By Clint Elston

We’ve all experienced the side effects of swimming in chlorinated swimming pools!

It’s generally accepted that chlorine will irritate your eyes and skin, but it’s rarely understood why. Chlorine can produce dangerous by-products called chloramines. The compounds (sweat, urine, body oils, lotion, saliva, etc.) are what cause red irritated eyes when combined with chlorine. Traditional sanitizers, such as salt systems are not an effective alternative if you wish to eliminate these chlorine by-products also known as chloramines.  

Chloramines can get into the lungs and cause allergies as well as irritations to the skin. These irritations we experience when swimming are actually our bodies warning us about the toxicity of chlorine. Toxins from chlorine are not only present in the water but they are also let off into the air which can cause further irritation such as asthma and respiratory issues.

Consumers and industry professionals are both becoming more aware of the downsides of traditional sanitizers, such as salt chlorine generators, liquid chlorine and stand-alone tablet feeders.

Ozone can change the molecular structure of organic and inorganic compounds, destroy them completely, and allow them to be easily removed from the water by the pool filter. Ozone can kill harmful bacteria in seconds without issuing any of the harmful side effects of chlorine.

Differences documented by those swimming in ozone pools as opposed to chlorine pools include a reduction in ‘chlorine cough’ for members of staff, no skin or eye reactions and no ‘chemical’ smell in the air. It is these distinct differences that made Olympic organizers switch from using chlorine to ozone as a means of sanitization.

Ozone was discovered in 1785 by Dutch physicist Martinus Van Marum (1750-1837) by perceiving a peculiar odor that was generated near the electrostatic machines, but it was not until May 1840 that the German chemist Christian Friedrich Schönbein (1799-1868) synthesizes it and called it ozein; the Greek word for scent.

In 1870, the German doctor Lender made the first publication on practical biological effects, relating to water disinfection. The discovery of the antimicrobial properties of ozone revolutionized medicine of the time and was utilized during WWI for sanitization and disinfection, with decades still remaining for the emergence of penicillin.

In 1937 the first ozone system was introduced into a commercial pool in the United States. Since then, ozone has been mandated for use in all Olympic training and competition swimming pools, due to its disinfection and oxidation capabilities.

In Ozone swimming pools, the water is clearer, cleaner, odor-free and will not dry the skin or irritate the eyes. Ozone will not bleach hair and bathing suits with no residue or chemical byproducts. No labor is required to measure, monitor or handling of chemicals and is pH neutral

High profile Ozone swimming pool installations are in NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas - Training pool, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. - Recreational pool & spa, Miami Dolphins Training Center, Davie, Florida, Georgia Tech, Home of the 1996 Summer Olympics - 1.5-million-gallon pool and Bill Gates residence, pool & spa.

Ozone system installation for new and/or existing swimming pools is simply a matter of installing the ozone cabinet, containing the ozone generator, air dryer and electrical with the ozone tubing to the bypass venturi device installed after the swimming pool filter on the 2” plumbing line back to the swimming pool.

With the purchase and installation of an ozone swimming pool system, by reducing the need and cost of chemicals and labor by 90%, the entire ozone system and installation pay for itself in less than 2 years combined with all of the added health and environmental benefits.

Pura Vida!

Any inquiries about Green Construction? Ask Clint Elston by emailing  humanendeavors762@gmail.com or calling (506) 8735-8343.

       

The views or opinions expressed by the author are his sole and exclusive responsibility and do not necessarily represent the opinion of A.M. Costa Rica.