Chlorine-free pool?

[swimguiri]

I've spent hours searching the web for a directory of "chlorine-free" pools (eg ozone/uv/salt) that are open to the public.

Since there doesn't seem to be any such directory, I decided to work on making one. If you know of any pools in your area that use alternative treatments, please let me know.

I'm going to compile all the information as a free resource here:
http://piscinasana.blogspot.com
(You can post directly to there if you prefer.)

Cheers!

[swimguiri]

Anyone know of pools treated with salt, ozone, uv, or tarn-pure out there?

[NotVeryFast]

Ponds Forge (though not the diving pool):
http://www.ponds-forge.co.uk/content.php?nPageID=113

[swimguiri]

Thank you, "NotVeryFast!" I'll add it to the directory.

[wendy]

Not sure how it's done, but Truro pool does not use chlorine.

[rubber ducky]

Norwich UEA pool doesnt use chlorine.

I'm glad someone is doing this because I'm allergic to chlorine and swimming since I was 3 has caused lots of problems with my ears and has lead to being half deaf and needing 2 operations (having the second one sometime this year)....I'm advised only to swim in pools that use chlorine if I'm wearing a nose clip and ear plugs....I'd rather not wear a nose clip so that leaves pools that don't use chlorine.

[swimguiri]

Thanks, Rubber Ducky.
Is this the Norwich UEA pool you mentioned?
http://www.sportspark.co.uk/activities_bernard.html

Do you know what they use (eg ozone, salt, uv...)?

Very sorry to hear about how chlorine has affected your health. I wish more people knew how dangerous this stuff is. My hope is that when people realize there are many pools out there that don't use chlorine, more chlorinated pools will be switched over. You probably already know this, but since you're allergic to chlorine it's worth pointing out that even some pools that use alternative treatments often add chlorine (though at lower levels), so it wouldn't hurt for you to ask for details.

Thanks, Wendy, for the information on the Truro pool. Is this the one?
http://www.carrickleisureservices.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=16499
If it's not too much of a bother would you mind asking them what method they use?

[rubber ducky]

Yup, thats the Norwich pool....unfortunately I don't know what they use, sorry!!

[wendy]

Yup, thats the Norwich pool....unfortunately I don't know what they use, sorry!!

Norwich use Ultra violet light as the main cleanser. There is still a very small amount of chlorine used via an automatic gas injection system

Oh get me!!!!!

[swimguiri]

I just received an email from Truro. They use UV (although there is a small amount of chlorine as residual).

http://piscinasana.blogspot.com

[wendy]

We must have emailed them together, it sounds like they use the same system as Norwich. It's great to swim in and you never need goggles!!!

[aquamandra]

Neat, I just dropped in here on my way to Prime Time for the over-50s at the Ferry Centre in Oxford. They have a rock salt system, beautifully clear and clean. I've also heard that the new pool at Barton which opens in the middle of April will use the same system.

The Oxford University Rosenblatt Pool uses a UV system to minimise perceived chlorine. I haven't tried it myself, but I should think it's pretty good as it's a training and competition pool.

[Crazy Legs]

Check this out- It's called AFM and basically it involves using recycled glass as a filter media. The bacteria does not tend to stick to the glass as it does with sand. The water is crystal clear now.
It has gone down a treat in Bishopbriggs Swimming pool in East Dumbartonshire. Many experts have visited the pool and have been most impressed.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Leisuredrome.c6c9c55d.pdf

[eastmidsgayguy]

I'm pretty sure the 50m pool at Loughborough University is. The water is crystal clear.

Arnold Leisure Centre Pool in Nottingham: "Both pools at Arnold Leisure Centre are dual disinfected using ozone and a chlorine chemical system. The benefits of the ozone disinfection system are that fewer chemicals are added to the water...". I used to be able to tell the difference between that and the other pools in Nottingham when I lived there though wasn't sure the reason at the time.

[swimguiri]

I'm pretty sure the 50m pool at Loughborough University is. The water is crystal clear.

eastmidsgayguy, would you mind asking the staff how it's purified when you're there next?

