- Southside Fitness
byAlma Abell
Having a pool is a lot of fun, but it does need to be properly maintained to prevent the buildup of potentially dangerous or harmful bacteria, viruses and algae in the warm water of the pool. The same is also true of community pools or other types of pools at hotels, resorts or fitness centers, particularly if they are busy pools with large numbers of people in and around the pool area.
Understanding Tablets
Killing the bacteria, viruses and even the algae in the pool has traditionally been done with the use of chlorine. This can come in a variety of forms, with the most common being in the form of larger chlorine tablets.
These tablets come in many different forms, but most people choose the larger tablets that can come in a variety of sizes. They are individually wrapped and stabilized, and they will actually dissolve slowly in the water of the pool. Stabilizing the tablets help the chlorine to not break down as quickly when exposed to the UV rays of the sun.
Not all chlorine tablets are top quality. The lower cost, cheap tablets are not going to be stabilized, and they are also not packaged to prevent degradation of the tablet prior to use. All of the pool chemicals, including the chlorine, should be stored in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children and pets.
Typically, these tables will be used in floating devices in the pool or through automatic feeders, some are also used with skimmers, and there are even specialized floating dispensers to add to the cost of this option.
Testing
When using any type of tablet, it will be essential to keep checking the chlorine levels in the pool. Too much chlorine can result in absorption into the skin, which can have some level of toxicity. Skin rashes, burning eyes, increase in severity of skin conditions such as eczema and even increased risk of an asthma attack can all be associated with high levels of chlorine in a pool that exceed recommendations.
Finally, it is important to realize that all chlorine tablets, as well as chlorine in any form, is corrosive. It can also be flammable and explosive and when mixed with other types of chlorine or chemicals it can become extremely toxic even in very small amounts.
To avoid all the potential issues of using and storing chlorine in your home, or to avoid possible liability issues in public pools, consider alternatives to chlorine that still remove the contaminants without the risk of harmful chemicals.