Which is chlorination (sanitation) type is best for your pool and your family? There are a multitude of different options available to choose from so we break down the benefits and drawbacks of each one along with our preferred options, allowing you to make a more informed choice when choosing your type of pool.
Chlorine
A Chlorine only pool (in this instance), is one where either liquid or powdered chlorine is manually or automatically added to the water regularly. Liquid chlorine is the cheapest way to chlorinate your water, however, it is also the bulkiest and most hazardous. With the use of an automatic feeder, this will monitor your pool chlorine level and adjust accordingly. These however are expensive and due to the highly corrosive nature of liquid chlorine, can require a lot of maintenance.
Powdered chlorine is more efficient, safer and easier to handle, however, it is more expensive. It also cannot be manually delivered, with the exception of chlorine tablets, which are compressed forms of powdered chlorine.
All other balances still need to be maintained especially the pH as this is easily affected by the addition of chlorine. Maintaining proper stabiliser & calcium levels with powdered chlorine is also necessary.
Pros - Potentially cheaper
Cons - More work to maintain levels, bulky, hazardous, throws out other balances quickly.
Saltwater
By far the most popular type of pool sanitation in Australia. The use of a saltwater chlorinator to produce chlorine regularly throughout the filtration cycle is both efficient and practical. The constant production of chlorine gas begins to work instantly in the pool water to neutralise algae, bacteria and other organic matter. The process requires the pool water to have a minimum amount of salt in the water, usually anywhere from 2,500 ppm (parts per million) to 5,000ppm depending on the brand and model. If the salt level falls below this level, the production is reduced or even stopped to avoid damage to the unit.
Saltwater chlorinators have an approximate lifespan of about 5 years depending on how long they're used each day and at what output its set to.
Pros - Tried & tested, efficient chlorine production, great if you like saltwater!
Cons - No testing of chlorine levels so can build up chlorine too high if left unchecked.
Mineral Pool + Ozone
Fast becoming a very popular option among pool owners, Mineral pools such as Mineral Swim, utilise a two-stage sanitisation process. The first is similar to the saltwater chlorinator that uses minerals instead of salt to produce a small amount of chlorine as well as making the water softer and clearer. It works in conjunction with the Ozone system to neutralise organic material such as algae and bacteria in the water. The Ozone component is 3,500 times faster at killing bacteria than chlorine alone.
Pros - Softer & clearer water, low chlorine levels, no 'chlorine smell' perfect for sensitive skin & asthma sufferers.
Cons - More expensive than traditional saltwater systems
Freshwater
The typical 'freshwater' system uses a combination of copper to prevent algae growth and silver to disinfect the water which is infused into the water neutralising bacteria. This type of water purification has been around since the Ancient Greeks discovered that algae wouldn't grow in copper water pots! There is still a very small amount of chlorine that is required to keep the water safe.
Pros - Very low chlorine levels required, soft free water feel
Cons - One of the most expensive options for residential pool water management.