“Wow, my eyes are stinging!”says a swimmer at the local pool.

“My skin is itchy!” says another swimmer.

Sound familiar? It’s hot, humid, and sunny. Everyone heads for the local swimming pool to cool off and have a little fun in the sun. But the chlorine used to keep the water safe can be a big problem for many. As a result, many pool owners, and some community pools, are converting to a salt water system to avoid chlorine.

“In five years everyone will have saltwater pools, except for the eccentric [who don’t like change],” says Bob Brooks of R&S Pool & Spa of Maryland Heights, MO, a 34-year veteran in the pool business. “The trend to saltwater began three years ago, and has doubled every year.”

In the U.S., it is estimated that the total number of swimming pools is 8.6 million, according to a 2007 study by MarketResearch.com, one of the world’s largest marketing research institutions. MarketResearch.com also estimates that the swimming pool market will top $3.8 billion for pool equipment and maintenance by 2011.

Traditionally, pool waters are treated with chlorine in the form of calcium or sodium hypochlorite, the same as the bleach used in your washing machine. The chlorine is released as the hypochlorite salt dissolves in the water. Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is the result, which kills off any bacteria or germs in the water.

“Swimmers often mistakenly blame red eyes, itchy skin and a strong chemical smell of pool water on ‘too much chlorine’,” according to the American Chemistry Council, a chemical manufacturing organization. Chloramines are the real culprit for those weepy eyes and itchy skin, says the Council. When chlorine is mixed with the body oils, lotions, spit and urine, chloramines are formed.

On the other hand, a salt water pool, which is only about 10% as salty as the ocean, eliminates the eye irritation and skin problems, claims Pentair, a manufacturing company for chlorine generators. Moreover, the water is “soft” to the touch and doesn’t have the odor associated with the usual chlorinated pools, says Pentair.

A salt water pool uses regular table salt, NaCl, to get the chlorine. The salt concentration is roughly 2800–3600 parts per million (ppm) according to Pentair, compared to the ocean at about 35,000 ppm, according to Windows to the Universe, a website supported by NASA with coverage of Earth and Space sciences. A chlorine generator uses electrolysis, passing electricity through the water, to break down the salt and form chlorine, as hypochlorous acid, to disinfect. 

Brooks states that the cost for a traditional chlorinated pool is approximately “$120 per year for the chlorine and another $120 per year the chlorine shock needed to keep it up”, whereas the cost for salt for the generator is “$100 at the beginning, and between $40–50 per year afterward.”

The only downside is the cost of the generator, which is approximately $1000. Nevertheless, Brooks says that he has sold “120–130 [generators] so far this year.” With the savings from converting to salt, the money for the chlorinator is recovered within a few years, he adds.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License

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	marcy says: 2012-Nov-02 02:42
	I spent an hour in a saline pool for a water aerobics class. After taking a shower there I saw I had an ugly red blotchy rash on my right chest near my collarbone and also along my midriff. It faded away after an hour and a half. I found out that they also put chlorine in the saline pool!! My swim suit reeked of chlorine even after I rinsed it out in water. What caused the rash? Using saline and too much chlorine in the pool?  Reply     0     0     Report

   

	Taylor says: 2012-Apr-02 08:46
	I decided to read this article because last summer I swam in a pool that consisted of salt water. I wondered why the water felt softer than it usually did because of the salt. I personally prefer the salt water over the chlorine normally used in pools. Good article!  Reply     0     0     Report

   

	Tracie says: 2011-Apr-13 15:03
	I should have commented earlier, sorry! Teaching gets in the way...Saltwater pools do not affect your eyes at all. In fact, it feels just fine! It is not at all like the ocean. Don't forget that your eyes/body have saltwater anyway! Also, we have had the pool for 5 years this summer, and no one has had any skin issues. My oldest daughter has eczema, and it actually helps. Lastly, I don't know the longevity of the generator off-hand, but so far so good! Considering the amount of money spent on a chlorinated pool, this pool is practically nothing!  Reply     0     0     Report

   

	JoshM says: 2011-Feb-23 12:04
	Wow, i had no idea about the benefits from salt water, opposed to chlorine. Reading this, it seems that chlorine in pools should be non existent anymore.  Reply     0     0     Report

   

	efiell beard says: 2010-Nov-22 10:10
	this topic is very interesting i didnt know all these things about salt waater...  Reply     0     0     Report

   

	tequila says: 2010-Oct-11 09:55
	i think salt is better rather then chlorine because chlorine burns somtimes and salt water you could just wash off  Reply     0     0     Report

   

	daniel jefferson says: 2010-Oct-07 18:41
	isnt' salt walter pools dangerous because if you open your eyes tthe'll burn  Reply     1     0     Report

   

	melisha says: 2010-Oct-07 09:54
	This was a great article i think the salt will be better than the chlorine it may cause less irration.  Reply     0     0     Report

   

	quebalea green says: 2010-Oct-03 19:28
	i feel that this is a very good idea in technology it would be like a new way to save Chlorine but i wonder if it will cause different reaction to people skin?  Reply     1     0     Report

   

	Melissa Beard says: 2010-Oct-01 18:20
	I think it's alot better and saftey to use table salt then chlorine. Because it will create less problems while you're trying to swim and enjoy yourself and easyier to clean up to.  Reply     0     0     Report

 

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