Chlorination has been the traditional method of pool sanitation for decades—almost by default, since there were no alternatives for this crucial aspect of owning a swimming pool. However, for many pool owners, chlorination is an old and outdated pool sanitization method they’ve discarded in favor of maintaining a salt water pool.
Chlorine
So what’s the problem with chlorine, anyway? It does exactly what it needs to—kills algae and bacteria, keeping the pool attractive and more importantly, a safe and sanitary place to swim. A pool that doesn’t get regular chlorine treatments will quickly become clogged with thick green algae. Depending on where you live, and especially in a warm climate like Florida, an untreated pool can become a green, sludgy nightmare inside of a week—the chlorine is definitely important.
Another important aspect of this maintenance is PH levels—the acidity or alkalinity of the water. If the PH gets too high, the chlorine in the pool isn’t able to work as efficiently. However, if the PH drops too low, the water quickly becomes too acidic to swim in comfortably. Keeping the PH at the right level is somewhat difficult, because the range at which it’s ‘just right’ is very narrow and many factors, including rain, affect this.
Chlorine is important for sanitation, but for many people it’s also a source of irritation. The harsh chemicals that are added to pre-packaged pool chlorine irritate the skin and eyes, making swimming a highly unpleasant experience. It is important to note that it’s not the chlorine that’s the problem—in most cases it’s the chemicals which are added to the pre-packaged mix.
Salt Water
The main advantage of a salt water pool isn’t that it doesn’t use chlorine. In fact, a salt water pool does use chlorine to keep the water clean. The advantage is that the pool owner doesn’t add chlorine to the pool—that means no pre-packaged chlorine, and less irritation for people who are sensitive to the added chemicals. Salt water tends to be much softer than chlorinated water, so it’s much more pleasurable to swim in, and is much less harsh on your skin. In addition, a salt water pool usually has a much lower concentration of chlorine than a chlorinated pool.
Another important benefit is more of a long-term one. In the short term, converting from chlorine to a salt water pool will involve some cash outlay, since there are a few system components you’ll need to by. It’ll run approximately $1000-$1500 to convert a traditional chlorine system to a salt water system. Over two or three years, however, the money you spend is recouped due to not having to buy extra chlorine for the pool. Just a bag of salt which is much less expensive.
Just to be clear though, salt water pools do in fact use chlorine to sanitize and the water. So if you are not adding chlorine tablets or shock, how does that work?
It works because of the chemical composition of salt, which is made up of chlorine and sodium. Within the salt water system is a unit called a salt-chlorine generator, which uses electrolysis to generate chlorine by separating the sodium and chlorine molecules in the salt you add to the pool. As the generator unit separates out the chlorine, it’s returned to the pool, where it keeps the water clean and sanitary.
A well-maintained salt pool is an absolute delight to swim in, with softer, more comfortable water that doesn’t irritate. It doesn’t taste salty, either, as you might think, because it has such a low concentration of salt that it’s officially considered to be fresh water! In the ocean, the salt concentration is between 20,000 to 35,000 parts per million, whereas in a salt water pool, it’s just 3,000 to 6,000.
Finally, don’t be fooled into thinking that a salt water pool maintains itself. It doesn’t. You still need to check PH levels and carry out other maintenance tasks. However,you’ll benefit from lower maintenance costs and a more enjoyable swimming experience, which definitely makes it worthwhile.

Salt water pools used to be the exception, but now they are becoming a widely accepted method of water treatment in swimming pools, mainly due to the fact there were a lot of misconceptions that have been cleared up, and technology has come a long way. A lot of builders are now making salt water systems standard on their new pools. Even manufactures of pool equipment have jumped on board the salt system craze by providing automated controls that are "salt system ready" and some have even ...
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Along with providing a refreshing place to unwind, traditional pools offer homeowners something less desirable: a hefty electricity bill. Because the water needs to be pumped, filtered and kept warm, swimming pools use a lot of energy. Installing the right-size pump, circulating the water, reducing water and heat loss, and heating the pool more efficiently are among the top ways homeowners can save the most money and energy.
Alex Barloewen, a homeowner in Los Angeles, California, couldn't be happier his ecofriendly pool equipment. When remodeling his 28-year-old pool, he installed solar collectors, changed to a variable speed pump and switched to a saltwater system, which generates its own chlorine. "Utility costs are about half. I was spending probably $100 a month for just the pool and now it's down around $50," says Barloewen.
In addition to being a money-saver, saltwater pools contain lower levels of chlorine than traditional pools and are free of the many potentially irritating additives and byproducts present in most chlorine mixtures. He's also experienced warmer water in the past year than he's ever had. "We finished work in May and swam from then until October in 85-degree water, all heated by solar," says Barloewen.

LAFAYETTE, IN - A $12,500 NCHS grant will enable the YWCA Greater Lafayette to begin using a salt sanitizing system in its pool, resulting in a more comfortable experience for swimmers and a safer environment for the community...

The YWCA opted to pursue the new system to improve the quality of the water and air for pool patrons and to offer the whole community a new, safe aquatic environment.

This type of system results in a safer environment because there is no need to handle and store packaged chlorine on a regular basis. Patrons will notice that a salt sanitizing system eliminates the strong chlorine smell, stinging eyes, itchy skin, and faded swimsuits associated with a typical chlorinated pool...

The salt system also is projected to save the YWCA money in the long run.

....."Raw materials and energy costs are increasing, [and] the cash cost to make chlorine caustic is 65 percent energy-related," said Rick Smith, executive vice president of Chemical Market Associates Inc., a Houston chemical consulting firm that tracks chlorine prices. "The price today vs. the price 10 years ago ... is 200 percent higher.
.....Still, the swim season hasn't hit his region. When it does, Griffin plans to tell unhappy customers to consider alternative sanitizers. "We can't predict what the price of chlorine is going to be," he said. "We're trying to convince clients to go with alternatives like the salt-generator systems.
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