Every week it seems we see a new article about recreational water sanitization and how to keep pool and spa water safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published the following statement in their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, “Swallowing just a mouthful of water with Crypto in it can make otherwise healthy kids and adults sick for weeks . . . Chlorine cannot kill Crypto quickly.” Although predominantly reported in public facilities, the issue isn’t limited to large public swimming areas alone. The family with a backyard pool keeps lots of friends. And friends aren’t always upfront about that 24-hour bug they had last week.

The subject has gotten a lot of attention lately and people are concerned with swimming health dangers. Many pool owners do not feel equipped to tackle the dangers they may read about in the news. With the latest technology and advances in pool and spa water treatment systems it’s become increasingly important to know what works.

Although most sanitizer systems are developed to a high degree of complexity, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to determine what will work best. Above all, you should be well-informed and feel certain you’re making the right choice for your business.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Maintaining recreational water safety is a constant and never-ending need that leaves no room for mistakes. However, knowledge is power. To make pools safer, the Model Aquatic Health code recommends the use of secondary and supplemental sanitizers that keep working where chlorine stops. We know that combining secondary disinfection methods work against chlorine-resistant pathogens and biofilm-associated pathogens including Cryptosporidium (Crypto). Currently, the most powerful secondary “advanced” sanitizer is the Advanced Oxidation Process, or AOP.

WHAT IS AOP?
Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) refers to a variety of treatments that work together to sanitize and disinfect water by oxidizing organic and inorganic contaminants. The concept is similar to the use of ozone for disinfection, but AOP goes beyond standard methods with the production of hydroxyl radicals. Hydroxyl radicals have a higher oxidation potential than any other substance.

THE POWER OF AOP
AOP is the most powerful advanced sanitizer available on the residential pool market hands down. In properly designed systems, AOP quickly destroys contaminants that chlorine alone takes hours to sanitize. This creates a much safer pool. AOP is dramatically more powerful than Chlorine, Bromine, Hydrogen Peroxide and even Ozone.

In AOP systems, the highly unstable hydroxyl radicals react with dissolved waterborne contaminants in a series of strong oxidation reactions. This process happens almost instantaneously. AOP systems are synergistic in the sense that they are bigger than the sum of their parts.

THE SCIENCE OF AOP
When germicidal UV light (UV-C) and ozone react the result is the production of hydroxyl radicals. This reaction is known as Advanced Oxidation Process, or AOP. The systems work together to give you something more powerful than ozone and UV alone and create an extremely powerful sanitizer.

Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are the most powerful oxidation agents available, quickly destroying bacteria, viruses, pathogens and other contaminants that occur in water. Hydroxyl radicals also destroy chlorine resistant microorganisms, such as Cryptosporidium Parvum, Giardia and E.Coli.

THREE STEPS TO AOP

  • Ozone is generated using corona discharge
  • UV-C light is introduced to the ozonated water
  • Ozone and UV-C react to create powerful hydroxyl radicals

ADVANTAGES OF AOP
With the use of AOP microorganisms are destroyed, chloramines are broken down and chlorine demand is significantly reduced. Non-organic contaminants are also oxidized and water clarity is fully optimized to produce crystal clear results.

  • Destroys 99.9% of harmful contaminants
  • Quickly oxidizes Crypto, Giardia, & other chlorine resistant microorganisms
  • Dramatically reduces chemical demand & increases effectiveness of residual sanitizers
  • Eliminates chemical odors, irritation and damage to pool systems

DESIGNING A SAFE MODERN POOL
Technology is rapidly changing. Pool sanitizers have come a long way and processes only available commercially ten years ago are now available to residential consumers. By combining the best available technologies every pool can be crystal clear and absolutely safe. Every family can have peace of mind and benefit from Advanced Oxidation products.

Learn more about designing and maintaining a safer pool.