What are the advantages of using chlorine to disinfect pools?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) calls chlorine and pH the first defense against germs that can make swimmers sick. Chlorine is the disinfectant of choice for the majority of public pools and nine out of ten residential pools in the U.S. Chlorine levels are easy to monitor and can be adjusted based on pool conditions such as the number of swimmers in a pool. A major advantage is that chlorine provides a residual level that continues to protect long after it is applied. Disinfectants such as ozone and ultraviolet light can provide supplemental treatment to control chlorine resistant germs like Cryptosporidium. However, none of these technologies eliminates the need to maintain a proper chlorine levels in pool water.
