Glamaour Era magazine Glamaour Era Global | Page 19
It was supposed to be a community swimming pool, but many people stayed
away because they couldn't tolerate the biting, nose-curdling odor of
chlorine. Others experienced breathing and skin problems.
So the Evergreen Commons senior center in Holland, Michigan, converted
its 65,000-gallon chlorine pool into a saltwater pool. People who had
stayed away are now coming back, getting exercise and therapy, while
socializing with others.
The senior center is hardly alone. Across the country, traditional chlorine
pools are being converted into saltwater pools, sometimes called saline
pools.
Swimmers noticed the difference right away after the switch, making their
pool experience much more enjoyable. The new system also meant softer
water without harsh chemicals that sometimes required a shower to wash
off.
Homeowners and pool managers have many motivations for converting
pools from chlorine to salt, including:
* Simplied, more convenient maintenance. Saltwater pool owners don't
have to buy, transport, store and handle hazardous chlorine chemicals.
This saves time and money.
* Water that's gentle on skin, eyes, nose and hair. Saltwater pools have
approximately one-tenth the salinity of ocean water and about one-third
the salinity of human tears, with no unpleasant chlorine smell.
* A more environmentally friendly approach. Routine pool maintenance
doesn't involve the handling and storage of manufactured chlorine and
lessens the need for other potentially hazardous chemicals.
How do they work?
Saltwater pools use a generator to convert the salt into mild chlorine that
keeps the pool free of harmful bacteria. This chlorine is added to the water
at a constant rate, displacing the bad smell and burning irritation we
normally associate with chlorine and maintaining the right amount. Once
the chlorine sanitizes the pool it converts back to salt. The process continues,
over and over again, conserving the salt and keeping sanitizer levels
balanced.
The technology for a saltwater pool was rst developed in Australia in the
1960s and today more than 80 percent of all pools Down Under use this
system. In the United States, saltwater pools rst began to see use in the
1980s and have grown exponentially in popularity. According to data
published in Pool & Spa News, today there are more than 1.4 million
saltwater pools in operation nationwide and an estimated 75 percent of all
new in-ground pools are saltwater, compared with only 15 percent in 2002.
The other good news for homeowners and pool managers is that pool salt is
far cheaper than traditional chlorine. This is a big reason why so many
hotels and water parks in the United States have already made the switch.
The initial construction and installation of an electrolytic converter is very
small and easily made up in maintenance savings. Even converting an
existing chlorine pool to saltwater pool can pay off quickly.