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Salt Water Swimming Pools: Going Green with No Chlorine

DoItYourself Staff
April 9, 2013

Salt Water pools, also called saline pools, can provide an eco-friendly way to cool off in the hot summer sun. Many people are making the move from the traditional chlorine pool to this greener alternative. All pools use chlorine, which keeps algae and bacteria from forming in the pool, but a saltwater pool produces its own chlorine so you never have to add harsh chemicals as with a traditional pool.

Benefits of Salt Water Pool

A salt water pool offers many benefits, both for the environment and for the people who are swimming in it. Because of these benefits, it's becoming a popular practice to replace a regular water pump with the chlorine generator used in a saltwater pool.

Softer on Skin - The first benefit that you'll notice in a salt water pool is that the water is much softer on the skin. Your eyes are not irritated, and the water does not have a "filmy" feel to it. It slides right off like water should and doesn't leave white marks as the water dries.

Constant Chlorination - The chlorine generator actually produces its own chlorine. This means that you no longer have to buy chlorine tablets or mess with putting them in the water. Whenever the generator is on and is circulating water, it is making chlorine.

Chlorine Levels are Constant - With a regular pool, there is a weekly influx of new chlorine that reaches a high and then tapers off during the week. It sits in the sun until the water can feel like there is a film on it. Because the chlorine of a salt water pool is created through the water itself, it is kept at a constant low level.

Changing to a Salt Water Pool

Changing your existing pool over to a salt water version doesn't mean you have to install an entirely new pool. You only have to purchase a chlorine generator, which is simply added to your existing pool's plumbing for filtering and running the water through the chlorination.

The generator works using the salt that is added to it to produce the chlorine. You simply add the salt to your pool water when you install the chlorine generator for the first time. The amount of salt you use depends on how large your pool is. Approximately 50 lbs. of salt is needed for a pool with 1,200 gallons of water.

Through a process of electrolysis, the salt is split into sodium and chlorine. This is what makes the chlorine for the pool and keeps the water clean and safe for your skin and the environment.

Salt Water Pool Maintenance

The water is cleaner, but the pool stills need to be maintained. Keep the filter clean, and remove any dirt or debris that is floating around the water. And you should still test the water to ensure that the correct balance is maintained at appropriate levels.

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