Ride The Wave With A Saltwater Pool

By Megan Cohen

We visit a beach house in Episode 1 of World's Greenest Homes where surf and sand meet green design. You can put a touch of the ocean in your own backyard by converting your swimming pool from traditional chlorination to an eco-smart saltwater maintenance system. The soft water is easy on swimmers, and the lower environmental impact is easy on the planet.

Saltwater pools, also called saline pools, are an ecologically friendly way to take a dip. Although all pools require some level of man-made chlorine to keep everything free from algae and bacteria, saline pools use lower levels of the harsh chemical than traditional swimming pools do. The result is a boon to swimmers as well as to the planet, as the softer water causes less irritation for eyes and skin, and less damage for hair and swimsuits, all while being more eco-friendly.

Saline pools can get away with lower levels of chlorine because of how and when the compound gets introduced into the water. In a regular pool, the water is kept clear by an influx of industrially produced chlorine, usually during a service visit from a pool professional, usually on a weekly basis. The chemical then dissipates until the next visit and the next influx. With a saline system, the amount of chlorine needed is produced on-site, within the pool, throughout the week. The equipment shocks a small portion of the water with jolts of electricity during filtration, converting some of the salt into chlorine, then it sends that chlorinated water out into circulation. This steady stream replaces the big weekly chemical spike. It also frees pool owners from relying on chlorine production plants, which can have a heavy pollution footprint.

Despite the fact that it houses its own chlorine factory, a saline pool isn't entirely self-sustaining. It still requires professional attention to keep what's called the "saturation index", the mix of chemical and mineral elements, balanced. If maintained correctly, the water has about 1/3 the salt content of human tears. That's a comfortable level of salinity to swim in, and one that's harmless to your pool's materials and fixtures. However, if not properly monitored, the water can get too salty and turn corrosive to the pool, causing scaling and other permanent damage. If the chlorine level gets too low, saline pools become vulnerable to algae blooms, and the water may require an infusion of commercially produced chemicals to clear things up. So, just like with a puppy or a kid, if you don't give your saltwater the attention it needs, it can act up and cause problems. The good news is that a saline pool doesn't need more frequent maintenance than a traditional swimming pool, so weekly or bi-weekly visits from a pool professional should keep things comfy, safe, and totally in check.