The swimming pool and the spa: without chlorine disinfection

Applications of ozone to water of swimming pools and spas assumes great importance given that we will be using ozonation in a direct way on the water without resorting to any kind of artificial disinfectant that is prone to establish by-products in water. The necessary equipment can be installed directly in any type of pool without major modifications and a quick and simple way. This application, like any other, will require a study given that we will have to apply a given weight of ozone based on the number of m³ of water containing the swimming pool or bath, as well as invested in the site flow.

After the previous studies and after a brief period of conditioning we will implement ozonation to water of the pools achieving this disinfection without having to go to the chlorine or other chemicals which can be attributed not desired characteristics to the water supply such as odor or strange tastes.

The application of ozone to water supply allows the Elimination of foreign agents prone to infection from water, purifying them and making them fully acceptable for human beings. As a result, they can be used for bathing of people without having to resort to chemical compounds that can alter the purity of the water supply. The procedure is performed by means of venturi teams to produce an effective mixture of water and ozone. This type of equipment leads to a stream of water by its interior, generating a suction of ozone generated in its path.

In addition to this technique, it can also be done through bubbling in watertight tanks of water, once produced the mixture, the water already presents desired disinfection values. The benefits can expand on those objects coming into contact with ozonizada water. The bubbling technique is done by means of vacuum ejectors which are similar to the venturi application but to apply to a stream of air generated by a compressor, absorbing ozone and producing the above-mentioned bubblesalready ozonizadas. It is through a method or another, the resulting water treatment will present a clear disinfection.

Disinfection by chlorine has a high speed, but however disinfection by ozonation follows a speed of disinfection to 3000 times that of the chlorine, so the differences and advantages are significantly higher. These advantages are obviously extended to the cleaning of rooms or materials that require this disinfection, always bearing in mind the useful life of ozone gas which is about 25 minutes, after which it decomposes and passes to its initial statewithout smells, colors, or residual flavors.

To date, disinfection and maintenance of swimming pools was aimed towards the application of chlorine and Ph regulators. Currently, this technique has become obsolete due to the entry into operation of ozonation, although you can combine with the previous ones in different cycles, or carry out actions only with her. The applications of ozone in the waters of the swimming pools do not require major modifications and apply to any swimming pool already installed, as we only include a team of ozonation with the team of recirculated and purified water.

To get the ozonation of water of swimming-pools, we posicionaríamos a generator of ozone right out of the Purifier of water, along with a venturi or ejector of vacuum. Thus, there would be mixed with ozone, subsequently reforming the Jet of water to the pool through the ducts since installed spreading water ozonizada by all public and private.

The purification would be total, since we would have one of the most powerful oxidants that exist and consistently one of the greater desinfectantes, giving back to the swimming pool a totally freed water of any agent contaminante. Neither we would suffer the usual secondary effects, as they can be enrojecimiento of eyes, irritations, herpes, etc., since that no only achieve to disinfect the water, but free it of any microbial substance that could involve infections or hurtful alterations for the health.

All the applications and benefits described above are also applicable to any treatment with water, so it can be used, for example, in the spa therapies. Along with the relaxing benefits and shippers of stress, we can add all those deriving from the ozone and enable reporting services more comprehensive and safe by these centres of water therapy. Ozonizante treatment is applied by means of pools, hot tub, jacuzzies, MUDs, jets, fruit baths, sauna, Turkish bath, Scottish shower, etc., or any other means resulted in spa treatments.

The by-products of chlorine used to disinfect swimming pools could affect negatively to health. So he is removed a study international, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, coordinated by the Centre for research in environmental epidemiology and the Institute's Research Hospital of the sea and with the participation of the Higher Council of scientific research (CSIC). Basically, research recommends reducing the application of disinfectants in the pools and follow rigorously, the rules of hygiene. First, the paper analyzes the presence of by-products (DBPs) disinfection in water of two pools, one treated with chlorine and other with bromine. These DBPs appear following chemical reactions between disinfectants and organic matter present in the pools, the most often introduced by same swimmers through the sweat, the skin and urine.

Previous epidemiological studies outlined a relationship between exposure to these products and a small increase in bladder cancer. The researchers had studied the respiratory effects and the short-term changes that occurred in the biomarkers for genotoxicity of 49 individuals after swimming for 40 minutes in a covered swimming pool treated with chlorine. In addition to less disinfectant, the study advised simple steps and take a shower before swimming, use CAP, avoid urinating in the pools and carry out proper maintenance of the same. Thus eliminates the number of chemical reactions that cause the DBPs. After 40 minutes of exercise, the analysis of the air exhaled by the swimmers showed an increase of micronucleus in blood, a biomarker that indicates damage to the DNA considered carcinogenic risk indicator; In addition to an increase in urinary mutagenicity, related to exposure to genotoxic agents.

Researchers have also looked at the number of disinfection by-products that are present both in the air and in water of two pools treated with chlorine and bromine. In this case, the scientists came to identify more than 100, some never described above or in swimming pools or in drinking water, also treated with chlorine. Trials in vitro show that the water of both pools is mutagenic to a level similar to water drinking, although more cytotoxic than this, because that can kill the cells at lower concentration.
Taking into account that studied exposures are short and that it's a small sample of subjects, the experts say that she is more research needed on the genotoxic effects and breathing that produce these compounds, as well as on the water of the pools in different conditions of maintenance and use.

Scientists continue to investigate to reach further conclusions on the genotoxic effects and breathing of the by-products of chlorine in swimming pools. Photo: Damian Curcio.