at least 0.5 mg/L.

At a block 705, water is introduced into the dispersion zone through one or more inlet nozzles, which, together with natural currents created by winds and/or differences in water temperatures, provide a water dispersion pattern for the volume of water in dispersion zone 2 into settling zone 1. Dispersion zone 2 is completed. so as to provide a pollution reduction index (CRI) of up to 30 min.

Example I

To demonstrate the technical result of the present invention, the following tests were carried out.

In fig. 3 shows a reservoir 3 having a settling zone 1 and a dispersion zone 2 according to the present invention, the dispersion zone 2 comprising a nozzle system and having a residual chlorine concentration of approximately 0.5 mg/l. In fig. 2 shows the approximate location of the restrictive means 4, shown as a dotted line, which is not a physical barrier, and also shows an adjacent (but completely independent) swimming pool 7 with traditional pool technology, i.e. not having separate zones of dispersion 2 and deposition 1 according to the present invention.

In fig. 4A shows that at t=0.7 L of red-dyed solution 5 containing 30 g/L Natural Red 4 and 77 g/L NaCl were added directly to a location located in the dispersion zone 2 of reservoir 3 to determine the CRI of said zone and to simulate, for example, the behavior of fecal or other types of water contamination introduced into dispersion zone 2, which is an area primarily used for swimming, bathing, and direct contact recreational purposes. Figure 4A also shows that an equivalent amount of the second red-colored solution 6 was added to a location inside the adjacent swimming pool 7.

At t=0, the water nozzles of dispersion zone 2 were activated, while the standard swimming pool recirculation systems 7 were operating according to their standard operating parameters.

At t=5 min (Fig. 4B), the red-colored solution is seen to rapidly disperse into deposition zone 1, while in swimming pool 7, the presence of the red-colored solution does not appear to have decreased since t=0.

At t=10 min and at t=16 min (Figures 4C and 4D, respectively), there was a significantly less visible presence of red-stained solution 5 in dispersion zone 2, while a significant amount of red-stained solution 6 was still observed in swimming pool 7 .

At t=20 min and at t=25 min (FIGS. 4E and 4F, respectively), the red-colored solution 6 was still noticeably present in the swimming pool 7, while the presence of the red-colored solution 6 was not visually detected in the scattering zone 2. In FIG. 3G shows that at t=60 minutes, red colored solution 6 is visually present in swimming pool 7.

Upon completion of the test, it was determined that the CRI of dispersion zone 2 of the example was 20 minutes, while the CRI of swimming pool 7 was 100 minutes; both indices represent the time in minutes until the presence of the red-colored solution becomes visually invisible.

The foregoing predicts that should a pollution event (e.g., fecal or other type of water pollution) occur in a body of water according to the present invention, the dispersion zone 2, together with the natural influence of water currents created by winds and/or temperature differences in the body of water, can safely and effectively disperse the specified pollution, which may contain dangerous microorganisms, to the deposition zone 1 for its subsequent inactivation, flocculation and removal in a short period of time, thereby minimizing the risk of infection of bathers with dangerous microorganisms. Moreover, since the dispersion zone 2 is designed to have a residual free chlorine concentration of at least 0.5 mg/l, said dispersion zone 2 can withstand heavy use by bathers without deteriorating the sled.

- 15 044683 container quality of this zone due to the fact that in the event of contamination, microorganisms can be dispersed in a more efficient and safe manner compared to traditional swimming pools, while maintaining safe and sanitary conditions in dispersal zone 2, which is the zone used for recreational purposes with direct contact. In the same scenario, where a traditional swimming pool 7 contains fecal contamination or traces thereof carrying dangerous microorganisms, the contamination will remain for a long period in the water volume, increasing the risk of infection of swimmers by said dangerous microorganisms.

Thus, it has been demonstrated that the combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern and settling ability of the water bodies of the present invention create unprecedented and safer environments for aquatic recreational purposes compared to swimming pool technologies, thereby enabling the creation of recreational water bodies that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems in an innovative manner and at low cost.

