Swimming in pools filled with fresh, salt or seawater, bathing in natural ponds and relaxing in hot tubs all carry potential health risks. The consequences can include allergies, illnesses of bacterial origin or a general weakening of the immune system. Neither pool chemistry nor most widely used pool-water treatment technologies are sufficient to deal with many of these harmful substances. Until recently it was not technologically possible to eliminate these risks, which is why the problems went undiscussed. The technology of medium-pressure UV lamps, however, is finally changing this. 

THE TRICHLORAMINE PROBLEM

The most serious health risk is associated with the compound trichloramine, a by-product of disinfecting water with chlorine. 

! Trichloramine is formed by the reaction of chlorine with organic substances present in the pool water, which enter the water primarily through sweat and urine. 

Health risks of trichloramine

• it irritates and damages the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, 
• it causes allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, 
• it increases susceptibility to asthma, not only in children but also in adults,
• it causes irritation and drying of the skin, 
• reddening of the eyes  

You can find out more about the health risks on the new portal Chci čistý bazén.

Note

Trichloramine is responsible for the typical swimming-pool smell. If you can smell it, you can be sure that trichloramine is present in the water.

Trichloramine is found in pools with

• fresh water and conventional chlorine disinfection
• salt or seawater

Note

It is worth pointing out a widely held MISCONCEPTION that salt water in a pool contains no chlorine. In pools with salt or seawater, chlorine is also used to disinfect the water – just as in freshwater pools. The only difference is that the chlorine is not added to the water externally in liquid form or as chlorine tablets, but is generated directly in the water by electrolysis of the dissolved salt (NaCl).

THE PROBLEM OF PARASITES

The second most serious health risk in pools and hot tubs is associated with the presence of the parasitic protozoa Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lambila, which cause severe diarrhoea. The illness can last up to two weeks and is accompanied by vomiting, a mild fever, abdominal cramps, headaches, loss of appetite and fatigue. 

Note

Numerous health problems caused by these pathogens have been recorded in public pools with controlled chlorine levels. 

! This revealed that disinfection by chlorination does not ensure the inactivation of these protozoa, and so the pool-water treatment system must include a further disinfection stage that destroys these resistant pathogens.

THE PROBLEM OF ALGAE

For pool owners, algae are primarily an aesthetic problem. Few people realise, however, that algae release toxic substances into the water. The higher the concentration of chlorine in the water, the less algae there is. 

Note

Chlorine destroys algae. From a health perspective, however, it is essential to keep the concentration of chlorine in the water as low as possible. This is why it is important to choose the right pool-water treatment technology.

THE SOLUTION: LifeOX® TECHNOLOGY

LIFETECH, internationally recognised as an expert in ozonee, UV and AOP technologies (AOP = advanced oxidation processes), developed its unique LifeOX® technology for treating pool water back in 2002. The development of this technology built on experience gained at public drinking-water and wastewater treatment plants and in the treatment of industrial water. LIFETECH’s technologies were able to remove harmful substances from these waters, including pesticides and dioxins. 

LifeOX® technology makes use of two proven water-treatment technologies

• ozone
• low-pressure or medium-pressure UV systems

Vytváří tak v upravované vodě OH-radikály, které mají mnohem vyšší oxidační potenciál než samotný ozone nebo peroxid vodíku. OH-radikály reagují nejméně milionkrát rychleji než ozone. Díky této extrémně rychlé dezinfekci a oxidaci, zaberou dezinfekční stupně neskutečně méně prostoru v porovnáním se standardní ozónovou technologií. 

BENEFITS OF LifeOX®

LifeOX® technology, which uses advanced oxidation processes, is not only 

• investičně levnější než ozoneové technologie podle německé normy DIN 19643
• it requires far less space for installation
• je účinnější než ozoneové technologie
• it delivers the highest level of disinfection
• it breaks down the harmful trichloramine most effectively
• it eliminates the substances in the pool water from which trichloramine is formed

REFERENCES

LifeOX® M technology was selected as the best water-treatment technology for Russia’s largest water park, the Luzhniki Olympic complex, which is currently under construction.

Low-pressure mercury or amalgam UV systems do not remove trichloramine. To remove trichloramine and disinfect the water, UV systems with medium-pressure UV lamps must be installed.

You can find out everything about healthy bathing on the new portal Chci čistý bazén.