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2015-01-30 9:58 AM


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Subject: Wetsuit in a treated lake
So I'm going to my inlaws this weekend and they live on a decent sized lake. The lake is treated regularly. I contacted the company that treats it and the lady I spoke with wasn't able to give me a breakdown of "chemicals" they use. In fact she kind of made it seem like it wasn't chemicals. I do know they stock the lake with fish and they make it fit for people to swim in the lake. The presence of fish would seem to suggest there isn't any chlorine. I'd like to swim in it this weekend with my wetsuit. I called Xterra and the lady there said that other than chlorine she can't think of anything that I should be avoiding to keep the suit in good order.

GIven this set of facts and unknowns would you all be comfortable taking your wetsuit into that lake?


2015-01-30 10:27 AM
in reply to: Gatornate

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Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake
If fish swim in the lake there probably aren't chemicals caustic enough to bother the suit.

Rinse it down good after the swims like you would anyway and call it good.
2015-01-30 10:32 AM
in reply to: Gatornate

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Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

I would be okay with it.  Just rinse the suit well after your swim if you're worried. 

2015-01-30 11:51 AM
in reply to: Goggles Pizzano

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Veteran
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Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

My guess is they are adding a phosphorus inhibitor to control algal growth.  They could be adding a chemical like aluminum sulfate or copper sulfate (does the lake have a nice blue color? It could look natural, but be very vivid

Regardless most of these compounds are targeting the nutrients that are present in the lake.  I would imagine your wetsuit is going to be fine.  As suggested I would wash it down with freshwater after the swim, which is just good practice anyways.

Do you have a name of the company?  Or the chemical?  I am a chemist and would be happy to help out more.

 

2015-01-30 12:25 PM
in reply to: Justin86

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Katy, Texas
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake
Originally posted by Justin86

My guess is they are adding a phosphorus inhibitor to control algal growth.  They could be adding a chemical like aluminum sulfate or copper sulfate (does the lake have a nice blue color? It could look natural, but be very vivid

Regardless most of these compounds are targeting the nutrients that are present in the lake.  I would imagine your wetsuit is going to be fine.  As suggested I would wash it down with freshwater after the swim, which is just good practice anyways.

Do you have a name of the company?  Or the chemical?  I am a chemist and would be happy to help out more.

 




I was thinking either phosphorus treatment or metal salt addition as well. I can't think of any reason why anyone would ever chlorinate a lake.
2015-01-30 1:06 PM
in reply to: 3mar

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Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

Originally posted by 3mar
Originally posted by Justin86

My guess is they are adding a phosphorus inhibitor to control algal growth.  They could be adding a chemical like aluminum sulfate or copper sulfate (does the lake have a nice blue color? It could look natural, but be very vivid

Regardless most of these compounds are targeting the nutrients that are present in the lake.  I would imagine your wetsuit is going to be fine.  As suggested I would wash it down with freshwater after the swim, which is just good practice anyways.

Do you have a name of the company?  Or the chemical?  I am a chemist and would be happy to help out more.

 

I was thinking either phosphorus treatment or metal salt addition as well. I can't think of any reason why anyone would ever chlorinate a lake.

 

In case any triathletes pee in it



2015-01-30 1:23 PM
in reply to: Justin86


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Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake
Originally posted by Justin86

My guess is they are adding a phosphorus inhibitor to control algal growth.  They could be adding a chemical like aluminum sulfate or copper sulfate (does the lake have a nice blue color? It could look natural, but be very vivid

Regardless most of these compounds are targeting the nutrients that are present in the lake.  I would imagine your wetsuit is going to be fine.  As suggested I would wash it down with freshwater after the swim, which is just good practice anyways.

Do you have a name of the company?  Or the chemical?  I am a chemist and would be happy to help out more.

 




The lake does have a vivid blue color. The name of the company is Aquagenix, they're located in Pompano Beach, FL.
http://www.aquagenixaquatics.com/
The lady I spoke to on the phone is an office manager and not really the one coming up with the compounds to treat so her answers weren't specific enough for me to tell you what they're putting in. But from looking at the website and knowing that they aerate the lake and stock it with fish it seems unlikely there is anything harmful to the suit. I know people swim in it. That isn't my concern. I just dont want to ruin the neoprene and the seams.

Thanks, and thanks to all for their input.
2015-01-30 1:24 PM
in reply to: trijamie

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1502
1000500
Katy, Texas
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake
Originally posted by trijamie

Originally posted by 3mar
Originally posted by Justin86

My guess is they are adding a phosphorus inhibitor to control algal growth.  They could be adding a chemical like aluminum sulfate or copper sulfate (does the lake have a nice blue color? It could look natural, but be very vivid

Regardless most of these compounds are targeting the nutrients that are present in the lake.  I would imagine your wetsuit is going to be fine.  As suggested I would wash it down with freshwater after the swim, which is just good practice anyways.

Do you have a name of the company?  Or the chemical?  I am a chemist and would be happy to help out more.

