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Pools and Spas – Natural versus Chemical

Pools and Spas – Natural versus Chemical
March 30, 2017 Sabine H. Schoenberg
pools

It’s spring again – time to think about coordinating your pool.  Is your pool good for your health?

Most pools still have chlorinated systems installed. I personally wonder why. We had a fancy newly built chlorinated swimming pool. The smell of chlorine was unpleasant and, I would today add unhealthy. My vain side points out that over the course of the summer my hair developed this yellow-ish tint. Our dog would be the first to run into ocean water but shirked away from even putting a paw into the pool. We always wondered what that was all about….

The CDC describes health risk to chlorine as follows: “If chlorine gas is released into the air, people may be exposed through skin contact or eye contact. They may also be exposed by breathing air that contains chlorine.”

“When chlorine gas comes into contact with moist tissues such as the eyes, throat, and lungs, an acid is produced that can damage these tissues.”

With the purchase of another house came an immediate conversion to a saltwater system. While this is certainly an upfront expense, health considerations made this inconsequential. Furthermore, our pool service company pointed out we would break even after one season from the savings realized by not having to purchase chlorine. Now it’s really a no-brainer. Weekly maintenance of a saltwater pool is so much easier too.

The water in a saltwater pool feels soft. Once in awhile the water can have an ever so slight salty taste. But this is not unpleasant. In fact, you feel like you stepped out of the ocean.

We always wanted to rinse off under a shower when coming out of our chlorinated pool, yet with the saltwater pool we find that neither we, nor our friends ever rush to shower post a dip in our saltwater pool.

The moral of the story: We should have trusted our dog’s nose and his instincts all along!