Australians building or renovating a swimming pool don’t often invest enough time considering the most important element of their pool…The water!
While consumers are spoilt with pool sanitisation choices there is an emerging trend towards mineral based sanitisation, and here we outline how to create your own mineral bathing oasis
If you’re planning to build a new pool or simply renovate your old one then why not consider mineral sanitisation as a viable option to complete your backyard oasis.
The idea of mineral bathing is a centuries old phenomenon and conjures up the idea of a luxurious experience, rejuvenation, relaxation and enhanced water quality. Everybody has heard of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the world for thousands of years because of its extraordinary salt and mineral cosmetic and healing properties.
Mineral pool sanitisation systems use varying compositions (some of which are found in the Dead Sea) that have certain effects on the human body as well as the water quality itself. Generally speaking, a mineral pool is a pool that contains, in addition to a sanitiser and other essential water balancing chemicals, naturally occurring minerals that enhance the bathing experience. Minerals such as: Sodium Chloride (salt), Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride and Borates.
A combination of any or all of these offers several benefits to the swimming pool owner. It is important to understand what each of these minerals offer when creating your bathing oasis, so it is worth taking a closer look at each of them:
Sodium Chloride
Salt is the precursor to making chlorine by electrolysis. Various levels of salt will be required in a pool depending on the chlorinator manufacturer’s recommendations. The original chlorinators of the 1980’s and 90’s were based on salt levels of up to 7000ppm. The higher the salt level, the longer the salt cell would last. At least that was the theory. The disadvantage of these levels was that the water had a distinct salt taste, added salinity to the environment when water was backwashed and the swimmer needed to shower after swimming.
Today, some residential chlorinators use salt levels as low as 2500 – 3500ppm which is generally below the taste threshold and the water feels more like fresh water. To support this low salt level, the technology of making the salt cells has improved greatly, with warranties of 3 – 5 years now a common practice.
Magnesium Chloride
The health benefits of Magnesium have been well documented for centuries. The addition of Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) to baths and spas is a common therapeutic practice that I am sure many of us could relate to.
There have been a number of scientific studies around the use of Magnesium chloride that have recorded the effects this composition has on the human body. Evidence suggests that when bathing in magnesium enriched water, magnesium will be absorbed through the skin (transdermal therapy) and in some cases can offer the bather some of the following benefits), and offer the bather the following benefits:
- Soothe the skin, relieving those with sensitive skin to enjoy a swim
- Detoxify the skin and body, by way of relaxing the nervous system. Perfect for those facing anxiety and stress in their day to day lives
- Softens and smooths the water, enhancing the bathing experience
Magnesium also has several other advantages when used in swimming pools, that aids the clarity of water. Magnesium Chloride flows through the cell and is converted by electrolysis to Magnesium Hydroxide which acts as a flocculent. This flocking capability will help filter out extremely fine material such as dust and dirt, providing a crystal clear swimming pool all year round. In addition to all of this, it will greatly assist in preventing the build up of calcium scaling on cells, pool equipment and the pool surface.
Borates
Borates are one of the most effective water enhancers and in Australia we are yet to completely embrace this in our swimming pools. The benefits of borates in your mineral bathing oasis will:
- Enhance the bathers comfort level
- Introduce a luxurious feel to the water, providing a soft silky feeling as you wade through the water
Not only will the bather have a noticeable difference when they swim, but the water balance and clarity receive a huge amount of benefits:
- Prevents pH from rising
- Clarifies the water by removing ultra
- fine particles
- Reduces your chlorine demand – the chemistry is not clear but it is thought that borates prevent algae from forming, therefore less chlorine demand (money saving!)
- Borates are compatible with all forms of sanitisers allowing you to use this composition in all types of pools.
Potassium Chloride
The benefits of Potassium Chloride are less well documented and most references dwell on the medical benefits of oral consumption (Potassium is essential to the functioning of several body organs).
Mineral Pools: a Growing Trend
A Mineral Pool System, opens up the opportunity for Australian’s to create a Mineral bathing oasis in their backyard. The luxurious water quality offers home owners a lifestyle that could traditionally only be sourced in spas, resorts and natural occurring springs.
In a mineral pool, the bather may experience the healing properties that assists us with inner health and a well balanced mind and body.
If you are selective enough and choose an advanced mineral pool system, you could even find yourself conserving water and electricity, reducing your typical running costs and minimising the maintenance time required to look after your pool.
If you’re planning to build a new pool or simply renovate your old one then why not consider mineral sanitisation as a viable option to complete your backyard oasis. It could just end up changing you and families lifestyle.
Be sure to ask lots of questions and choose what is right for you.
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