Example II.

An artificial lake built in Florida, United States, with a total area of approximately 7 acres (2.8 ha), became heavily polluted during the filling process due to a nearby pile of sand containing organic matter that was carried into the lake. As a result of laboratory tests, dangerous microorganisms were discovered in the water, in particular Crystosporidium oocysts, which remained in the water even several weeks after contamination.

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

The artificial lake was laid out to include two different zones: one zone for recreational purposes with direct contact, defined as dispersal zone 2, and a second zone for recreational purposes with secondary contact, namely, for example, aesthetic purposes and for water activities. sports, defined as deposition zone 1. The volume ratio between the dispersal zone and the deposition zone was set to approximately 1:6, and the depth of deposition zone 1 was 2 m at its deepest point, which ensured effective deposition of microorganisms.

The following parameters were applied to the artificial lake.

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

The nozzles located on the periphery of the dispersion zone 12 were activated, with an average water flow of 30 m3/h.

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

A composition containing a cationic polymer flocculant was added to settling zone 1 such that 1.5 g/m ³ volume of water was applied over a 7 day period.

Water flows were kept to a minimum in deposition zone 1, thereby minimizing interference with the deposition process.

After applying the method according to the present invention, laboratory tests were carried out and no Crystosporidium oocysts were detected; the result was confirmed in two consecutive studies, which is summarized in the table below. 2.

table 2

Sample location External view Smell pH Oocysts Crystoporodium Deposition zone 1 Transparent No 8.28 Not identified Dosing line dispersion zones 2 Transparent No 8.30 Not identified

Additionally, as shown in the table below. 3, all water samples met even more stringent physicochemical and microbiological water quality standards, such as the Chilean norm NCh 409/1 2005 (drinking water) for water requirements.

-

Claims (62)

