Surex Eco Blog

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION REF: SI 01 / PR/ 09/10 

In the words of Jerry Hodges from the USA who runs an organisation called Mind Body Health specialising in alternative health solutions and has done so for many years, it is encouraging to my ears that some organisations over the other side of the pond equally see reason to question the application of Chlorine in any form.

Is Chlorine one of the dangers that lurk in our water supply?
Is it a good idea that has gone wrong?
There is no way I am going to believe Chlorine or any other Halogen is good for general body functions.

In the First World War thousands were wiped out from Chlorine gas equally the Iraq and Iran confrontations killed thousands more.

I assume that the ‘warmongers’ at the time considered it was acceptable as they did with Bubonic Plaques and the Great Fire of London years ago where both human beings, animal and aquatic life was brought to an end.

These days humans that contracted water borne diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery etc suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhoea could be dead within 24 hours after coming down with it.
After a life time of drinking and bathing in Chlorinated waters the harmful effects could be more silent but just as deadly.

The US Council of Environmental Quality states that the cancer risk amongst people drinking Chlorinated water is 93% higher than those who do not.
Is there a story here ?

Chlorine hardens arteries, destroys proteins in the body.
It irritates the skin, eyes, and sinuses.
Asthmatics; allergies; respiratory problems are enhanced by Chlorine.

In swimming pool bathing applications should the Nitrogen Trichlorides fall out of line THMS (Trihalo-Methanes) are formed – these are positively dangerous.

THMS can be absorbed and expelled through the skin when swimming in both indoor & outdoor applications.Misguided Veterinary Surgeons once they have operated on animals recommend the use of Chlorinated substances in indoor convalescence pools. They fail to realise that animals have lungs and breath in the fumes, Chlorine also affects the eyes and body hair.
Chlorine affects their breathing – similarly horse exercising structures.

Mutagens are present particularly in Bromine, particularly MXS known to be at least some 100 odd times for harmful than THMS which cause damage to the Thyroid gland and can lead to cancerous tumours.

In my opinion swimming in a pool with Halogens content is a no-no-no.
It is a fact that indoor pool attendants whilst sitting in their ‘watch chairs’ have a much higher increase of Asthma as do swimmers themselves.

The one way to protect yourself from relative toxins is don’t use Halogens.

So what is the answer ? Should it be one of the following ?

1. 1. Basic inorganics such as Hydrogen Peroxide solution.
2. 2. Granular Peroxygens – but be careful of your mixes and choice.
3. 3. Ozone gas – but you cannot go over .9ppm.
4. 4. Ultraviolet light. Medium density.
5. 5. Salt water maybe – just be careful of the parameters. Just remember you are creating Chlorine again.
6. 6. The use of silver – be careful it has a 10 hour kill time.

You can be dead in that time.

As an ending to this short script Chlorine and the likes have to go.

Times up folks.

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TECHNICAL CHEMICAL INFORMATION   REF: TCI 9/PR/9/10

Further to a previous paper written for The Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (I.S.P.E.) in 1999 little has changed in general winterisation procedures.
Basic economics and costs have.

The big water providers have increased their costs considerably whilst being allowed to lower the standards of water quality and their back up care and service.

The only good news is that water now is generally in British control although large foreign interest prevail.

The one parameter that has dramatically changed is the introduction of both water meters and the use of ‘smart’ meters in their monitoring.Incidentally the application of water flow meters is not mandatory as found within the Common Market.
Given the UK is an island surrounded by water how many desalination plants are around.

Our water reservoirs are low, restriction on water consumption prevail whilst the city of London ‘floats’ on water.

The quality of our water is strained viz the incident at Camelford, where S.W.Water mistakenly dumped 20,000 galls of aqueous Aluminium Sulphate into the water supply causing serious problems, and havoc, equally the outbreak of E.Coli at the Godstone Animal farm. Here the lack of Chlorine sanitisation in the mains supply caused severe renal problems of visiting children.
Legionnaire’s disease has caused serious problems from the lack of good sanitisation in the water mains.

Right – winterisation – little has changed except costs have actually come down due to the state of our economy.
Pool owners right or wrong are choosing cheaper alternatives.