Arnold Leisure Centre Pool in Nottingham: "Both pools at Arnold Leisure Centre are dual disinfected using ozone and a chlorine chemical system. The benefits of the ozone disinfection system are that fewer chemicals are added to the water...".

Thanks! I've added it to the directory.

[Backstroker88]

Swiss Cottage Sports Centre (my home pool) uses ozone!!

[Natural Swimmer]

Hi everyone - what an awesome site!!! I am Canadian and hope that I can join in.

I recently put in a biofiltered pool, completely chemical free. It cleans itself!!

I add some (friendly) bacterial culture in the spring and mother nature does the rest.

I have attached a picture but not sure if it will come through.

Enjoy!

[GettingFaster]

Welcome, Nats, glad to have you. Just more than a little jealous at such a fab-looking facility you have there! Keep logging in, keep posting, we're glad to have people from anywhere on the globe.

How big is the pool?

[Natural Swimmer]

The pool is 35 feet long by 17 feet wide. The shallow end is about 3 feet deep and the deep end is about 6.5 feet deep.

The sides, as you can see, are lined with granite boulders, so no diving aloud.

I want to find out more about "ozone" to clear the water more. Do you know about it?

[Pandi]

Nice pic's.Would like to point out that 2nd pic,show's a lot less return into pool.Was 2nd pic.done before a backwash?What medium are you using to filtrate?My point of view you need to SHOCK dose.

[Natural Swimmer]

HI pandicus, this pool has not backwash feature - it has two waterfalls that circulate the water, when it gets low there is a valve that will turn on and fill it up.

In order to filtrate, the water goes through two skimmers, each have a net to catch debris then the water flows through another net which is made from some kind of fibrous material - sort of like the kind in a fish tank filter - then it is pumped into the first waterfall area and filtered through a net with lava rocks and then through the 2nd waterfall and into the pool to start over.

We pour in bacterial culture on a bi weekly basis, and usually this keeps it clean - depending on how hot it gets - the culture deposits itself ontothe lava rocks to grow.

[Pandi]

Hi.Natural Swimmer.Am i correct in thinking that you are just using (waterfalls} & skimmer's to circulate water? How do you circulate the water at the lower level's.Do you have a sump too draw water out & put back through pump Or do you use a lower level return to pool other than (waterfalls)?If you have no circulation at the deepest part of pool,it will just stay static.Hence dark & dirty looking water.:wave:

[Natural Swimmer]

You are correct to assume as you stated. We have had problems with trying to get the bottom of the deep end to clear up - over the weekend, the water was pretty clear, I could see the rocks in the deep end to about 5.5 feet. But, of course, when the kids went swimming it became murky again.

I am getting a little frustrated trying to keep this pool/pond clean without chlorine. Any suggestions?

[Pandi]

Another option could be to try www.gartenart.co.uk
I have had no experience with this type of pool but it might suit your needs better.

[neilogden]

Tadley swimming pool is ozone I think. ww.tadleypool.co.uk (although that web site hasn't been updated for about 3 years).

[broomhillsaved]

The press have pulished a number of articles on asthma and chlorine; the google news alerts came up with five or six; will add urls later when its cooler!

News BBC
Telegraph
Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,1822898,00.html


but see latest messages on lidos history society website too:
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/groups/lidos
message 1301

[NotVeryFast]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,1822898,00.html
So, whilst health and safety legislation dicates all sorts of stuff to do with supervision of swimmers, it's fine to use chemicals in the pool that cause damage to lung tissue. Great, makes perfect sense!

[broomhillsaved]

It's one of those things where you suddenly get all round media interest;
but at the launch of janet smith's book "Liquid Assets" last summer in London, i met a guy from ISPE - Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers and they have features on avoiding chlorine too.

[robotbella]

Neat, I just dropped in here on my way to Prime Time for the over-50s at the Ferry Centre in Oxford. They have a rock salt system, beautifully clear and clean. I've also heard that the new pool at Barton which opens in the middle of April will use the same system.

The Oxford University Rosenblatt Pool uses a UV system to minimise perceived chlorine. I haven't tried it myself, but I should think it's pretty good as it's a training and competition pool.

