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Why do pools still use chlorine? Is it just because it's really cheap? I've seen non-chlorine pool treatments advertised in the past but haven't been to a sin

Why do pools still use chlorine? Is it just because it's really cheap? I've seen non-chlorine pool treatments advertised in the past but haven't been to a single pool in 20+ years that wasn't chlorinated. http://www.baquacil.com/ http://www.baquacil.com/ EDIT: Also, ewww.

jhawk28 8y ago
Some are saline (salt) based instead of chlorine.
- 24gttghh 8y ago
  Which still produces chlorine[0] [0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination Seawater salt is NaCl after all.
- learc83 8y ago
  Saltwater pools still use a chlorine generator so they aren't chlorine free.
- nkozyra 8y ago
  Which still results in chlorinated pools.
- ISL 8y ago
  Salt = NaCl.
  - astazangasta 8y ago
    Chlorine = Cl2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_bond#Covalent_bond https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_bond#Covalent_bond
    - 24gttghh 8y ago
      Chlorine Gas = Cl2, which is generated by electrolysis of NaCl in a saltwater pool setup.
- SCAQTony 8y ago
  Does chlorine hurt your eyes: "...22 April 1915 shortly after 17:00; French troops in the path of the gas cloud sustained about 6,000 casualties. Many died within ten minutes and others were blinded. Chlorine gas reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid, destroying moist tissue such as the lungs and eyes..." Bromine, ozone, osmosis and of course chlorine are what makes pool water safe. Bromine is usually used in warmer pools, hot tubs and spas. It's weird to swim in for your lips taste salty. I seem to float better in bromine water but it is most likely my imagination. Ozone or ozonated pools are so clean you can drink from them. the 2008 Beijing Olympic pool was ozonated. Caveat, in a public pool setting with lots of bodies and such an ozonated pool will need some chlorine to augment its safety. Nature loves stagnant water, (as do mosquitoes) so filtration is very important. Osmosis is very good and as a result, you need less chlorine. The water in the Bahamas is so clear because of the sun radiating it and the circulation. I am a swimmer and I blogged about the subject for years at the SCAQblog
Liquix 8y ago
It's just "the way it's done" in an aging industry without much incentive for innovation/change. Why risk time and money on a new chlorine-free product when 98% of your customers are happily paying for what you already stock?
nkingsy 8y ago
Bromine is basically the same thing, Ozone can cause respiratory issues. I haven't seen an alternative that was demonstrably better.
learc83 8y ago
That system uses peroxide which has other trade offs compared to chlorine. There is no magic bullet.
chomp 8y ago
I don't know how much that stuff costs, but chlorine is pretty cheap and easy to deal with. A bucket will last me almost 6 months and is like a hundred bucks. I shove some tablets into my chlorinator and it just works. It's easy to find pool companies who know how to deal with chlorine, and there's a wealth of information online on dealing with a chlorine pool. None of that exists for esoteric pool treatments.
scott_s 8y ago
I was curious, did some googling, found a quora comment characterizing Baquacil as less effective, more expensive and not as scalable: https://www.quora.com/Why-do-they-put-chlorine-in-swimming-pool-Are-there-chlorine-free-swimming-pool-in-usa https://www.quora.com/Why-do-they-put-chlorine-in-swimming-p...
JohnJamesRambo 8y ago
The favorite pool I have ever been in had bromine instead of chlorine. The water was so silky and velvety and didn't sting at all. Totally different experience. It was in Hot Springs, Arkansas and the specific chemistry of the water there made it where they couldn't use chlorination due to interactions with the unique water there. I wish all pools were brominated. It was in the neat pool on the side of a hill here- https://tinyurl.com/yyq4k6tb https://tinyurl.com/yyq4k6tb. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/71854674 https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/71854674 >Unlike chloramines, bromamines are disinfectants with activity that rivals that of either free chlorine or free bromine. In addition, bromamines do not produce the noxious odors and associated eye and skin irritation attributed to chloramines. https://www.poolspanews.com/facilities/maintenance/sanitation-with-brominating-products_o https://www.poolspanews.com/facilities/maintenance/sanitatio...
- saagarjha 8y ago
  Bromine is more stable at higher temperatures, so that’s why it’s commonly used in places like hot tubs.
- rlonstein 8y ago
  When I had a swimming pool, I used borax (the same 20 Mule Team stuff sold along side clothes washing detergent) to adjust the ph with the added benefits that it suppressed algae, made for soft feeling water, and reduced my use of Chlorine tabs and shock. I did need a more complete test kit than the usual test strips or two dropper kit.
- StrictDabbler 8y ago
  They also brominate the water on all the Disney water rides, which is why Pirates of the Caribbean has such a distinct smell.
  - ravenstine 8y ago
    I've wondered about that musty smell! Always loved it for some reason.

jhawk28 8y ago

Some are saline (salt) based instead of chlorine.