So what are these choices and what materials should be applied?

NON CHLORINE SUBSTANCES.

There are several materials that can be used under the banner of non chlorines – most are copper based in one form or another.

1.         Liquid Hydrogen Peroxide. 5.1 oxidisation agent.
A powerful in-organic substance that is both unstable and dangerous to handle, it has no shelf life.
Not expensive. pH 6 -7

2.         Liquid Peracetic Acid. 5.1 Oxidisation agent.
Again in-organic substance that is dangerous to handle.
The compound is usually only used in commercial market places. pH 3-4

3.         Liquid silver based solutions.
Generally used in commercial applications it is also available in an algaecidal form.
It has a very long kill time.
Expensive.

4.         Liquid Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate. It is also available in a crystal form. Generally regarded as a weed killer.
It is poisonous. Do not use in fish ponds.
Cheap and dangerous. Can cause blue / green staining. pH 6 -7

5.         Liquid Organo Copper Citrate complex.
The base compound ‘locks’ the copper into suspension and will not precipitate out to cause staining. Stable. Do not use in fish ponds.
Has a pH of 6 -7
Not expensive and has a long life.

6.         Liquid Polymeric Biquanide Hydro Chloride.A long chain biquanide compound that requires Hydrogen Peroxide solution as a back up effectivity. No smell. Fractional taste.
In hard water conditions filter sand should be changed yearly. pH 6 -7.
Expensive.

7.         Liquid non foaming solution. Hydroxypropylammonium Chlorine Polymer. Contains Phosphonic Acid. Class 8 compound.
Sodium Metahexaphosphate (Calgon) is used in its make up.  pH of 7.
Long lasting it is not an oxidising agent more of an algaecide.Can be classed as a Biocide.
Expensive.

8.         Polydimethyoammoundium Chloride. Class 8.
A long chain aglae stat. It is a liquid sometimes known as a Polyquat. pH 7.
Can be classed as a Biocide.
Expensive.

9.         Blue Crystal.
Polymeric Quaternary Ammonium Chloride. Class 8.
Stable. A long chain algae stat liquid.
Non restricted. pH 7.
Can be classed as a Biocide.
Expensive.

CHLORINE SUBSTANCES

1.         Calcium Hypochlorite granules. 5.1 oxidisation agent. The compound is slow dissolving.
This chemical has a high Calcium content that can clog up sand and cartridge element filters and can cause bleaching on liner type pools. The pH is approximately 11.
It is a dangerous compound to handle and can cause fires and even explosions.
Surex / Voxsan will not sell this compound to the pool or spa owner.

2.         Sodium Dichloroisocyanuric Acid. Non restricted.
The material is safe to use, quick dissolving and has a pH of approximately 6 -7

3.         Trichloroisocyanuric Acid Tablets. 5.1 oxidisation agent.
Slow dissolving chlorine tablets has a pH of 2.4.
Should only be applied from an inline tablet feeder with the pump running – this is a waste of time and expensive unless the pump is run continually  for a minimum of 10 hours a day during the winter months. Should not be used in pool skimmers baskets.

4.         Lithium Hypochlorite. A quick dissolving granule.
Not used within the EEC.

5.         Sodium Hypochlorite solution. Liquid Chlorine – bleach.
This is class 8 material with a very high pH and very unstable.
It is not a winterising material – purely a ‘shock dose’ to keep algae at bay – the pump must be kept running to be effective.

Chlorine is toxic to both the environment & ecology.
Water treat works have difficulties de-chlorinating. River beds fowl up killing blanket weed and other vegetation.
Natural ponds require algae, the oldest form of life, to foster fish, animal & plant life – a simple case of eutrophical production.

Before you winterise take out any leaf or other debris making sure no algae is present on the floor & walls.

Winterise only when the pool water maintains a temperature of 10ºc. Algae will grow above 10ºc.

Surex / Voxsan have both winterisation & opening up instructions at their offices and on the web.

All the listed chemicals mentioned in this paper are not anti freezing agents.

Do not swim in a winterised pool or spa.

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