Keep it Clean!
After selecting your pool you have to then choose which form of sanitation is best.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Samui is a tropical destination with beautiful beaches. However, it seems that these days no house is complete without a pool. Swimming pools are an excellent addition to any home. They provide a welcome escape from the Samui heat, a fun play area for children, an attractive feature in the garden, and a great location for parties or poolside dining.
For a small island, Samui has a good number of swimming pool companies offering a wide variety of products. There are many things to consider when selecting a pool: Who is the pool for? Should you have a tiled pool or a liner? Where should it go? How big should it be? And how deep? Most of these questions are easily answered but choosing the sanitation method is where things become a little more complicated.
Keeping the water clear and bacteria-free is of paramount importance. Nobody enjoys swimming in a murky green pool; it’s an eyesore in more ways than one. There are many methods of pool cleansing and most are available on the island.
As a guide, when choosing a pool cleaning system certain words are often used. In swimming pools, sanitation refers to the killing of all bacteria and algae plus any other life-forms in the water – disease-causing or not. Sanitation is better than disinfecting as disinfection means the killing of only the disease-causing organisms. Oxidisation is what rids pool water of ammonia and nitrogen compounds.
Chlorine is most commonly used to sanitise pools. It’s a proven method and chlorine can disinfect, sanitise and oxidise the water. This is normally achieved by using slow release chlorine tablets that disinfect the pool killing disease-causing germs and then by shocking the pool at regular intervals. Shocking is where enough chlorine is added to kill all germs.
Bromine is another chemical based sanitation treatment but it’s not commonly used on Samui.
Ionisers are becoming more popular. These use electrodes made of copper, silver or both. Copper ions in water inhibit algae growth and silver ions kill bacteria.
Basically, a low voltage electrical charge passes across two copper/silver alloy bars which emit metallic atoms, ions and nano-crystalline particles into the water. Copper has the ability to pierce the protective outer membrane of a cell and disrupt its enzyme balance, as well as allowing other bactericides and algaecides access to the susceptible parts of the unwanted organism. Silver interferes with DNA production and accelerates the organisms’ demise. Therefore, the ionizing component can inactivate algae, and other bacteria, providing an effective way of maintaining superior water quality. Properly maintained, an ioniser system is capable of satisfying basic sanitation needs and reducing the need for chemicals by up to 80%.
Ozone gas is one of the strongest oxidizers and disinfectants available. It’s stronger than chlorine and, as an example, kills the E.Coli bacteria 25 times more powerfully and about 500 times faster. There are two main methods of producing ozone for pools. In one method, air is passed through an electrically-charged chamber, where a miniature lightning storm produces ozone from oxygen. In the other method, air is passed close to ultra-violet lamps where UV rays excite oxygen which then forms ozone.
An ozone generator in combination with chlorine can reduce the chlorine use by up to 95%. Chlorine is still required to kill the bacteria as ozone can only oxidize organic wastes once chlorine has combined with them. But, once the ozone has done its job, it reverts back to oxygen which makes the water look, feel and even taste better.
Ultra-violet ray sanitizers kill bacteria by exposing them to high intensity ultra-violet rays. This disrupts the DNA bonding and stops the bacteria from breeding and consequently the organisms die, sterile bacteria are considered dead. UV radiation is extremely effective in killing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and mould spores without altering or affecting the water. However, some bacteria or viruses that cling to the walls, pipes or filters may not go through the UV chamber. Therefore, the water must still be sanitized, disinfected and oxidized with chlorine. Fortunately, the UV light rapidly breaks down chlorine and in four to eight hours the pool water is chlorine-free leaving good quality water to soak and relax in; this method provides water that’s almost chemical-free.
Salt chlorinators use a natural process of generating chlorine from salt water, which occurs when lightning strikes the ocean. An electrode incorporated in the pool plumbing uses low voltage electrolysis to dissolve the salt and create chlorine. Chlorine generators avoid the need for constant handling of chemicals, and the cost of chlorine generation is generally lower than the cost of buying the chemicals. Rainfall does dilute the pool water which then requires regular top-ups of salt. Water in saltwater pools has an easier feel on the eyes and a silk-like touch.
All of the above methods give you options. But, as with everything, technology is constantly improving and new products continue to be developed. A recent addition to the island is the Purapool Chlorine Free System which uses a combination of methods resulting in no chemical use at all. The system generates natural oxygen by passing the pool water through its proprietary chambers with a low voltage electrical current. This process causes the water to split and produce four powerful non-toxic oxidizers. These are almost twice as strong as chlorine.
The rate of oxidation massively exceeds that of ozone pools. And, in addition to this, copper ionization is used to kill any bacteria and algae. So, by taking the available technology and combining other known methods, Purapool claims to produce pool water that is salt-free; chlorine-free, toxic-free, algae-, bacteria- and carcinogenic trihalomethane gas-free.
This chemical-free water is considered suitable for watering plants; it’s harmless to pets that drink it; it is corrosion-, odour- and stain-free; and even prolonged swimming will not result in red eyes, dry hair, skin irritations, asthma or allergies. In fact, Purapool claims that the water is actually fit to drink.
Chlorine, bromine, ionisers, ozone, UV, salt-chlorinators and new combinations are all available methods of keeping pools crystal clear and germ-free. The one you choose will depend on the availability, the maintenance, your social conscience in relation to the use of chemicals, and of course the cost. Whatever you decide, a pool with clean, clear water will definitely enhance your tropical living experience and provide you with years of enjoyment. |
