Your bag is empty
Already have an account? Log in to check out faster.
Already have an account? Log in to check out faster.
Chlorine is essential when it comes to keeping swimming pools safe, because no other substance is able to destroy pathogenic microorganisms with the same intensity. While it requires responsible management on the part of pool owners, this chemical is an excellent defense against bacteria, viruses, and algae. For public swimming pools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a chlorine level of 1-3 parts per million. This concentration is low enough to not pose a threat to human health, cleaning the water and preventing the spread of waterborne infections.
How Does It Work?
The main property that makes chlorine a good sanitizing agent is its ability to break the walls of cells in the body of a microorganism, leading to its destruction. The chemical process is quite simple: chlorine gas dissolves in water, creating hypochlorous acid and chloride ions. It is the former that works best, as it can penetrate the bacterial cell wall and neutralize the cell. The process is most effective when the water pH is neutral, approximately 7.2-7.6, which allows chlorine to act as a much stronger oxidizer.
Avoiding the use of chlorine when keeping pools clean is like trying to navigate a minefield. The decreasing bacteria concentration can grow out of control, leading to higher risks of infections both through the skin and by inhaling bacteria. Pink eye is one of the major dangers, as well as swimmer’s ear, an infection of the outer ear canal. In addition, the absence of chlorine may also result in algae growth, changing the color of water to green and creating certain malodorous issues. In severe cases, the pool will become a public health hazard, warranting its closure and exposing the owner to major financial damages.
Step 1: Proper Chlorination Equals A Safe Balance
The drying-out effects of too much chlorine are felt in swimmer’s skin after taking a dip. Such exposure is also responsible for bloodshot eyes and the tell-tale scent of sunscreen on the skin. On the other hand, too little pool chlorination creates the choice environment for harmful bacteria to grow or thrive. Pool operators must maintain balance within the numbers and perform regular water tests. Among the aspects to measure include the pH or potential of hydrogen levels; also, one can also test the pool’s total alkalinity and calcium hardness. Any discrepancy within the acceptable levels should be corrected with appropriate amounts of chlorine to strike a balance.
Step 2: Consistent Pool Chlorination
One must maintain regular schedules of pool chlorination to keep the water usable. Ideally, there should be weekly testing to ensure that the levels of chlorine remain within the safe range. This becomes even more crucial after heavy use or when bad weather hits the area. Simply put, a consistent routine averts the yo-yo scenarios of chlorination where pools become hubs of dirt just one day post-chlorination. The routine also helps in the prevention of such menaces as algae which contaminate pools and are expensive to remove.
Step 3: Troubleshooting the Root Cause and Solutions
Cause: Bather load, along with such pool influences as rain, heat, and organic debris, should be blamed for a decrease in the efficiency of pool chlorination. Chlorine demand in also increased by stagnating water or longer swimming hours. Additionally, there’s the issue of equipment failure or a broken system.
Solution: Backwashing the filter, feeding a raised feeder rate, or the addition of a chlorine increase product helps one to address the root failure. Additional practices, such as a pre-stabilized multi-functional granule source, helps one balance the numbers.
Innovations in Chlorine Dispensation like EcO
EcO systems, among other innovations, have been developed to simplify and improve the process of chlorine dispensation. The device utilizes a salt solution to create a sanitizer through an electrolytic cell. The sanitizer produced by this device has the same effectiveness as chlorine in killing germs and bacteria but allows the owner to bypass the need for storing or dispensing gaseous chlorine, thereby increasing the level of safety.
Many of the above benefits of chlorine systems would not have been achieved if not for technological advancements in managing water in swimming pools. Some of the main advantages of technology in the deployment of chlorine systems include:
Ancillary Benefits of Chlorine Tablets for Pool Owners
Chlorine tablets ensure safe water conditions for swimming as they gradually dissolve in their holders. The slow and steady release of chlorine may help more effectively maintain correct water chemistry in pools, which is why pool equipment may last longer and repair costs decrease. The tablets’ cost efficiency provides an additional benefit compared to liquid chlorine, as it requires manual pouring and more frequent application. The lower cost of chlorine tablets ensures their equitable availability to pool owners.
Pool Equipment Longevity When Using Controlled Chlorination
Controlled chlorination is essential for prolonging the equipment. Namely, by keeping the right chlorine levels, pool owners prevent the emergence of bacteria and algae in water. The presence of cleanness prevents pumps, filters, and heaters from corrosion or some other damage. Users do not have to buy new pool equipment, which can be quite expensive, and benefit from the optimal performance of the pool.
Be the first to know about new collections and exclusive offers.