Sep 2 2008
Background
Pool Cleaning
Salt Water Systems
Ozonation Ionization and UV Radiation
Green Heating
Tank Water
Pool Covers
Background
A 'green' pool doesn't sound very inviting or refreshing, but environmentally friendly one does. Preventing your pool from going green, in the literal sense, can involve a number of potentially hazardous chemicals. Keeping it maintained can also be energy intensive. This article presents a series of tips for keeping your pool clean and inviting, without causing undue harm to the environment.
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Pool Cleaning
Water quality of pools is normally maintained by the use of chlorine to kill off any biological nasties in the pool water. Unfortunately chlorine can cause all kinds of other problems for pool users and the environment. Reduction and elimination of chlorine use is the key to environmentally friendly pool cleaning.
Salt Water Systems
Salt water systems for pools are often thought of as environmentally friendly. The water is certainly milder than chlorinated water but all they do is split chlorine from salt (sodium chloride) by electrolysis. It means that chlorine is still the active chemical and there is an additional amount of energy consumed.
Ozonation Ionization and UV Radiation
Ozonation systems allow you to run your pool completely free of chlorine. You will need to add a chlorine free algaecide though as ozonation is not entirely effective against algae. Alternatively a minor addition of chlorine will control the algae. Ionization systems are expensive but work well. The ionizer is added to the standard filter pipes as are UV radiation systems. As bacteria and other pathogens are only killed when they pass through the system, they are ineffective on immediate threats in the water. For example a person with a contagious infection, could pass it to other pool users before the cleaning system can kill the infection. For this reason chemical sanitizers should be added to the water.
Green Heating
Environmentally friendly heating systems for swimming pools are quite simple. Solar water heating systems are put on the house roof and are extremely effective. In fact they often need to be turned off to prevent the pool becoming too hot.
Tank Water
Many places around the world have passed legislation banning pools from being filled or topped up from mains water. Pool owners must use rainwater from a tank for this purpose.
Pool Covers
Using a pool cover when the pool is not in use will help keep it in pristine condition. The cover will prevent water evaporation, heat loss and stop dirt and leaves entering the pool.
Source: AZoCleantech