As swimmers chase medals and records at the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships at Kampala International School Uganda (KISU), two men work behind the scenes to keep the pool clean, safe and ready for every race.

While the spotlight at the Championships shines on swimmers powering through the water in pursuit of medals, records and national pride, another important effort unfolds away from the cheering crowds. At Kampala International School Uganda (KISU), two men have the responsibility of ensuring that the pool remains in the best possible condition throughout the competition.

For Otim Dennis, who serves as both a swimming coach and pool maintainer at KISU, keeping the pool competition-ready is not a task reserved for championship days. It is a daily responsibility that becomes even more demanding when hundreds of swimmers converge at the same venue.

With the championships beginning with warm-up sessions on Tuesday before the full competition got underway, the work of maintaining the pool has been central to ensuring that athletes can focus on what they came to do: compete.

Maintaining a swimming pool for a major competition requires much more than ensuring that the water looks clear. It involves regular cleaning, monitoring chemical levels and ensuring that the water remains suitable for swimmers throughout the event.

Otim explains that the process begins with treating the water and checking its chemical balance. The team monitors chlorine and pH levels, which are essential to maintaining water quality.

The pool’s pH level is targeted at approximately 7.2, while the chlorine level is monitored against the appropriate operating range. These checks help the maintenance team determine whether adjustments are necessary before swimmers enter the water.

Cleaning is another essential part of the routine. Every morning, the team cleans the pool, using specialised equipment to remove dirt and debris from the bottom. Depending on the cleaning process, water may be directed out of the pool or circulated through the filtration system, where it is filtered and returned.

The work continues even after swimmers leave the water. The team tests the chlorine levels again and determines whether more treatment is required, ensuring that water quality is monitored as the demands on the pool change throughout the day.

Hosting a regional championship brings a different level of pressure from the pool’s regular daily use. With athletes arriving from across the region, the number of people using the facility increases, placing greater demands on the maintenance team.

However, Dennis is confident in the team’s ability to manage the workload, drawing on its experience maintaining the pool during national competitions.

The championships may bring a different scale of activity, but the approach remains rooted in the same daily discipline: cleaning, testing, treating and monitoring the water.

With warm-ups preceding the main competition, maintaining consistent water quality is particularly important. The pool must be ready not only for scheduled races but also for the training and preparation that allow athletes to familiarise themselves with the competition environment.

Although the maintenance team carries the responsibility of keeping the pool clean and properly treated, Dennis notes that swimmers also contribute to the condition of the water.

Dust and other environmental contaminants, body oils and inadequate personal hygiene can affect pool cleanliness. With many athletes sharing the same facility over several days, simple hygiene practices become particularly important.

His advice to swimmers is straightforward: observe proper hygiene and always wear a swimming cap.

These measures complement the work of the maintenance team, helping to limit contamination and maintain a suitable environment for everyone using the pool.

Every clean morning pool, every chemical check and every filtration cycle contributes to the conditions in which athletes compete. It is a routine that demands consistency, particularly when the facility is under sustained pressure from several days of competition.

As the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships progress at KISU, Dennis and his fellow pool maintainer continue working behind the scenes, ensuring that the venue remains ready for the next swimmer, the next race and the next opportunity for a medal.