Ugh…I thought maybe I would have a little more time before I got hit with this again the kids are already asking if we will be getting a pool this summer. Last year I dodged this issue more times than I can count and I am not looking forward to that again. But I can’t blame them. I had a pool growing up and I loved it so I know how they feel.
But I have two objections. First is the massive amount of work involved in keeping a pool clean and second is the chemicals required to keep the water clean and clear. I am not keen on either. I remember all to well the chlorine and acid my dad poured into our pool on a regular basis and how it stung your eyes and irritated the skin. Kids don’t want to hear about these things though.
So….I have been looking around a bit for alternatives to chemicals to clean pools and and I encouraged. I recently found this chemical free pool company called Eco Smart Pool. They offer a 100% chemical free pool and spa treatment that uses natural oxygen technology and a pool ionizer. It is kind of fascinating the way it works with a safe low voltage DC current being applied to copper electrodes. Copper ions have the ability to pierce the protective outer membrane of a cell and disrupt enzyme balance which then kills algae. Although lethal to bacteria and algae, pool ionizers are completely safe for humans and much more effective and safe then a chlorine and acid cocktail.
These types of systems are credited with eliminating:
Toxic chemicals
Health hazards
Offensive chemical odors
Damage to our environment
Damage to pool equipment
I remember reading something similar and blogging about it….the water quality sounds heavenly. This same company also has info about salt water pools and how they are a bad idea. They also donate 5% of their profits to environmental charities.
I am looking into pricing now but objection number one remains unaddressed…having a pool is a lot of work! And of course drowning is no small concern! I pretty much let my kids run wild in our back yard and those carefree days would be long gone if we had a pool. Ugh…anyone else have to face this recently?
Resources:
Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature
Natural Swimming Pools: A Guide to Building
Natural Swimming Pools: A Guide to Designing & Building Your Own (DVD)
Thank you for posting this! We just moved into a house that has a pool and a hot tub, they are empty at the moment, I was just dreading what to do! I wanted to go all natural but was not sure where to start. Thank you for the info!
Angie’s last blog post..Spring on the way!
I don’t think I would ever want one. I would be a wreck, constantly worrying about drowning.
Even when I visit a friend’s house (who has a pool), I’m constantly counting noses, and when I don’t see a face, images of a floating child’s body (sorry to be gruesome, just telling the truth here!) flash through my mind and my heart beats fast.
I’m fine with visiting a pool once in awhile. Or the beach or lake or whatever, and going home. I’m even nervous when we go to these places but at least I can leave when it’s time to go home! Plus I would also stress about litigation. Our injustice system pays out criminals who break into your home and fall and break a leg – I can imagine there have been tons of homeowners who despite fencing in the pool, get sued by parents of disobedient kids who sneak into the neighbor’s yard.
I’ve also heard from a friend who works at the water plant here that you can use baking soda to treat your pool …. might want to google it.
Carrie’s last blog post..Tell Me Thursday
Yikes Carrie! What a downer :)
Nah…I know just what you mean. It would scare me silly to have a pool.
I have a system similar to the one mentioned above called Superior Aqua. (http://www.superioraqua.com/) I have had it for 3 years. I also have a electric pool cover on the pool at all times when the pool is not being used. It is strong enough for an adult to stand on. This was my criteria when we built a pool. I have the key so no one can get into unless I open it.
We don’t have a diving board and the depth of the pool is 9 feet so that when kids dive they can’t crack open their heads in theroy. Diving boards scare me to death. (However, kids can try and dive into the shallow end too.) Check with your insurance company if you are thinking of putting in a diving board so to make sure your preminium does not increase.
Be really careful where you place your pool. My pool was orginally schedule to be place near a balcony until my builder commented how unsafe that would be since teenagers would try and jump from the balcony into the pool. Well, that pool was moved immediately and is right by the kitchen.
Toddlers around a pool can be scary but teenagers just don’t think especially your kids’ friends! Anna http://www.green-talk.com
Anna Hackman’s last blog post..Green Link Central Provides Easy Quality Search Results
I’ve never been too worried about drowning. I’m anal about my kids and they aren’t let out of my sight. I don’t feel as though we live in an area that would be good for that. We’re in the “country” but still surrounded by people and thre are sex offenders not too far away :( So the kids are never ever allowed out of my sight.
Anyway, off track a bit, the problem for me is the up keep. No thanks. I love pools and would love one but only if I had a pool boy to take care of things ;) So, until that happens (yeah right) we’ll be taking our kids to the beach and local pool.
Nell Taliercio’s last blog post..I?m On The Move
Growing up, my family always had a swimming pool. My father quickly became sick of chlorine maintenance.
He switched to baquacil, a form of hydrogen peroxide.
He used it for many years, but always complained about the price. A friend of his recommended pool ionizers.
My dad did his research and decided on the Power Ionizer do to it claimed little maintenance was needed and the monthly cost was little.
We all loved it. My father never complained about the pool again.
Except the time sucker thingy sucked a hole in the liner.
I currently have an above ground with the power ionizer, which is the copper/silver ionizer. I am very intimidated by this item. I am afraid I am going to mess it up some how. If you have any information on the upkeep of these ionizers, I would love to know. We have a ph stabler we got at a local store, we are supposed to add only non-chlorine shock but I have a very hard time finding that in stores. Do you have any other info about the ionizer that may help.
As for the fears of a pool, we do not have children yet. But I do have a dog who is my life. I have had the floating images in my head already and we have not even been able to swim in it yet ourselves. All I can say is fences with locks and as many gates or obstacles on the way to the pool. If you spend your life worrying about what might happen, you are gonna allow you and your children to miss out on a lot of fun quality family time.
I have a power ionizer from Hercules on my 20’x40′ inground pool ,and I love it! There is very little maintainence required.I shock my pool when it starts to lose its sparkle, which amounts to once a month or so. I ran out of test supplies two years ago, and never bought more.I can tell by looking when I need to shock. Best investment I ever made for my pool!Don’t listen to people that tell you that it will stain your pool,it has never happened to me.The ads say to replace the chamber once a year-DON’T DO IT! I’m getting about three years per chamber.Very cheap compared to chlorine.
I’m just installing a 20 x 40 and wonder if you’re still loving your Hercules ionizer. If so, can you tell me what size you purchased.
Thanks for the info.
If you have children, they need to learn how to swim whether or not you have a pool. Check out your local area to find out where classes are being held. Like crossing the street safely, teach your children about water safety. Give them the tools they need to know what to do around a pool and all you worry-some mothers (and fathers) should be able to relax a bit.
Tiffany, you have a very nicely designed website (even though I’m single). I found the info here useful. Thank you.
Greta