THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH

Reducing The Need For Chlorine In Leisure Water

Whether it’s through the use of chemicals or systems such as UV and Ozone, when it comes to the treatment of pool and spa water, there’s now a number of tried and tested low and no chlorine solutions on offer. With options often providing a much gentler wet leisure environment, it’s easy to see why they are increasingly popular and in this issue, we take a closer look at what’s available

By Jon Wadeson

Following feedback from pool and spa owners and operators particularly in commercial settings, manufacturers within the wet leisure industry have, over recent years, been put under pressure to come up with safe, trustworthy and effective disinfection solutions that don’t rely solely on large doses of chlorine for effective sanitisation.

As a result of this challenge, there is now a wide range of treatments available which do exactly that. Lowering the use of chlorine and in some cases, removing it completely, has been a popular solution within both domestic and commercial settings and provides a welcome answer for indoor pools to help with eradicating unwanted smells we often associate with pool water that’s been treated with chlorine.

Of course, chlorine will always have its place in pool sanitation but reducing the levels or replacing it completely provides some great additional benefits and many pools across the UK have, or are in the process of adopting this approach.

With numerous solutions and systems on offer, we take a look at just some of the options.

NORSUP’S LOW SALT CHLORINATOR FROM BOSTA UK

The demand for alternative forms of pool water treatment continues to grow year on year. A tried and tested method of achieving perfect water quality is through salt chlorination. Widely used in the USA, salt systems are the preferred choice.

Therefore Norsup is proud to offer one of the best systems on the market. People who have been swimming in a salt chlorinated pool will immediately notice the vast difference in water quality. It is kind to skin as swimmers are not exposed to the irritants of direct chlorine dosing, plus the water feels soft to the touch. Children can play in the pool for hours without sore eyes and indoor pools will not have that familiar chlorine smell lingering in the air.

The Norsup Low Salt system is enhanced compared to many chlorinators on the market as it can perform its function at a fraction of the normal salt dose. At just 1.5g per litre, it requires at least 60% less salt than other systems. That means it is kind to the user and to the pool equipment such as covers and indoor pool decoration.

The system is simple to use, saves significant sums of money as owners and operators no longer have to buy expensive chemicals. It’s also very low maintenance as it regulates the pH levels in the pool too. In addition, the equipment is very long lasting and comes with a 4-year warranty on the salt cell thanks to the self-cleaning technology included. With all these benefits, the Norsup Low Salt Chlorinator is likely to be popular for all pool installers.

The Norsup Low Salt system from Bosta UK is enhanced compared to many chlorinators on the market as it can perform its function at a fraction of the normal salt dose

SALT & SWIM® 2.0 – HAYWARD’S NEW GENERATION SALT CHLORINATOR

Available through SCP UK, Salt & Swim® 2.0 is a new generation salt chlorinator from Hayward and offers pool owners precise and user-friendly controls thanks to the product’s LED display. In addition, a transparent cell allows for visual checks on production and a gas detector is included as standard.

Salt & Swim® 2.0 gives a visual indicator and changes colour depending on the control selection made – in particular for chlorine production – regardless of whether a pool has an open or closed pool cover and will then adjust production accordingly.

Available in options which cover a wide range of chlorine production (8, 16, 22, 33 g/h/cl), five levels of chlorine production are possible: 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%.

A flow detector kit is available as an option and for peace of mind, the Salt & Swim® 2.0 comes complete with a two-year warranty. It is joined for the 2020 season by two additional salt chlorinator products from Hayward – the AquaRite Flo and AquaRite Flo Advanced – the latter of which is fully featured and will allow the control of additional pool equipment. Both AquaRite models come with a wide range of chlorine production capabilities and each includes a three-year warranty.

These new additions mean that SCP now has a wide range of salt chlorinator products from leading brands including Davey, Hayward and Pentair.

Available through SCP UK, Salt & Swim® 2.0 gives a visual indicator and changes colour depending on the control selection made – in particular for chlorine production

HARNESSING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR SPARKLING CLEAR WATER

A prime focus of the science world today is ceramic nano crystal technology, and it is this which is used in the Quantum to create one of the most powerful forms of sterilisation – photocatalytic oxidation. Manufactured by Elecro Engineering and available from Certikin and other leading distributors, Quantum eliminates contaminants leaving water looking fresh and clean.

