Pool Chlorine Substitutes

Chlorine, a disinfectant used to sanitize public water supplies, comes at a cost to human health. It reacts with organic material in the pool to form potentially cancer causing toxins like trihalomethanes. These toxins eventually find their way into our bodies causing serious health problems including asthma and bladder cancer.

Substituting Chlorine

• Ozone is a powerful oxidant.

  Substitute chlorine with alternative treatments like ozone. Some major pool operators in the United States have switched to ozone technology. It reduces the organic load in water and is a powerful disinfectant. Certain micro-organisms resistant to chlorine are unable to multiply in water that has been treated with ozone. Generators that create ozone from oxygen by subjecting it to ultraviolet rays or an electric charge, are available in the market. Ozone has a shorter shelf life than chlorine and must be manufactured on site. The initial cost may seem high. Over the life period of the pool, these get negated due to lower operating and maintenance costs. Ozone generators work well for backyard swimming pools as well. Unlike chlorine, ozone does not corrode.

Dual System

• Ozone reduces chemical use between 60 and 90 percent.

  If you are worried about ozone being an unstable gas and reverting back to its original state of oxygen, use it in combination with chlorine. Adding chlorine to water after ozone treatment, allows chlorine to act as a residual sanitizer. This also means smaller quantities of chlorine.Ozone decomposes organic waste through oxidation and prevents chlorine from mixing up with organic matter to form carcinogenic substances.

Bromine

• A large amount of bromine remains active aven after combining with bacteria, but it's easier on the eyes.

  Bromine is yet another substitute for chlorine. It can also be substituted for chlorine in the ozone treatment method. In fact it complements the ozone system. It does not loose effectiveness when exposed to ultraviolet rays. It is credited with being an option for "problem pools" or pools having to cope with large bather loads. Unlike chlorine, it has no odor and no taste. It is also far gentler on the skin and eyes than chlorine.

Ionization

• Ionizers are inexpensive and use low voltage

  Ionizers discharge charged ions and atoms into the water, restructuring it and killing bacteria and algae. The impact of this treatment is enhanced in warm outdoor temperatures. A low voltage electric charge across two metal bars is used to emit copper and silver ions into the water. Various types of metals and alloys like copper, copper/zinc, copper/silver are used.