24gttghh 8y ago
Which still produces chlorine[0] [0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination Seawater salt is NaCl after all.
learc83 8y ago
Saltwater pools still use a chlorine generator so they aren't chlorine free.
nkozyra 8y ago
Which still results in chlorinated pools.
ISL 8y ago
Salt = NaCl.
- astazangasta 8y ago
  Chlorine = Cl2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_bond#Covalent_bond https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_bond#Covalent_bond
  - 24gttghh 8y ago
    Chlorine Gas = Cl2, which is generated by electrolysis of NaCl in a saltwater pool setup.
SCAQTony 8y ago
Does chlorine hurt your eyes: "...22 April 1915 shortly after 17:00; French troops in the path of the gas cloud sustained about 6,000 casualties. Many died within ten minutes and others were blinded. Chlorine gas reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid, destroying moist tissue such as the lungs and eyes..." Bromine, ozone, osmosis and of course chlorine are what makes pool water safe. Bromine is usually used in warmer pools, hot tubs and spas. It's weird to swim in for your lips taste salty. I seem to float better in bromine water but it is most likely my imagination. Ozone or ozonated pools are so clean you can drink from them. the 2008 Beijing Olympic pool was ozonated. Caveat, in a public pool setting with lots of bodies and such an ozonated pool will need some chlorine to augment its safety. Nature loves stagnant water, (as do mosquitoes) so filtration is very important. Osmosis is very good and as a result, you need less chlorine. The water in the Bahamas is so clear because of the sun radiating it and the circulation. I am a swimmer and I blogged about the subject for years at the SCAQblog

Liquix 8y ago

It's just "the way it's done" in an aging industry without much incentive for innovation/change. Why risk time and money on a new chlorine-free product when 98% of your customers are happily paying for what you already stock?

nkingsy 8y ago

Bromine is basically the same thing, Ozone can cause respiratory issues. I haven't seen an alternative that was demonstrably better.

learc83 8y ago

That system uses peroxide which has other trade offs compared to chlorine. There is no magic bullet.

chomp 8y ago

I don't know how much that stuff costs, but chlorine is pretty cheap and easy to deal with. A bucket will last me almost 6 months and is like a hundred bucks. I shove some tablets into my chlorinator and it just works. It's easy to find pool companies who know how to deal with chlorine, and there's a wealth of information online on dealing with a chlorine pool. None of that exists for esoteric pool treatments.

scott_s 8y ago

I was curious, did some googling, found a quora comment characterizing Baquacil as less effective, more expensive and not as scalable: https://www.quora.com/Why-do-they-put-chlorine-in-swimming-pool-Are-there-chlorine-free-swimming-pool-in-usa https://www.quora.com/Why-do-they-put-chlorine-in-swimming-p...

JohnJamesRambo 8y ago

The favorite pool I have ever been in had bromine instead of chlorine. The water was so silky and velvety and didn't sting at all. Totally different experience. It was in Hot Springs, Arkansas and the specific chemistry of the water there made it where they couldn't use chlorination due to interactions with the unique water there. I wish all pools were brominated. It was in the neat pool on the side of a hill here- https://tinyurl.com/yyq4k6tb https://tinyurl.com/yyq4k6tb. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/71854674 https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/71854674 >Unlike chloramines, bromamines are disinfectants with activity that rivals that of either free chlorine or free bromine. In addition, bromamines do not produce the noxious odors and associated eye and skin irritation attributed to chloramines. https://www.poolspanews.com/facilities/maintenance/sanitation-with-brominating-products_o https://www.poolspanews.com/facilities/maintenance/sanitatio...

saagarjha 8y ago
Bromine is more stable at higher temperatures, so that’s why it’s commonly used in places like hot tubs.
rlonstein 8y ago
When I had a swimming pool, I used borax (the same 20 Mule Team stuff sold along side clothes washing detergent) to adjust the ph with the added benefits that it suppressed algae, made for soft feeling water, and reduced my use of Chlorine tabs and shock. I did need a more complete test kit than the usual test strips or two dropper kit.
StrictDabbler 8y ago
They also brominate the water on all the Disney water rides, which is why Pirates of the Caribbean has such a distinct smell.
- ravenstine 8y ago
  I've wondered about that musty smell! Always loved it for some reason.