Wow just found this forum - brilliant! I've been searching for chlorine-free pools for years, with very little success. When I first came to Oxford I joined the Rosenblatt pool - it's a lovely pool with great facilities, and is always set up in lanes so the people who go there just go to swim lenghts not to mess about. I think the UV system did minimise perceived chlorine as I wasn't really aware of the chlorine smell. However, I always get a bad skin reaction to chlorine in pools (an eczema type rash) and this was no different :-(

On a more positive note, Nantwich in Cheshire has a wonderful outdoor brine pool (I believe it's the only inland brine pool left in England). It's open May to September, and is a joy to swim in. It does get quite crowded on sunny days so you have to be prepared to dodge children etc but it's worth it.

[Slowcoach]

The Oxford pool at Temple Cowley uses ozone I think. Seems like Oxford is ahead of the game.

[row]

If a pool uses Ozone they are likely to use Hypo which in simple terms is chlorine.

[robotbella]

I asked Temple Cowley what they used and they said they used ozone but they did use a bit of chlorine too. It's a nice pool to swim in but I only used it once as my skin was bad for weeks afterwards!

[Spidey]

There is one in Guernsey, right near St Peter Port, it gets a bit choppy when the tide is in though.

[eastmidsgayguy]

All I could get from the person on the reception desk at the time was that they have a good filter system ... but she did admit they still do use a small amount of chlorine!

[g4rod]

From working in plant rooms and going through the national legislation and recommendations from people like PWTAG, ISRM and ISPAL I'm pretty sure that no completely chlorine free disinfection systems are currently recommended/endorsed.

The use of Ozone and UV must be used with chlorine as a residual. Ozone is added to the water in the plant room and must be removed before returning the water to the pool and UV only acts when the light is shining on the water i.e. in the plant room. Due to this both systems require a small amount of chlorine so that when the water is in the pool it has a disinfection capability. However the amounts needed are decreased.

Pools that mention salt disinfection can be slightly misleading as they use salt (NaCl) to generate chlorine (Cl2) this is primarily a way of reducing dangerous chemicals on site.

AFM has been mentioned and this can help a pool reduce it's chlorine usage as well as water and therefore heating usage, as a guideline a 25m 5 lane pool would be looking at payback within 18months, this is very impressive as AFM will last the life of the filter without need for replacement. It's just the comparatively high initial cost compared to filter sand.

The best chlorine free alternative I can think of is the sea!

[Dunc]

From working in plant rooms and going through the national legislation and recommendations from people like PWTAG, ISRM and ISPAL I'm pretty sure that no completely chlorine free disinfection systems are currently recommended/endorsed.

The use of Ozone and UV must be used with chlorine as a residual. Ozone is added to the water in the plant room and must be removed before returning the water to the pool and UV only acts when the light is shining on the water i.e. in the plant room. Due to this both systems require a small amount of chlorine so that when the water is in the pool it has a disinfection capability. However the amounts needed are decreased.

Pools that mention salt disinfection can be slightly misleading as they use salt (NaCl) to generate chlorine (Cl2) this is primarily a way of reducing dangerous chemicals on site.

AFM has been mentioned and this can help a pool reduce it's chlorine usage as well as water and therefore heating usage, as a guideline a 25m 5 lane pool would be looking at payback within 18months, this is very impressive as AFM will last the life of the filter without need for replacement. It's just the comparatively high initial cost compared to filter sand.

The best chlorine free alternative I can think of is the sea!
This came up today on Swimnews.
Asthma Link To Open-Air Pools (http://www.swimnews.com/News/displayStory.jhtml?action=get&id=5581)

[Spidey]

The best chlorine free alternative I can think of is the sea!
And Rivers and Lakes, less salty.

[JB89]

What about pools using aquamatics - Chlorine free freshwater - One in Goudhurst Kent

JB

[Wildswimmer]

And Rivers and Lakes, less salty.

This chlorine free pool is quite nice and reaches 25C (77F) at the height of summer.