Easy to install, Quantum will give peace of mind as dangerous organisms such as cryptosporidium and adenoviruses are destroyed by the photocatalytic process ensuring pool users are kept safe. Several natural processes occur as the pool water passes through the unit with only pure water returning to the pool.

As a result of the processes occurring inside the Quantum including the production of hydroxyl radicals the treated water is free of all oil-based substances such as sun creams and all organics including urea are totally removed resulting in sparkling water. Quantum also reduces the need for chemicals in the pool and helps eliminate the smell of chlorine.

Manufactured by Elecro Engineering and available from Certikin and other leading distributors, Quantum eliminates contaminants leaving water looking fresh and clean

Once installed this cost-effective solution requires no maintenance; it is equipped with an intelligent lamp life indicator so when the UV lamp which initiates the photocatalytic reaction needs to be replaced this is displayed. Quantum is compatible with both salt and sea water.

The Quantum is just one of numerous solutions on offer from Certikin who also provide a new range of fully serviceable UV systems for pools between 15,000 (15m³) and 150,000 (150m³) litres.

PURIQ SYSTEM UTILISES THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR OPTIMAL PURIFICATION

Available from Fairlocks, the PURIQ UV-C water purifier guarantees crystal-clear water. Utilising the latest technology, the lamp emits very powerful UV-C light with a wavelength of exactly 253.7nm that kills practically all bacteria, viruses, algae and moulds. This results in optimal purification, so the use of chlorine and other chemicals can be reduced by up to 80%.

The PURIQ UV-C system, with its 100% eco-friendly operation, provides more natural, healthier water. The extended life UV-C lamp lasts an incredible 12,000 hours ensuring the water quality is free from bacteria and algae. This enables customers, friends, or patrons to enjoy safe, clean swimming pool water for longer.

So how does PURIQ work and why is it so effective? UV-C is invisible electromagnetic radiation that ranges in wavelength from 100 to 280 nanometres. These wavelengths fall just outside of the part of the spectrum visible to the human eye. The disinfecting qualities of UV-C light are based on the damage it causes to the DNA of microorganisms. Good disinfection lamps produce UV-C light with a wavelength of 253.7 nanometres. The DNA absorbs the UV-C rays, and the resulting photochemical reaction breaks down the DNA code. As a result, the microorganism is made harmless and can no longer multiply. The extra wide SAE 316 stainless steel housing in the PURIQ system extends the time the water is exposed to the strong UV-C radiation while also minimising the pressure drop as the water passes through. Thanks to the polished interior, there is virtually no adhesion of contaminants to the walls, which boosts the effectiveness of the UV-C radiation by a further 35%.

Installation of the PURIQ UV-C system is very simple and for peace of mind, each comes with a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

100% eco-friendly operation providing natural health water the PURIQ UVC system from Fairlocks guarantees crystal clear water

FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WATER WITH LIGHTHOUSE

Distributor Lighthouse offer two very different forms of low chlorine sanitisation products to ensure crystal-clear water.

The first is Filtreau UV-C. The sophisticated design and high quality materials in this system produce high UV-C radiation with a wavelength of precisely 253.7nm. This high level of radiation kills almost all bacteria, viruses and even fungi, providing clear and clean water. As a result, the level of added chemicals (e.g. chlorine) can be reduced, ensuring more natural feeling and healthier water.

The system is easily installed into domestic pool pipework whether it is a retrospective installation or as part of a new build. The units are also covered by a two-year warranty on manufacturing defects.

The second is a MagnaPool ® from Zodiac. The very first time a bather jumps into a MagnaPool ® they can feel the difference. The water has a gentle, silky feeling against the skin. There is little or no irritation to eyes and hair won’t need washing to get rid of that chlorine smell or sticky salt – a feeling often associated with chlorine and salt water pools.

The pool will always have crystal clear water and will be easy to maintain. The magnesium chloride found in MagnaPool ® minerals is derived from the ocean. This form of magnesium has been found to have significant beneficial properties for internal health, as well as helping to relax the mind and body. It can help in detoxifying the body, reducing aches and pains, relieving stress and anxiety and providing the muscles with energy.