 

I was thinking either phosphorus treatment or metal salt addition as well. I can't think of any reason why anyone would ever chlorinate a lake.

 

In case any triathletes pee in it




Well poop maybe...chlorine won't do much for pee...well, not even the poo itself, but the pathogens in the poo (which I wouldn't put past triathletes)

The ammonia from pee is typically treated in a biological reactor that converts it to nitrate which can then be removed via an anoxic treatment system that biologically converts the NO3 to N2 which is released as a gas.
2015-01-30 1:32 PM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

Meh.....at worlds last year in Edmonton they drained the lake, lined it, and refilled it with a TON of chlorine added.  I can't see any damage to the wetsuit from it....and I haven't heard of any problems.  You're not going to hurt your wetsuit from one swim, no matter what's in there. 



Edited by Left Brain 2015-01-30 1:32 PM
2015-01-30 2:40 PM
in reply to: Gatornate

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Scottsdale, AZ
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake
The lake where IMAZ is held is a man made lake that is treated when ever there will be human contact (tris, swim events) and they test constantly for levels of ecoli and other nasties.
Not sure what they treat it with, but I think if they allow swimming or human contact, your wetsuit should be fine.

As others have said, just rinse the suit well after and it should be ok.
2015-01-30 6:39 PM
in reply to: runspingirl

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Richland, Washington
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

Xterra recommends not to swim with your suit in chorine... but if you have too to try it out its ok  

Normally we do not recommend the use of our wetsuits in chlorinated pools, however, if extenuating circumstances offer no alterative (i.e. winter weather), then one brief swim is permitted under the 2 year warranty. To avoid chlorine damage to your wetsuit, we suggest that you limit your time in the pool to around 5 minutes and rinse the suit thoroughly with fresh water immediately afterwards.

 

If fish and people swim in it you are probably ok. 



2015-02-01 8:43 AM
in reply to: 0

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Veteran
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Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

Originally posted by Gatornate
Originally posted by Justin86

My guess is they are adding a phosphorus inhibitor to control algal growth.  They could be adding a chemical like aluminum sulfate or copper sulfate (does the lake have a nice blue color? It could look natural, but be very vivid

Regardless most of these compounds are targeting the nutrients that are present in the lake.  I would imagine your wetsuit is going to be fine.  As suggested I would wash it down with freshwater after the swim, which is just good practice anyways.

Do you have a name of the company?  Or the chemical?  I am a chemist and would be happy to help out more.

 

The lake does have a vivid blue color. The name of the company is Aquagenix, they're located in Pompano Beach, FL. http://www.aquagenixaquatics.com/The lady I spoke to on the phone is an office manager and not really the one coming up with the compounds to treat so her answers weren't specific enough for me to tell you what they're putting in. But from looking at the website and knowing that they aerate the lake and stock it with fish it seems unlikely there is anything harmful to the suit. I know people swim in it. That isn't my concern. I just dont want to ruin the neoprene and the seams. Thanks, and thanks to all for their input.

I would definitely say they are treating it with copper sulfate, you should be fine!  Neoprene should have no interaction with copper sulfate. 



Edited by Justin86 2015-02-01 8:46 AM
2015-02-01 9:00 AM
in reply to: Justin86

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24

Richland, Washington
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

The Neoprene has no issue with chorine, its the glues used that will deteriorate. At least thats what the Xterra site lists as an issue. 

2015-02-02 7:25 AM
in reply to: Gatornate


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Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake
Do you even need a wet suit in south FL? This time of year I would think their weather is high 70's low 80's during the day and mid to low 60's at night. Water temps should be mid to low 70's?
2015-02-02 9:00 AM
in reply to: Sidney Porter


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Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake
Originally posted by Sidney Porter

Do you even need a wet suit in south FL? This time of year I would think their weather is high 70's low 80's during the day and mid to low 60's at night. Water temps should be mid to low 70's?


Technically no, but I just bought the suit and I wanted to test it. Also I don't live down there I was just visiting. I live a couple hours north of them. Our overnight lows in my neck of the woods have been in the low forties for the past couple of weeks. Do you need a wetsuit in Florida? For the most part no but early and late season races will have water temps that make them legal and therefore people use them.

Swim was great by the way.
2015-02-02 9:06 AM
in reply to: Gatornate

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Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

The first races we go to in Florida are 3/7 and 3/15......both have been wetsuit legal in the past....and it's an ITU cutoff so 68 degrees.



2015-02-02 12:03 PM
in reply to: Sidney Porter

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Champion
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Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: Wetsuit in a treated lake

Originally posted by Sidney Porter Do you even need a wet suit in south FL? This time of year I would think their weather is high 70's low 80's during the day and mid to low 60's at night. Water temps should be mid to low 70's?

Water temp is 68F at Siesta Beach today.  The main reason I own a wetsuit is to be able to OWS year 'round. 

Really only need it in FL for races in April/May or late Oct/Nov, depending on the weather.

Mark 

 

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