Image: istockphoto.com/Lawrence Sawyer
Avoid chlorine
Everyone is familiar with the taste and smell of chlorinated water and how it irritates the eyes and skin. Classified by the EPA as a pesticide, chlorine has been linked to asthma, lung damage, allergies, and even stomach cancer. It’s also one of the ingredients in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), responsible for ozone depletion. Since we tend to absorb the largest amount of chlorine in pools, many places are starting to look at replacing chlorine. Belgium has actually banned it from all public pools. If you use a public swimming pool then don't swim in them every day since your body needs a few days to get rid of chlorine build-up.
Biodegrade the problem
Enzyme cleaners tackle harmful organics by breaking them down into their base components that are be reabsorbed back into the pool.
Biodegradeable and chemical free, they are most effective with fats, detergents, dirt, pollen and other organic material. (These are the same enzymes used to clean up oil spills.) The liquid is added directly to the pool once a week.
One of the most reliable companies, Natural Chemistry, has been selling the enzymes cleaners since 1989. They have a variety of pool kits that also get rid of phosphates, algae growth while restoring salt and mineral levels.
Breathe deeply Oxygen is another alternative for pools. Ozone gas is an active form of oxygen that reacts with bacteria, viruses, algae, and other impurities by oxidizes them the same way chlorine does. Body oils or suntan lotions also clump so they can easily be filtered out. There are two basic types that both inject ozone into the pool through a small tube. The UV system uses a fluorescent light to create ozone while the CD system uses an electrical arc inside a generator. This system should still be supplemented with chlorine but reduces the need by 80 percent.
DEL Ozone TrioPure promises to increase the water quality while being low maintenance.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide based oxidizer (H2O2) is an unstable form of water with an extra oxygen molecule. When the hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with water, that extra molecule breaks away and becoming a disinfectant. H2O2 has also been approved by the FDA for use in the food industry. It's being sold by some companies as a swimming pools disinfection but it's really only effective when combined with other disinfectants such as ozone, ammonia salts or UV ozone.
Metals for heavy metals
Copper-silver ionization is becoming a popular alternative. It uses electrically charged positive copper ions that seek out the bacteria, viruses and fungi which are negatively charged. After the copper ions have attached themselves to the microrganisms, the silver then kills them. The drawback to this system is that you need a separate sanitation system and it has to used with another disinfectant, such as ozone gas or hydrogen peroxide.
Aqua Pure sells submersible Chlorfree Ionizing Capsules filled with copper, zinc, palladium, silver and carbon. When these minerals are exposed to water, they clean the water of bacteria, algae, microbes, and other organisms similar to the ionization effect. No additional filters are needed and chlorine can be reduced at much as 85 percent.
Salt water
Salt water systems use salt to keep the water clean. Salt is turned into small amounts of chlorine to clean the water and then cycled back through the system where its converted back to salt. The water is soft and gentle for the chlorine-sensitive swimmers. The drawback is the initial learning curve to get the pH levels properly adjusted. You should speak with your pool professional to get this set up.
Go natural
The natural swimming pool is the easiest pool to maintain and requires no chemicals or filters. Using plants and micro-organisms, this system mimics the eco-system found in ponds, pools and lakes. Like all natural systems, the water is self-cleaning. Initially more expensive to build, natural swimming pools save money in the long run. Mother Jones D.I.Y. section has an in-depth article on how to build your natural pool.
Buyer beware
Approach any of the these products with caution since none of them have been tested by third-party safety verifications like Consumer Reports. Be sure to ask the advice of your pool professional before installing any system.
Anne Colvey is a freelance writer in Montreal who likes to visit friends with pools.
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