Swimming Pool - Sanitation

Sanitation

Swimming pool water must maintain low levels of bacteria and viruses to prevent the spread of diseases and pathogens. Bacteria, algae and insect larvae can enter the pool if water is not properly sanitized. Pumps, mechanical filters, and disinfectants are often used to filter the water.

Chemical disinfectants, such as chlorine (usually as a hypochlorite salt, such as calcium hypochlorite) and bromine, are commonly used to kill pathogens. If not properly maintained, chemical sanitation can produce high levels of Disinfection byproducts. Sanitized swimming pool water can theoretically appear green if iron or certain minerals are in the water. The green color is often attributed to oxidized copper compounds, such as copper chloride.

Electronic oxidation water sanitation is an alternative to chlorination and ozone (O₃), though it typically relies upon metals which can be toxic to aquatic life in minute quantities. Oxygen pools are produced via the electronic oxidation of the water molecule itself to generate the natural oxidisers hydroxyl (HO), atomic oxygen (O), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and molecular oxygen (O₂). All of these have a higher oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value than chlorine. Electronic oxidation generates more oxidisers in under 1 minute than salt, chlorine, ozone or UV can generate in an hour. Electronic oxidation combined with low levels of copper ionization (0.5 PPM) provides effective sanitation without chlorine. Copper is toxic to aquatic life in the parts per billion range.

There are also machines that use all-natural salt to filter the water.