The MagnaPool ® system helps keep chloramine levels to a minimum, so the water is gentler on sensitive skin. Due to the strong flocculent effect of magnesium, it works like a magnet helping to rid the pool water of impurities and removing organic debris and combined chlorine.

Available from Lighthouse, Zodiac’s MagnaPool® system helps keep chloramine levels to a minimum, so the water is gentler on sensitive skin

...Lowering the use of chlorine and in some cases, removing it completely, has been a popular solution within both domestic and commercial settings”

GAFFEY HYPROLYSER CREATES A LOW HAZARD PLANT ROOM

Whilst great water quality and efficient chlorination are prerequisites for any pool operator, these requirements are only part of the picture when considering an equipment upgrade or new-build pool. In smaller commercial/hotel pools where technical staff are often in shorter supply, choosing a disinfection system which eliminates the need for the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals is an attractive proposition, in addition to a significant reduction in COSHH management tasks. Andrew Gaffey, Technical Director, commented: “We know that the majority of chemical spillages or chlorine gas incidents occurring in pool facilities happen when hazardous chemicals are being transferred, prepared into solution, or when the cleaning or maintenance of chemical injection points is undertaken. If these tasks and hazards can be avoided altogether then the chances of accidents and injuries occurring through operator error are greatly reduced.”

Hyprolyser ® iSEC models produce a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution, safely generated on site using only salt, water and electrical energy. The hypochlorite solution produced contains less than 1% active chlorine, below the threshold for classification as a dangerous substance. As this solution can be produced freshly on demand every day, there is no need for large quantities of chlorine to be stored on site. The added benefit of on site production means that the generated solution is always fresh and does not degrade in storage like commercially produced sodium hypochlorite.

Manufactured by Gaffey at their factory in Lancashire, Hyprolyser ® electrochlorination systems are now available in capacities from 30g/h to 8.5kg/h of chlorine. Well proven in delivering a safe and economical alternative to commercial chlorine chemicals, they are used in swimming pools around the world.

Hyprolyser® iSEC models from Gaffey produce a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution which contains less than 1% active chlorine, below the threshold for classification as a dangerous substance

THE ULTIMATE INTERNAL REFLECTION FOR MAXIMUM DISINFECTION

Designed using the latest knowledge of highly reflective reactor casing materials, the Elecro H.R.UV-C Steriliser as another product from Elecro Engineering and is available through distributor Plastica. It produces up to 95% reflectivity (if you compare this to stainless steel reactors only 20 to 28% reflection is typically achieved). The H.R.UV-C is 100% sea and saltwater compatible, unlike stainless steel units that suffer corrosion issues.

The super reflective properties of the H.R.UV-C Steriliser optimises the UV-C radiation and dramatically increases the performance. The inside surface casing is extremely repellent and therefore selfcleaning. Intelligent electronics indicate when the lamps are not producing sufficient UV-C and need to be changed ensuring the unit is always performing optimally.

The H.R.UV-C Steriliser is compatible with and compliments all traditional treatment methods including; chlorine, bromine, active oxygen / hydrogen peroxide and salt electrolysis. A narrow and extended chamber ensures maximum exposure to the powerful UV-C. It is easy to use and install, can be retro-fitted to any existing pool system – a self-cleaning system, reducing the need for maintenance.

The Intelligent lamp life indicator signals when the lamps are no longer producing sufficient UV-C and need to be changed ensuring your unit is always performing optimally and has a long lamp life up to 9,000 hours.

Both the H.R.UV-C Steriliser and the Quantum units are available from Plastica and are part of a much wider range of water treatment products that reduce the use of chlorine.

Designed using the latest knowledge of highly reflective reactor casing materials, the Elecro H.R.UV-C Steriliser is available through Plastica

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Bosta UK

01284 716580

www.bosta.co.uk

Certikin International

01993 777200

www.certikin.co.uk

Fairlocks Pool Products

01865 988346

www.fairlocks.co.uk

Gaffey Technical Services

01254 467137

www.gaffey.co.uk

Lighthouse

01752 253525

www.lighthousepools.co.uk

Plastica

01424 857802

www.plasticapools.net

SCP UK

01293 546126

www.scpeurope.com