Table 3 Standard NCh 409/1 2006 Sample location Sample location Study Standard Deposition zone 1 Zone dosing line scattering 2 Turbidity (HUT) <20 0.8 0.5 True Color (Pt - Co) <20 <5 <5 Common coliform bacteria Free <2 <2 NMP/100 ml Escherichia Coli NMP/100 ml Free <2 <2 * <2 = unregistered. This example confirms that the method of the present invention provides an inexpensive and sanitary effective method for providing large bodies of water with two different treatment zones for recreational purposes with direct contact, which minimizes the risk of growth of microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems in an innovative manner and at low cost. The combined disinfection methods, efficient diffusion pattern, and settling ability of water bodies according to the present invention create unprecedented safe environments for aquatic recreational purposes that have not previously been described or applied and which eliminate the inefficiencies of traditional swimming pool technologies and partially treated large bodies of water, thereby enabling the creation of recreational bodies of water that minimize the risk of infections caused by microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae and parasites, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies of existing methods and systems in an innovative and low-cost manner. Although several embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Further, any disclosed steps or steps of the method may be modified in any way, including by changing the order of steps and/or adding or deleting steps, without departing from the scope of the invention. Although the application documents contain a detailed description and related drawings, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. In addition, although the description has been framed using expressions specific to design features and/or methodological actions, the claims are not limited to the features or actions described above. In contrast, the specific features and actions described above are disclosed by way of illustrative aspects and embodiments of the invention. Various other aspects, embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof may occur to one skilled in the art upon reading the description provided herein without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the claimed subject matter. CLAIM 1. A method for providing a large body of water suitable for recreational purposes with direct contact, the large body of water having a surface area of at least 3000 ^m2 , the method comprising: determination of the deposition zone (1) and the dispersion zone (2) in a large body of water, both have different configurations and processing methods, while: the deposition zone (1) and the dispersion zone (2) are located in the same body of water (3) and are not separated by a physical barrier and limited by a restrictive means (4), the ratio between the volume of water contained in the dispersion zone (2) and the volume , contained in the settling zone (1) is from 1:2 to 1:40, the settling zone (1) has an aesthetic purpose and is used mainly for recreational purposes with minor indirect contact, and the settling zone is designed to have a bather density lower than the dispersion zone (2), with the deposition zone (1) containing daily on average no more than 20% of the total number of swimmers in a large body of water (3), the dispersal zone (2) being used for direct contact purposes such as swimming and bathing, and is designed so as to have a high density of swimmers, and in the dispersion zone (2) there is daily on average at least 80% of the total number of swimmers in a large body of water (3) with a maximum density of 1 swimmer per 2 m ² ; applying a disinfection method based on the CT index to the water volume of the deposition zone (1), wherein the CT index requires that the deposition zone (1) be treated by adding disinfectant agents to achieve a specific concentration C of the disinfectant agent in a minimum time - 17 044683 contact T in the water volume of the deposition zone (1), and wherein the disinfection method is carried out such that disinfection agents are applied to the volume of water contained in the deposition zone (1) to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours; applying an effective amount of a flocculating composition to the settling zone (1) that promotes the settling of microorganisms and/or contaminants that are present in the settling zone (1), while maintaining water flow and circulation in the settling zone (1) to ensure proper settling; maintaining a constant chlorine balance in the water volume of the dispersion zone (2) by adding an effective amount of chlorine such that the volume of water contained in the dispersion zone (2) maintains a free chlorine level of at least 0.5 mg/l; introduction of water into the dispersion zone through one or more inlet nozzles (26), which, together with natural currents created by winds and/or differences in water temperatures, have the ability to create a pattern of water dispersion of the volume of water in the dispersion zone (2) into the settling zone (1) , and wherein the dispersion zone (2) is located and configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 30 minutes. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limiting means (4) is selected from the group consisting of a visual limit, a floating line, a limit line, hanging flags, buoys, change of inclination, other depth and combinations thereof. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the restrictive means (4) is created using a brochure, signage or rules, a reference book, a user's manual and written and/or verbal instructions, among other things. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the settling zone (1) is at least 1.8 m at its deepest point, thereby providing an effective depth for settling microorganisms and pollutants and minimizing interference from bathers. 5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the deposition zone (1) has a surface area of at least 1500 ^m2 , preferably at least 6000 ^m2 and even more preferably at least 10000 ^m2 . 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the flocculating composition contains one or more flocculating agents selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymers, cationic quaternary ammonium polymers, polycationic polymers, aluminum salts, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide and mixtures thereof. