Swimming pool Hygiene-your life depends on it!

[Philoz]

I have seen a few posts on various forums promoting alternative pool sanitisers, either in liquid form(Zerochlor), or by way of copper/silver electrodes(The Alligator system).

I also see posts saying how great these products are,and how wonderfully clean their pools are now.

Being taught how to look after my pool by a regular forum poster(Who's advice I respect totally)the old fashioned way using Chlorine and acid.

I decided to have a closer look at the alternatives,And I have done a lot of research on the 'Interweb'.

As I see it, the main objection to the 'traditional way' of maintaining your pool is essentially about the use of chlorine.


The people that tell you that chlorine is a bad thing will tell you that:-
1.It turns your hair green.
2. It makes you smell(of chlorine)
3.It ruins your pool.
4. it damages your skin.
5.it makes your eyes sore.
6.It gives you cancer.

It is true that the above may apply as some,(maybe a lot) of pool companies here employ untrained operatives(certainly was my experience in the early days)that do not understand the first thing about basic pool chemistry,and simply throw bucket-loads of raw chemicals into your pool in an unmeasured way,and rarely test the pool,and if they do it's a very basic test for Chlorine and Alkaline only.

I suggest that folk here that are anti chlorine, should be more anti untrained pool companies as the correct use of chlorine will do none of the above.

Ironically, the non Chlorine alternatives recommend that you use a chlorine 'top up' to their products, which is an admittance that they don't 'Properly' clean your pool .

Rather than go on any more about what I have learnt about what you can catch from your pool,and how to fix it,

Take a look at what the Australian government have to say about these 'chlorine alternatives' :-

http://www.apvma.gov.au/use_safely/pool/background.php

Now, If you take the time to read the website properly,you will be shocked at some of the nasties you can catch from your pool,for example(for starters):-

1.E. coli
2.Hepatitis.
3.legionnaires.
4.Gonorrhoea.
5.Eye, Ear and skin infections.
6.Norwalk virus.
7.Cryptosporidiosis.

To name just a few.

As for people that let their dog(that has probably just had a dump and not wiped it's bottom) in the pool with the Kids,well I know it makes for great photos, but I personally would not want to swim in dogshit let alone my offspring.

In conclusion you need to take swimming pool hygiene very seriously indeed, otherwise you might get very Ill.

I am more inclined to trust the WHO(world health organisation)and the Australian Government rather than a few sale's orientated people here.

And before any pool company owners have a go at me(as I am sure they will)

Please don't shoot the Messenger!

Have a great ,and clean and healthy summer in your pool Kibkomers!

[LooseBoots]

This is why I use a floatron. It is solar powered and floats in the water ionising the water and you use less chlorine. o your pool is still clean, but with less chemicals.

used it for 3 1/2 years.......no problems. Nice clean pool..................

[Philoz]

Loose boots-it does not keep your pool clean by acceptable standards.
you have fallen for the 'snake oil' sales men,like many others.

[sophie]

I totally agree with Philoz - the pool can glisten like a diamond and be crystal clear but it doesn't mean that the water is bacteria free. You won't see bacteria going around with a notice on its back singing "I'm a little bacteria, I'm going to give you E-coli, ya bo, sucks to you" but millions of them are there swimming around as happy as Larry (who ever he was) We have 3 dogs, they watch the water but have never been in. We have actively discouraged them right from the start. We had someone here about 4 years ago, who dragged one of the dogs into the water. He was told, that if he did it one more time, he would never be invited to the house again. I think the message got home.

[Jonnie]

Totally agree with you Philloz. Chlorine tried tested and proved unlike many newer cocktails of chemicals.

[pc4854]

Sounds like good advice Philoz, what quantities of acid and chlorine would you be adding to a 10 x 5 pool?

[TRNCVaughan]

http://www.lenntech.com/processes/disin ... zation.htm

[Jonnie]

I will say I am happy to let my dog use the pool, to be honest I am a damn site/sight happier than using a public pool after kids hour in the height of the summer school holidays!

I often spend many hours a day in the sea, you would not believe what the fish do in that!

[Philoz]

Vaughan- msg 7.
Knowing that you probably the most qualified pool person on this, or any forum,I must say that I was slightly disappointed to see that the link that you posted is yet another commercially orientated website selling the silver /copper option.

I am well aware of the history behind the fact that silver and copper are proven water purifiers,but you also need to consider that plenty of people have died historically from water borne illnesses,and still do in undeveloped countries,despite the fact that copper and silver was and is freely available.

Given the choice between taking pool care advise from 'The Lenntech corporation'(who I suspect no one has heard of) and who (surprise surprise) I notice are selling a 'Copper/ Silver' option,and the World health organisation(WHO), the Australian Government,and the German government,I think I know whose advise I will be going with.

Vaughan,I am not knocking the product you sell,and I believe it does work,up to a point.

My gripe is that folk that are not well clued up on chemistry in general are being told that these systems are totally safe.

In fairness to you, I have never seen you say that the alligator system is 'Chlorine free' but the ex owner of Zerochlor did used to sign off his advertising posts on cyp 44 with the words 'happy Chlorine free swimming folks', and the Aus gov website is quite adamant in stating that Silver copper products ,in isolation don't do the job .

I think these alternate products are a little like the electric car.

One day I am sure there will be a chlorine free system that works perfectly(And when that happens,I will be the first in the queue to buy one), but the most popular electric car on sale now still has a dirty petrol driven internal combustion engine as a back up.

In conclusion,unless you can come up with a more authoritative source to 'Lenntech Corp' I will stick firmly by my original post 100%.

As I said in my original post,don't shoot the messenger.

Better to sell these alternative products in my opinion as a supplement to a well run Chlorine pool,rather than a replacement,that I think would be more honest and truthful,especially where peoples health is concerned.

[TRNCVaughan]

Lenntech are a well know company within their industry.
http://www.lenntech.com/about/aboutlenntech-en.htm