Do Saltwater Pools Avoid Problems with Chlorine?
Written by Tracie Summerville, Rockwood Summit High School | 
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“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.
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 Tracie says: 2010-Jun-23 10:52
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 Yes! It still produces the same reaction, just introduced a different way. It just doesn't have the issue with the chloramines...weird huh?
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Pat Hundelt says: 2010-Jun-22 12:54
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Jennifer Hope says: 2010-Jun-21 19:20
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 I didn't know about this trend. Now I'm wondering why salt wasn't initially used for home pools...I'm guessing the technology for these generators is new? Does the lower level of chlorine produced, and thus introduced into the water treatment system when pools are drained, yield a reduced environmental impact?
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Laura says: 2010-Jun-19 11:52
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Last Updated (Friday, 18 June 2010 16:14)
