Whether you have a pool or if you’ve tried drinking water straight from the tap, you’d probably already know what chlorine is. It is a very common compound used for sanitation of water systems. Generally used to sterilize industrial wastewater prior to re-cycling, chlorine has its fair share of good and bad. Aside from being commonly added into pools to keep the water sanitized and free from microbes, it is also used as a bleaching agent and plays a major role in the chemical industry as it has many uses.
The most basic use of chlorine isn’t actually sanitizing pools but in keeping our drinking water safe from bacteria and other microorganisms which are harbingers of disease. During the treatment process, wastewater is mixed with chlorine to sterilize it and it undergoes several cycles of purification before it arrives at our sink.
While chlorine is an excellent disinfectant, excessive amounts of chlorine in water can result in a milky-white or cloudy substance, which is actually un-dissolved chlorine particles. The second most common use of chlorine is in household cleaners like bleach, detergents, and disinfectants. Lastly, the chlorine pool maintenance. Used not only to sanitize pool water, chlorination also prevents the production of algae while providing a safe and sterile environment for swimmers.
While chlorine pool maintenance is highly effective, the agent itself contains certain toxins which must be controlled. Chlorine can irritate the eyes and skin in high dosages, and it can also impart a very unpleasant smell to the pool. With the latest advancements in chlorine pool maintenance systems, the hassle of manual chlorine level optimization is now greatly reduced due to automated features found in newer pool chlorinators.
Lucky for us chlorine pool maintenance is now automated because decades ago pool chlorination was done manually day in and day out. Problems such as scaling, calcified build-up, and even a slow deterioration of pool accessories can happen due to the oxidative nature of chlorine. Many chemical agents are now commonly incorporated into the pool water alongside chlorine, not only for cleanliness and sanitation but to prevent oxidation and build-up as well.
Automated chlorine pool maintenance systems are now in vogue, and nothing beats it when it comes to convenience and efficiency, though it is a bit pricey. Saltwater pools which use a time-released chlorine-compound, usually sodium hypochlorite, makes use of the same automation as other chlorine pool maintenance systems. Newer and better pool maintenance systems are continuously being developed in the hopes of one day making a perfect self-maintaining pool cleaning system.
