09-07-2008, 07:18 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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| Super Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Moraira
Posts: 915
|  Swimmings Pools | Non-Chlorine Alternatives
Non-Chlorine Sanitizer for Swimming Pools Why do we need a sanitizer in the first place? Obviously if we left our pool completely without any form of sanitization it would quickly become a health hazard and go green but what the sanitizer actually does – a) Kills bacteria. b) Destroys algae. c) Removes oils, lotions, skin flakes etc. (bather waste). Low (safe) levels of Chlorine (up to 3 ppm) partly achieve these tasks except algae is not destroyed completely and bather waste is just broken down into nitrates (chloramines). To destroy algae completely stronger (dangerous) “shock” doses of chlorine and/or the addition of algaecide (normally copper-based) are required. Likewise, to burn off chloramines, a shock dose is required. NOTE: There is a way! Just keep plonking in huge amounts of chlorine: 6, 8 10 ppm and the water stays clear because nothing can live in it. The only problem is, that in the end, the stabiliser locks everything up and, apart from everything else, it could be dangerous for the bathers that the sanitizer is designed to protect. Currently there are only 3 efficient sanitizers – 1. Chlorine 2. Bromine 3. Polymeric Biguanides (marketed as “Baquacil” and “Revacil”) All of the other gadgets, ozone, natural minerals, magnets, floating frogs etc., all need a background sanitizer and shocking. Even salt systems really only produce chlorine and need shocking. Now chlorine is very dangerous and can cause cancer, asthma and heart disease, Biguanides are expensive and difficult to use, so what is left? Bromine: When the Bromine Ion is present in the water and an oxidant is added Hypobromous Acid (the bromine sanitizer) is produced. The oxidant could be chlorine but, if you want a completely chlorine-free pool, then Sodium Monopersulphate can be used. The main advantage is that it does not smell. The test is to dip an arm into a properly chlorinated pool, allow it to dry and you have that awful chlorine smell. This is actually the smell or chloramines after the chlorine has gone to work killing all the natural waste on your skin. Try the same with a bromine pool and the only smell you have is “clean arm”. On the downside it needs a little more care than chlorine and is more expensive but what’s 50 to 100 Euros more a year when your health, safety and convenience are concerned? Pool professionals don’t have to buy the chemicals in small branded packaging. For them the extra cost is minimal and offset anyway by reducing the number of yearly visits. In my opinion, it is the only valid option for them, in fact a lot of the “wised-up” piscineros are already using it. Further Info - PoolStore.co.uk: Non Chlorine Aletrnatives for Swimming Pools DuPont.com: Pool and Spa Oxidiser UK Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group: Novel Treatments DailyMail.co.uk: Chlorine and Cancer Homefinder
Last edited by Homefinder; 12-05-2008 at 05:36 PM.
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