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/wildswimmer007/hatchmere_bay.jpg

BTW it's Hatchmere in Delamere Forest, Cheshire.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Pandi]

What about pools using aquamatics - Chlorine free freshwater - One in Goudhurst Kent

JB

"Ionic" purification,will still need the back up of chlorine,even tho due to some germs being "killed" off during this process,it will not have a 100% kill rate.hence the need for good old shock dose,once in a while,via good olde Chlorine.:)

[chlorfree]

Hi,

We market several chlorine reducing systems for swimming pools all of which as many of the threads have indicated require an amount of chlorine to be present.

This has changed now with the addition to our our range of a product called PoolSan ( or for spas SpaSan). This product has been tested under strict non-disclosure arrangements for the past 2 years at a public leisure centre. It has passed all the criteria required to be used in a commercial pool and is set to rock the chlorine world. Full details can be viewed here http://www.poolsan.co.uk . This posting is not placed as an advertisement but more to inform both users and providers of swimming pools that there is a 100% chlorine free alternative which is fully approved and tested. The writting is on the wall for the chlorine controlled pool market.

[SarahY]

Well bad news for everyone who is looking for a chlorine free pool. I noted that Nantwich brine pool was mentioned a few times about how good it was. Well I spoke to the person running the pool today and I was assurred that there was the same amount of chlorine in the brine pool as the indoor pool. Both are heavily shocked and treated with chlorine.

[Charlie83]

I sometimes used to swim in Llantrisant Pool in South Wales and that was always really salty. Was quite a few years ago though! Don't know if that's any help but maybe something you could look into for your website?

[Pandi]

Hi,

We market several chlorine reducing systems for swimming pools all of which as many of the threads have indicated require an amount of chlorine to be present.

This has changed now with the addition to our our range of a product called PoolSan ( or for spas SpaSan). This product has been tested under strict non-disclosure arrangements for the past 2 years at a public leisure centre. It has passed all the criteria required to be used in a commercial pool and is set to rock the chlorine world. Full details can be viewed here http://www.poolsan.co.uk . This posting is not placed as an advertisement but more to inform both users and providers of swimming pools that there is a 100% chlorine free alternative which is fully approved and tested. The writting is on the wall for the chlorine controlled pool market.
Still not convinced.The amount of "natural" minerals used up(Zinc,Copper,Gold etc)Not very friendly?To mother earths resources.

[chlorfree]

Still not convinced.The amount of "natural" minerals used up(Zinc,Copper,Gold etc)Not very friendly?To mother earths resources.

And you think chlorine and its production is kind to the enviroment or the human body?

[Pandi]

We market several chlorine reducing systems for swimming pools all of which as many of the threads have indicated require an amount of chlorine to be present.:wave:

This has changed now with the addition to our our range of a product called PoolSan ( or for spas SpaSan). This product has been tested under strict non-disclosure arrangements for the past 2 years at a public leisure centre. It has passed all the criteria required to be used in a commercial pool and is set to rock the chlorine world
Non-disclosure,general public used as "guinea pigs"

And you think chlorine and its production is kind to the enviroment or the human body?
Am still waiting for the "down" side of using Chlorine for a back up(shock dose)Name the pool.

[chlorfree]

The non-disclosure was to prevent a leak of information about the product to competitors. The public were not under any circumstances used as "guinea pigs". That has been left to the majority of other products on the market where no formal testing has been completed and is why they are not approved for use in public pools.

Am still waiting for the "down" side of using Chlorine for a back up(shock dose)Name the pool.

I do not have to name a pool it is every pool where chlorine is used. Every month new reports are emerging from eminent research universities showing the side effects of chlorine. The latest is from Birmingham University (ST May 2008) which has linked chlorine exposure to doubling the risk of birth defects in pregnant women.

Report link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1023340/Chlorine-tap-water-nearly-doubles-risk-birth-defects.html

Or how about the study done by the American College of Sports Medicine which showed an incidence rate of over 60 percent for Exercise Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB) after several minutes of swimming in water chlorinated at a concentration commonly found in home and public pools.

Report link:http://swimming.about.com/od/allergyandasthma/a/chlorine_breath.htm

The list is endless and would not want to be accused of scare mongering but you cannot say that chlorine is "safe" or "good".

Maybe you can show us a recent report with the benefits to health of using chlorine?

