The best methods to effectively sterilize your pool water

Sterilize with chlorine

Chlorine is an oxidation element usually used for cleaning and sterilizing swimming pool water. Its role is to block the proliferation and rapid reproduction of microorganisms and thus maintain good water quality. Chlorine sterilization aims to sanitize the water but also to make it purifying. There is slow chlorine or permanent chlorine taking the form of a 200 to 600gr pebble. It should be noted that chlorine is not an element that stings the eyes. Other factors, such as the too high chloramine level or the wrong pH, are at the origin of this stinging sensation.

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a/ To ensure the effectiveness of your treatment, you must calculate your filtration time, which you should set at a level greater than or equal to the water temperature and divide by 2. The session should be done during the day when external factors appear: heat, UV, bathers, insects, etc. When the water is in mobile mode, it will easily be able to fight against these factors.

b/ In order for the treatment and the action of the disinfectant to be reliable, it is important to regulate the pH to the ideal value, i.e. to 7.0 and 7.4, which you will analyse once a week and rectify with pH minus or pH plus in case of a bad balance.

c/ The level of chlorine to be used when sterilising water must be between 0.5 and 2mg/l (0.5 to 2grs/m3. The skimmer basket will accommodate each chlorine pebble used. Note that it is strictly forbidden to throw the pebbles directly into the water. A shock treatment is necessary if you encounter problems such as algae or cloudy water. You will use shock chlorine tablets of 20gr for 1m3 of water or calcium hypochlorite of 15gr for 1m3 of water. The latter offers you the advantage of keeping the stability of the water. Activate the filtration system while you proceed with the water treatment.

d/ Anti-algae is necessary to prevent the appearance of algae or to eliminate them. The operation must be done every week, pouring the product directly into the water. The water line must also be washed once a week in order to avoid the development of polluting agents which in turn will proliferate microorganisms.

• It is advisable to control the pH level to keep the water balance and guarantee the performance of the disinfectant products.

The chlorine level should be checked and maintained between 0.5 and 2g/m3. Chlorine pebbles and calcium hypochlorite shock chlorine must not be combined in the skimmer basket. It is forbidden to put chlorine pebbles directly into the pool water. Water treatment must be done once a week for best results.

Sterilize with bromine

Bromine is another sterilizing element, more effective than chlorine and capable of withstanding a pH variation of up to 8. It is both an oxidizing solution and a disinfectant element that effectively eliminates viruses, bacteria and other organic waste. Bromine is recognizable by its appearance as slow-melting tablets, installed in a brominator fixed at the heart of the pool's technical system. Bromine is odourless, does not sting the eyes and is free of stabilizers.

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a/ If filtration requires 12 hours in summer, it must last longer during periods of high heat: depending on the water temperature divided by 2. (example for a water at 30°, carry out a 15h filtration). Filtration must be carried out during the day.

b/ Although bromine supports a pH variation up to 8, it is advisable to keep the ideal pH value between 7.4 and 7.6. This value should be checked once a week and corrected if necessary.

c/ The ideal quantity of bromine is between 1 and 3gr/m3 of water, which you will keep by correctly adjusting the outlet valve of its distributor. A shock bromination is essential when the water is cloudy or if it is full of algae. This treatment consists of pouring the bromine powder directly into the water, leaving the filtration system running. (Quantity of bromine powder: 15g/m3)

d/ Whatever the climatic conditions and in order to prevent the appearance of algae, use an anti-algae product every week which must be poured directly into the pool in front of the discharge nozzles. Maintain a clean water line in order to reduce the presence of polluting agents, this cleaning operation should ideally be carried out once a week.

• pH value between 7.4 and 7.6 for bromine treatment.

The use of a chemical dosing device is essential when choosing this type of treatment. Bromine tablets should not be put directly into the water.

