Chlorine keeps swimming pools safe and clean, but there are alternatives to chlorine if you're willing to pay the price.
Chlorine is popular because it handles the 3 main jobs in keeping a swimming pool clean: It sanitizes, oxidizes and deters algae. The chemical is unpopular because it has a strong odor, reddens eyes and causes allergic reactions in some swimmers.
There are alternatives to chlorine including bromine, ionizers and ozonators, though with each you'll still need to use some chlorine. A 4th alternative is PHMB, which doesn't require the use of any chlorine. All 4 have drawbacks, including cost.
Bromine
Pool suppliers sometimes suggest bromine as a substitute for chlorine. It can be an acceptable alternative for those with allergic reactions to chlorine.Bromine remains stable at high temperatures, which is why many recommend it for spas more than swimming pools. It's less irritating, but it leaves the water a dull green color that foams up when you swim in it.
Ionizers
Ionizers rely on 2 dissimilar metals - often copper and silver - sent charged into the water as the sanitizer. An ionizer is a device that uses a low voltage DC current to send these 2 metals into the water. Like bromine, an ionizer doesn't irritate swimmers' eyes and noses. It can substantially reduce the amount of chlorine required.
Ionizers depend on moving water, so you must run the pool pump continuously to keep the sanitizing action in place. And the increased levels of metal in the water can stain the pool.
Ozonators
An ozonator is a machine that attaches to the filtration plumbing line. It inserts ozone gas into the pool to react with impurities in the water. There are 2 types of ozone generators: Ultraviolet light and corona discharge. Ozone generators can reduce chlorine usage up to 90% and they use the same amount of electricity as a 60 watt light bulb when the filter pump is turned on. Ozonators run best on dry air, so if you have a humid climate, expect performance to decline.
PHMB
There's only 1 way to eliminate the use of chlorine completely, switch your pool to the chemical compound PHMB. Homeowners in Lake Orion commonly know PHMB by the Baquacil and SoftSwim brand names. PHMB disinfects by penetrating bacteria cell walls, causing them to burst from within. It then wraps those particles in a heavy gel, which sinks to the bottom of the pool, where the vacuum system sucks it up.
PHMB doesn't oxidize, so you'll need to use hydrogen peroxide for this. You'll also need to use a separate algaecide and clean pool filters every 4 to 6 weeks. Because PHMB is incompatible with chlorine, you'll need to first drain the pool and make sure every bathing suit has been washed.
references: houselogic, julie sturgeon, NAR, donsrealty.net
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