[Dave_G]

Unless I am very much mistaken, however, most pools use chlorine. Is that because it is cheapest?

[chlorfree]

Unless I am very much mistaken, however, most pools use chlorine. Is that because it is cheapest?

PoolSan is no dearer than Chlorine, it is just that it has been used for so long and that pool companies make large profits from it that its continued use goes on.

[Dave_G]

In other words, profits before swimmers' health: or am I being cynical?

[chlorfree]

Yes i think that is the major problem, the pool industry is governed by the chemical side, it is year in year out repeat business worth millions.

[stevebncanoe]

As a "returnee" to swimming after having swum a lot as a child--fond memories of bourne outdoor swimming pool ( is it still open ??) i must say that my current experience of swimming pools in this country is pretty horrible, right now after having had a short (half hour) swim 6 hours ago that my eyes and nose still sting and my skin still smells of bleach !!.
Quick hop over the channel -- and a stunning pool at the euronat naturist site at montalivet and no problem whatsoever. I dont know how that pool was treated but it certainly felt very different to my local pool.
As working in health care i am very aware of increasing evidence that swimming in chlorine is harmful --so much for the culteure that says wild swimming is inherently unsafe and that poolswimming is somehow "safe".
Bring on the fresh , preferably moving or salty variety is what i say .

[Pandi]

As a "returnee" to swimming after having swum a lot as a child--fond memories of bourne outdoor swimming pool ( is it still open ??) i must say that my current experience of swimming pools in this country is pretty horrible, right now after having had a short (half hour) swim 6 hours ago that my eyes and nose still sting and my skin still smells of bleach !!.
Quick hop over the channel -- and a stunning pool at the euronat naturist site at montalivet and no problem whatsoever. I dont know how that pool was treated but it certainly felt very different to my local pool.
As working in health care i am very aware of increasing evidence that swimming in chlorine is harmful --so much for the culteure that says wild swimming is inherently unsafe and that poolswimming is somehow "safe".
Bring on the fresh , preferably moving or salty variety is what i say .
:banghead::banghead::banghead:

[stevebncanoe]

who ? you or me ???

[Pandi]

who ? you or me ???

That was for me.Tried to find link i have used before.Explaining the why's and therefores of "stingy" eyes etc.And also trying to find the link to a recent report which suggests,If everyone showered before swimming & wears a swimming cap,the reccomended amount of chlorine used in pools "could" be cut by upto 50%.
Is having a shower and wearing a swimcap a must in some "oversea's" pools?Which maybe why they seem to be Cleaner.
Over here they couldnt give a flying monkey if you turn up covered in paint/makeup,Go have a sweat in the steam room/sauna/ working out in the gym doing a run-get all sweaty before having a "cool down" in the pool,without showering first.
Just my view of course.:)

[stevebncanoe]

Mm yes i see.The chlorine really is putting me off swimming in my local pool, i had hoped to significantly improve my technique and stamina over the winter so that i can do much more demanding swims next year--whilst keeping my cold water acclimatisation going as well. I am ,or at least have been having lessons and found most of the things i need to do to be impossible without goggles and even with its pretty painful. The veidence against chlorine does look pretty damning though--there is another thread nearby where someone is down with a virus and is wondering about training,just from a health point of view i wouldnt want to be anywhere near what is after all a highly corrosive and irritant chemical if i was under the weather.
Quseion though and i may have missed the answer--is there a directory of chlorine free pools. ???

[LAZy]

Well from a personal view point, I've been swimming since a nipper..in chlorinated pools, some very much so. I always feel fit and well, never had serious health probs, don't wear goggles for competing and often not for training either.

I'd not have any hestitation in continuing to swim in chlorinated pools for the rest of my life.

If you want to swim and get fit, get in. :rolleyes:

And no, I'm not a 20 something who's only done a few years.

:wave:

[Pandi]

Quseion though and i may have missed the answer--is there a directory of chlorine free pools. ???

Click on page1.The original start of this thread.Then click on the link in the first post.Found it interesting that some pools which use the ozone method use small amounts of chlorine,whilst others using the same system dont.Maybe due to bather loads???