Comparison List

Comparison list with the pros and cons of the most common systems on the market

See below a comparison list with the pros and cons of the most common systems on the market.

Chlorine

Chlorine is the most common form of pool water sanitation used around the world it is an effective sanitiser when used correctly however it is extremely volatile making it hard to maintain a continuous safe residual level in a swimming pool, the number of serious health issues associated with chlorination are growing at an alarming rate prompting enquiries for safer alternatives.

Pros: Low initial cost. readily available, industry supported.

Cons: Health issues associated with its use include cancer, asthma, birth defects, pregnancy problems, heart problems, skin allergies and more....

Requires constant attention and dosing to maintain safe levels, extremely corrosive to pool, equipment, stone, cement, surrounding plants, coping and bathing suits, requires regular physical handling and transportation of the concentrated chemicals. Constant ongoing chemical costs including chlorine, stabaliser, acid, buffer, algaecides, floc, shock more......Industry favored due to constant revenue stream.

Whilst growing attention is focusing on the health concerns surrounding the use of chlorination for water treatment there is also another chemical associated with its use that is also causing concern. Cyanuric acid better know as stabaliser is used as a sun screen or UV protector to hold chlorine in the water for longer periods by reducing degradation by sunlight Cyanuric acid (CAS No 108-80-5) is a structural analogue of melamine. It may be found as an impurity of melamine. Melamine hit the headlines with the Chinese milk powder deaths and also the pet food scandal in the USA.

Salt Water Chlorine

Salt water chlorination is the most commonly used pool sanitising systems in Australia. It works by adding salt to the pool water which is then converted to chlorine using an electrolysis process as water passes through the treatment cell. Clever marketing campaigns have resulted in a lot of users believing that a salt pool does not use chlorine.

Pros: Salt chlorination reduces cost and handling associated with conventional chlorine treatment, provides automated chlorination while pool equipment is running.

Cons: Requires on going expensive chemical back up including stabaliser, algaecides, floc's, shock,..... exposure to high chlorine levels and associated health risks as detailed in Chlorine section above, hard to maintain correct residual chlorine level in conditions of high heat, sunlight and bather load. Only works when pump is running resulting in lengthy run times and high energy costs. Water is high in TDS's, corrosive, brackish and cannot be recycled without dilution. Salt water can damage rocks features, pool surrounds and gardens.

Ozone

Ozone is a very effective powerful oxidiser that has a very short life. The ozonator produces ozone gas that is injected in to the pool circulation system to aid the residual sanitiser. Ozone is becoming a popular back up for chlorine systems and salt water chlorinators.

Pros: Powerful oxidiser.

Cons: Expensive to purchase, provides point of contact treatment only and has no residual protection for the bather, Ozone gas is very toxic, the ozone generator must be installed in a way that it will prevent the ozone gas getting into the main pool water. Ozone requires an additional residual sanitiser most commonly chlorine and its associated chemicals. Only works when pump is running. An expensive add on that should not be required if the residual sanitiser is maintained correctly

Ionisation

Ionisation: Copper/silver ionisation is the most popular form of swimming pool ionisation. Copper and silver are natures mineral sanitiser's and have been used for thousands of years to sanitise water, treat burns, and many other uses, more recently NASA developed ionisation for sanitation use on the Apollo missions.

Pros: Copper and Silver are un effected by heat and UV which makes it easy to maintain a residual level in pool water. The copper and silver ions continue to work as an algaecide and biocide in the pool water even when the equipment is turned off.

Cons: Ionisers do not oxidise the organic compounds in the pool such as oils, dust, urine they require a residual oxidiser usually chlorine to be added to the pool. Ionisers have got a reputation for staining some types of pool surfaces.

Enviroswim ES3

Enviroswim ES3 patented system provides sparkling fresh water using natural minerals, sound waves and electronic oxidising. Enviroswim water is low in total dissolved solids (TDS's) creating a healthy freshwater environment. This is achieved by eliminating most of the regular dissolved chemical additives associated with conventional systems.

Pros: Eliminates the need to add liquid chlorine, granular chlorine, non chlorine oxidiser, Aquabrite, Pool Fresh, stabaliser (cyanuric acid see chlorine section above), algaecides & flocculent. Reduces energy costs, chemical costs, exposure to toxic/carcinogenic by products associated with chlorine and cyanuric acid. Pool water/backwash can be used undiluted on gardens and does not attack rock features and copings. Provides a return on investment through low running costs together with health and environmental benefits. Government supported development, NSF 50 certified, used by Eco Developments.

Cons: Initial cost is higher than some other methods. Chemically driven industry can be reluctant to endorse the system due to the low on going chemical revenue after installing the system.