Sterilize with active oxygen and without chlorine

It is possible to disinfect with active oxygen and hydrogen peroxide shock treatment without the use of chlorine. Without stabilizer, active oxygen can be combined with all other disinfectants such as chlorine or bromine. It is very effective and is suitable for sensitive and allergic skin as well as for baby skin.

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a/ Filtration must be done during the day for a minimum of 12 hours during the summer, and depending on the water temperature divided by 2 in periods of high heat.

b/ The ideal pH value is between 7.0 and 7.4, to be observed once or twice a week and to be corrected in case of bad balance. Sterilisation by shock chlorination is compulsory when the pool is put back into operation. In this case, you will use chlorine powder based on calcium hypochlorite and you will keep a chlorine level of 1 to 3mg/Litre. Shock chlorination will last one or two weeks for a new pool.

c/ Sterilization by active oxygen will be effective as long as you keep a concentration higher than 10mg/L, especially with a Softswim or Bayrosoft treatment. If the value is not respected, it is sufficient to modify it to ensure that the treating product remains constantly in the water. For those who opt for the oxygen roller treatment, it is necessary to carry out the treatment every week with a dosage adapted to a volume of 20m3 or 30m3 of water. The dosage must be increased or regulated at shorter intervals if the temperature rises. Shock chlorination powder based on calcium hypochlorite (15g/m3 of water) or hydrogen peroxide (1 litre/10m3 of water) should be used in case of cloudy or algae laden water.

d/ As every week, it is necessary to purify the water line, the walls and the bottom to guarantee the efficiency of the treatment.

• Always maintain the pH between 7.0 and 7.4.
• The dosage must be doubled for the first treatment and the filtration system must operate continuously for 24 hours.
• The oxygen roller is to be placed in the skimmer basket. The liquid oxygen, on the other hand, can be thrown directly into the water. Let the filtration system run during the treatment operation.
• Perform this treatment every week.

Salt-electrolysis sterilization

This category of treatment consists of soda and chlorine, and is chemical-free. The role of the salt chlorinator is to separate these two components and then combine them to form sodium hypochlorite. During the treatment process called "polarization", the water becomes salty and will flow to the polarized titanium plates. This polarization works on direct current at reduced voltage. The salt is then transformed into hypochlorous acid (the active component of bleach) due to an electro-chemical oxidation reaction. It will regain its natural appearance once under the effect of UV light. Note that the bacteria and debris fouling the water are destroyed by this natural active chlorine.

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a/ Filtration must be done daily and during the day. Its duration depends on the temperature of the water, which you will divide by 2. Example: if the water is at 20°, the duration is 10 hours.

b/ The pH value must be between 7.2 and 7.4, no more and no less. Since soda may increase the pH level, it is necessary to check it quite often. The use of an automatic ph regulator is necessary here. The electrolyser used during the treatment should be fixed in the technical room, especially at the end of the filtration system, and connected to earth. However, before installing this category of equipment, it is always advisable to check its compatibility with other equipment.

c/ The treatment is effective as long as the level of salt used is between 3 and 5 grs/liter (to be observed at least once a month). Shock chlorination must be carried out when the pool is restarted at a frequency of once a month during hot weather. During chlorination, it is preferable to use multi-action salt tablets with anti-stain, anti-corrosion and anti-limestone properties.

d/ In addition to the treatments used, you can also use a special salt electrolyser algicide once a week to prevent the development of algae. At the same time, do not forget to clean the water line, the walls and the bottom.

• Keep the exact pH value, especially in the absence of an automatic pH regulator. The salt that you will pour directly into the basin should be checked once a month. Adjust its rate if necessary.
• If it is hot or if the pool is used regularly, it is advisable to carry out a shock chlorination at start-up at a frequency of once a month.

It is forbidden to use bleach during this treatment: its too high pH will disturb the pH level of your pool water and thus cause easy scaling on the walls, equipment and also the electrolyser cell. If you are planning to fit your pool with bubble covers, it is better to choose a translucent model to let the UV rays in. Without UV, there will be over chlorination of the water.