There are several factors that affect chlorines’ effciciencies, some can be a result of water chemistry, such as pH, Cyanuric Acid (also known as chlorine stabilizer or conditioner), as well as bad filtration and putting all water quality the burden on chlorine and acid (pH control).

Although chlorine is a disinfectact and an oxidizer, sometimes it cannot do this in an effective way, as an example, there was a study done with Coppertone, yes the sunscreen, in this study, it took 7 ppm of chlorine to be able to oxidize 1 ppm of the above mentioned product.

Suncreens, body lotions, oils, and other type of products, can deplete Free Available Chorine very quickly, as well as leave unsightly scum on the tile line, skimmer, piping, filter vessel and stick to the filtering media, lowering its capacity. I am not saying to stop using sunscreen, after all, its a much needed protectant from harmfull UV rays, what I am stating is that we should not put the full burden on chlorine, pH and stand alone filtration, to take care of all the water quality needs.

Our swimming pool water treatment has to work in sinergy, for this to be accomplished we need to:

1. Good flow rate, to turnover the water, depending on aquatic facility application of use.
2. Proper Total Dynamic Head, so that we can use less horse power to move the water wich results in energy savings.
3. Sound filtration media rate (around 12 gpm or lower for sand filters in commercial facilities).
4. Backwashing or cleaning the filter, only  when there is a 7 to 10 psi increase from clean filter pressure.
5. A good quality filtration media, around 2 – 4 micron (such as zeolites or cellulose).
6. Proper water analysis.
7. An adequate ratio of Chlorine to Cyanuric Acid present in the water
8. A good pH level.
9. Proper water balance to help protect equipment, finishes, filter media quality, etc.
10. Proper brushing and vacumming, to get rid of biofilm build up and other contamminants in the water.
11. A properly working skimmer, and yes, that includes having a working skimmer weir in place, to break water tension, make debree and other other contaminants such as oils and lotions, move into the skimmer.
12. Use of water enhancers, such as:

• Biopolymers, to encapsulate oils and suspended solid, lowering chlorines burden and increasing filter quality and efficiency.
• Enzymes that destroy oils, lowering chlorines burden and maintainning filter quality and efficiency.
• Phoshate removers, this nutrient is needed for the growth of algae, as well as other microorganisms.
• Proper limits of copper and silver ions, they will help control microorganisms, and lower the burden of free available chlorine.