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the flocculating agents are selected from the group consisting of a cationic or anionic polymer flocculant and mixtures thereof. 8. The method according to claim 1, in which the flocculating composition is added to the settling zone (1) at least once every 7 days in an amount of from 0.03 to 3.0 g per 1 m ³ volume of water in the settling zone (1). 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the bottom of the deposition zone (1) is periodically cleaned, so that the deposition zone (1) will have a more natural appearance, such as natural lakes and lagoons, and daily cleaning is not required. 10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the bottom surface of the deposition zone (1) is cleaned at least once every 7-day period. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the deposition zone (1) is configured to prevent swimmers from entering the deposition zone (1), thereby minimizing recreational purposes with direct contact and promoting water sports with purposes of secondary contact. 12. Method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is designed such that it has a depth of up to 1.4 m at its deepest point. 13. Method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is designed such that it has a depth of up to 1.6 m at its deepest point. 14. Method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is designed such that it has a depth of up to 1.8 m at its deepest point. 15. The method according to claim 1, in which the dispersion zone (2) has a downward slope from the periphery (12) to the bottom surface at an angle α, which gives a slope of up to 15% to ensure safe entry into a large body of water (3). 16. The method according to claim 1, in which the dispersion zone (2) is designed so that on average at least 90% of the total number of swimmers in a large body of water (3) are in the dispersion zone (2) every day. 17. The method according to claim 1, in which the dispersion zone (2) is designed so as to have a maximum density of bathers of 1 bather per 2 m ² . 18. The method according to claim 1, in which the dispersion zone (2) is designed so as to have a maximum bather density of 1 bather per 6 m ² . 19. The method according to claim 1, in which the dispersion zone (2) is designed so as to have a maximum density of bathers of 1 bather per 8 m ² . 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein water supplied to the diffusion zone (2) through one or more inlet nozzles (26) is treated with ultraviolet (UV) light. - 18 044683 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the location, configuration and configuration of the one or more inlet nozzles (26) can be varied to provide different types of water renewal schemes in the dispersion zone (2). 22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is located and configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 25 minutes. 23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is located and configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 20 minutes. 24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is located and configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 15 minutes. 25. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically cleaning the surface of the bottom of the dispersion zone (2) to maintain the bottom surface of the dispersion zone (2) free of particles that may affect the aesthetics, safety or sanitary condition of the water. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the bottom surface of the scattering zone (2) is cleaned at least once every 72 hour period. 27. The method according to claim 1, in which a constant balance of chlorine is maintained in the dispersion zone (2) by adding chlorine tablets, by applying dilute chlorine through one or more inlet nozzles (26) located in the dispersion zone (2), or by adding chlorine into this area manually. 28. The method according to claim 1, wherein the large body of water (3) contains a plurality of separate dispersion zones (2), preferably located on the periphery (12) of the body of water (3). 29. The method according to claim 1, in which the large reservoir (3) has a volume of up to 50,000 m ³ and contains a centralized filtration system that can filter the entire volume of water in the reservoir. 30. The method of claim 1, wherein a constant balance of disinfectant in the dispersion zone is maintained by adding disinfectants selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, ozone, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. 31. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding to the deposition zone an effective amount of a chlorine disinfectant to maintain a constant free chlorine level in the deposition zone, preferably at least 0.5 mg/L. 32. A system for creating a large body of water (3) suitable for recreational purposes with direct contact, the large body of water (3) has a surface of at least 3000 m ² and has a periphery (12) and a bottom containing: a) sedimentation zone (1), located in part of a large reservoir (3) and along part of the periphery; b) a system for dosing chemicals (19) along the periphery of the deposition zone (1), located and configured to use: i) disinfecting agents in the volume of water in the settling zone (1) to achieve a CT index of at least 42 every 72 hours, where C is the concentration and T is the minimum contact time, and ii) a flocculating composition in the settling zone (1), which promotes the process of sedimentation of microorganisms, parasites and protozoa located in the reservoir and inactivated by the ST cycle; c) dispersion zone (2), located in part of a large body of water and along part of the periphery; d) limiting means (4), which limits the deposition zone (1) and the dispersion zone (2); e) one or more inlet nozzles (26) in the dispersion zone (2), located and configured to introduce water into the dispersion zone (2) to create a diffusion pattern for the volume of water in the dispersion zone, f) a system for dosing chemicals (29) into the dispersion zone (2), configured to maintain a constant chlorine residual in the volume of water in the dispersion zone, and in the volume of water located in the dispersion zone, a free chlorine level is maintained at least 0.5 mg/l. 33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the limiting means (4) is selected from the group consisting of a visual limit, a floating line, a limit line, hanging flags, buoys, a change in slope, a different depth, signage or rules, and combinations thereof. 