Bangladesh's swimming pool sector faces technology, skilled manpower gaps

Dhaka : Bangladesh's growing hotel, resort and commercial property sector is creating steady demand for professionally designed and maintained swimming pools, but the industry continues to face challenges related to skilled manpower, water quality and access to advanced technology, according to Mehedi Hasan Anis, Managing Director of Adroit Swimming Ltd.

Adroit provides end-to-end swimming pool services, covering design, structural work, architecture, construction and post-installation support for residential and commercial properties, including hotels and resorts.

The company has completed more than 350 projects across Bangladesh. Although Adroit became a limited company around seven years ago, its operations began in 2014.

Mehedi Hasan Anis

Commercial projects drive demand

Talking to The Bangladesh Monitor, Anis said a large share of the company's projects comes from commercial clients, including resorts, marine academies, port authorities, museums and other institutional facilities.

Besides swimming pools, Adroit works on steam baths, saunas, fountains and Jacuzzis. For hotels, the company primarily supplies equipment and accessories and provides maintenance services when required.

The company offers a one-year warranty and typically carries out three to six service visits during that period. Its teams also conduct inspections to monitor the condition and performance of installed systems.

Anis mentioned continued maintenance is particularly important because swimming pools require regular monitoring of mechanical systems and water quality.

Water treatment remains critical

According to Anis, proper water treatment is the most important aspect of swimming pool management. Adroit's projects use electromechanical water-treatment systems, which he described as the current international-standard approach in Bangladesh.

Filtration helps remove suspended particles, while appropriate chemical treatment and vacuuming of accumulated sediment help maintain clear water. Without proper filtration and chemical control, contaminants introduced by swimmers can circulate in the water.

Anis warned that improperly maintained pH and chlorine levels can contribute to skin irritation, allergies and other health concerns. While luxury hotels and high-end resorts generally maintain water quality carefully, he said many other commercial facilities do not consistently maintain the appropriate chemical balance.

Adroit keeps clients connected through WhatsApp and collects water-quality data regularly so its team can advise operators and provide maintenance support.

Automation remains difficult

Although automated swimming pool technologies are increasingly available globally, Anis claimed Bangladesh has yet to widely adopt fully automated systems.

The shortage of trained personnel is one of the main barriers. Connectivity problems, power outages and maintenance requirements can also make remotely operated systems difficult to manage, particularly when pool functions depend on mobile or internet connectivity.

As a result, Adroit generally uses manual operating systems while incorporating electromechanical water treatment into its projects.

Anis expressed Bangladesh also lacks dedicated institutions for developing swimming pool maintenance professionals. Plumbing workers sometimes take on pool maintenance, but they may not have specialized knowledge of filtration, chemical treatment and pool equipment.

Adroit therefore trains employees internally, with new staff receiving extensive practical training before taking responsibility for maintenance work.

Int'l sourcing, expertise

Anis noted he has completed as many as 27 training programs overseas, including in China, Dubai, Thailand and Singapore. He has also visited international manufacturers and pool projects to study equipment, maintenance practices and industry problems.

The company imports equipment from international manufacturers, with Singapore serving as an important regional sourcing hub.

According to Anis, locally produced equipment is available for some applications, but maintaining high quality at competitive prices remains difficult because domestic production volumes are relatively limited.

Pool design affects cost

There is no fixed price for constructing a swimming pool, Anis said. Costs depend on factors such as location, pool size, soil conditions, piling requirements, water pressure, previous land use and availability of construction materials.

The electromechanical cost also varies according to the pool type and volume of water.

Adroit has completed a 50-meter international-standard training pool without diving facilities for about BDT 1.5 crore, while another 50-meter pool with diving facilities and a depth of 14 feet cost about BDT 5.5 crore.

For a Dhaka pool holding around 100,000 liters, Anis estimated that a branded Chinese electromechanical system could cost roughly BDT 8-12 lakh.