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Give a kid a bath, and he is clean for a day.  Give a kid a pool, and he is clean all summer!  Just kidding, kind of…and the great news about not bathing our children is that most residential pools now use saltwater sanitation systems rather than chlorine sanitation systems.  Our children will never experience the red eyes, itchy skin, and green hair (unless they choose to use Sun In) that plagued our pre-2000’s lives.   Saltwater sanitation systems are generally gentler on skin.  My daughter, who has eczema, will break out in a rash after spending a lot of time in a large, chlorinated pool.  Our pool at home, which has the saltwater system, does not seem to give her the same type of reaction.  Also, my family’s hair doesn’t dry out as much as when we spend time in a heavily chlorinated pool.  A saltwater system seems to be the better choice for our family, but as always, it is a good idea to understand both types of sanitation systems in order to make an informed decision when building your new pool.

Chlorine sanitation systems were first introduced in the 1910s.  Before then, pools were cleaned using backwashing and different types of filtration systems. An example that still exists today is the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables.  This is a public pool built in 1923.  It is refilled by natural spring water daily!  Although this pool is historical, beautiful, and fun for family visits, new advancements in pool water sanitation offer a more environmentally friendly approach.  This makes the Coral Gables manatees very happy.

Chlorine keeps the pool clean through a series of chemical reactions, and it breaks down organic material, including harmful bacteria.  It basically acts like bleach for your pool. It is extremely important to keep your chlorine levels stable.  Once they drop, you may begin to experience algae growth, which turns your pool green. Of course, we aren’t talking about the pretty turquoise green.  If you neglect your pool long enough, the pool water may even turn black.  Many of the warranties issued with tile and interior finish companies are invalid if poor water chemistry is found.

Over 60 years after chlorine started to be used in swimming pools, the first saltwater sanitation systems began circulating throughout New Zealand.  They were introduced in the United States in the 1980s.  Today, over 90% of new residential pool builds use the saltwater systems.  It is important to note that saltwater systems do, in fact, use chlorine!  The systems are actually known as a saltwater chlorination systems.  Because swimming pools still need chlorine to break down the organic matter and keep the pool water safe for swimming, the saltwater chlorination system actually creates its own chlorine.  Instead of adding chlorine tablets directly to the pool, in a saltwater chlorination system, you add salt to a salt generator. The salt interacts with a salt cell and creates chlorine. The pool water has lower levels of chlorine, and the system maintains a more consistent balance.  Like chlorine pools, it is extremely important to remain vigilant in checking your water chemistry. 

As far as pool equipment is concerned, saltwater chlorination systems may have more up-front costs, but the systems will pay for itself over time.  It does not require the same amount of diligent up-keep and money for additional chemicals that the traditional chlorine pools require.  In larger, commercial pools, contractors often stick to the traditional chlorination sanitization systems. If commercial pool builders choose to use the saltwater chlorination system, the state of Florida requires them to have a backup chlorination system as well. It just seems logical to just go the chlorine route in the first place.  Also, would you even feel the same leaving a lazy river without the distinct smell and hair crunch of chlorine?

If you are considering a new pool, the Oak Wells Aquatics design team will help you decide what type of system is right for you!  If you are wanting a remodel, chances are that you have a chlorination system.  You may desire to move to a saltwater system, or you may wish to stick with your current chlorination system.  Either way, once the decision is made and the pool is built, an Oak Wells representative will come out to your residence and show you how to maintain proper water chemistry. The team can do this with both types of systems!  At Oak Wells, we encourage clients to record the demonstration in order to reference the valuable material any time.