34. The system according to claim 32, wherein the depth of the settling zone (1) is at least 1.8 m at its deepest point, thereby providing an effective depth for settling microorganisms and contaminants. 35. The system according to claim 32, wherein the deposition zone (1) has a surface area of at least 1500 ^m2 , preferably at least 6000 ^m2 and even more preferably at least 10000 ^m2 . 36. The system of claim 32, wherein the flocculating composition contains one or more flocculating agents selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymers, cationic quaternary ammonium polymers, polycationic polymers, aluminum salts, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the flocculating agents are selected from the group consisting of a cationic or anionic polymer flocculant and mixtures thereof. 38. The system according to claim 32, in which the flocculating composition is added to the settling zone (1) at least once every 7 days in an amount of from 0.03 to 3.0 g per 1 m ³ volume of water in the settling zone (1). - 19 044683 39. The system according to claim 32, further comprising a bottom surface cleaning device for periodically cleaning the sedimentation zone (1), due to which the sedimentation zone (1) will have a more natural appearance, like a natural lake, and daily cleaning is not required. 40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the bottom surface of the deposition zone (1) is cleaned at least once every 7-day period. 41. The system according to claim 32, wherein the system for dosing chemicals (19) into the deposition zone (1) comprises one or more inlet nozzles (18). 42. The system of claim 32, wherein the deposition zone (1) is located and configured to discourage swimmers from entering the deposition zone (1), thereby minimizing direct contact recreational purposes and promoting water sports with secondary contact purposes. 43. The system according to claim 32, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is designed such that it has a depth of up to 1.4 m at its deepest point, preferably up to 1.6 m at its deepest point and even more preferably up to 1 .8 m at the point of its greatest depth. 44. The system according to claim 32, in which the dispersion zone (2) has a downward slope from the periphery (12) to the bottom surface at an angle α, which gives a slope of up to 15% to ensure safe entry into a large body of water (3). 45. The system according to claim 32, in which the dispersion zone (2) is designed so that on average at least 90% of the total number of swimmers in a large body of water (3) are in the dispersion zone (2) every day. 46. The system according to claim 32, in which the dispersion zone (2) is located and designed so that it has a maximum bather density of 1 bather per 2 m ² . 47. The system according to claim 32, in which the dispersion zone (2) is located and designed so that it has a maximum bather density of 1 bather per 6 m ² . 48. The system according to claim 32, in which the dispersion zone (2) is located and designed so that it has a maximum bather density of 1 bather per 8 m ² . 49. The system of claim 32, further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light treatment device (28), wherein water supplied to the diffusion zone (2) through one or more inlet nozzles (26) is treated with ultraviolet (UV) light. 50. The system of claim 32, wherein the amount, direction and flow of water of the one or more inlet nozzles can be varied to achieve different types of water renewal patterns in the dispersion zone (2). 51. The system according to claim 32, wherein the system for dispensing chemicals (29) into the dispersion zone (2) is configured to dispense chemicals through one or more inlet nozzles (26) in the dispersion zone (2). 52. The system according to claim 32, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is located and configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 25 minutes. 53. The system according to claim 32, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is located and configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 20 minutes. 54. The system according to claim 32, wherein the dispersion zone (2) is located and configured to provide a contamination reduction index (CRI) of up to 15 minutes. 55. The system according to claim 32, further comprising a bottom surface cleaning device located and configured to clean the bottom surface of the dispersion zone (2), whereby the bottom surface of the dispersion zone (2) is maintained free of particles that may affect aesthetics, safety or sanitary condition of water. 56. The system according to claim 55, wherein the bottom surface of the dispersion zone (2) is cleaned at least once every 72 hour period. 57. The system according to claim 32, wherein a constant balance of chlorine is maintained in the dispersion zone (2) by adding chlorine tablets, by applying dilute chlorine through one or more inlet nozzles located in the dispersion zone (2), or by adding chlorine to this zone manually. 58. The system according to claim 32, wherein one or more inlet nozzles (26) are located along the surface of the dispersion zone and preferably along its periphery, in the center or along the limiting means (4). 59. The system according to claim 32, wherein the large body of water (3) contains a plurality of separate dispersion zones (2), preferably located on the periphery (12) of the body of water (3). 60. The system according to claim 32, in which the large reservoir (3) has a volume of up to 50,000 m ³ and contains a centralized filtration system that can filter the entire volume of water in the reservoir. 61. The system according to claim 32, wherein the chemical dosing system (19) is configured to apply a chlorine disinfectant in the deposition zone (1) to maintain a constant level of free chlorine in the deposition zone, preferably at least 0.5 mg/l. 62. The system according to claim 32, in which the system for dosing chemicals (29) into the dispersion zone is configured to add disinfectants selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, ozone, its derivatives and mixtures thereof. -