Ozone Gas Treatment For Swimming Pools

Ozone gas is widely used in the care of swimming pools and spas. This is in addition to the other swimming pool and spa disinfectants such as chlorine and bromine. O3 is used in the industry because it helps kills bacteria and it is a great oxidizer as well. It is usually preferred more than chlorine which is also quite common in the industry.

There are three main aspects of using a swimming pool ozonating systems or ozone machines.

For example:

• The ozone gas produced by an ozonating machine does not remain in your swimming pool, spa or drinking water after they have been treated.

• The gas does not produce or form any organic-chlorine compounds.

• O3 gas has an extremely high oxidation potential.

• Once O3 gas decays, it leaves no taste or odor in the water.

Ozone is a gaseous molecule with three oxygen atoms O3. It is slightly soluble in water; however, it cannot be stored or transported like other industrial chemical gases. The fact of the matter is because it quickly decays into diatomic oxygen. Because O3 gas cannot be transported or stored, it must be produced or manufactured on site.

This process is accomplished using ozone generators that are powered up with high voltage. When it comes to swimming pool care, O3 gas is considered a supplemental oxidizer, which means that it must be used in conjunction with an EPA approved swimming pool or spa disinfectant.

Because this oxidizer is so toxic, ozonators are installed in the water circulation system of pools and spas. This type of installation allows for the O3 gas to be properly dissolved. For swimming pool and spa owners to reap the benefits of proper O3 oxidation, they must have an efficient and effective method of injecting the gas into their pool water.

The venturi vacuum injection system is a very efficient method for this purpose; hence, it is widely used in both the swimming pool and aquarium industry.

High Reactivity Of Ozone

Not all materials are compatible in the installation of a swimming pool ozone system. O3 gas has a high reactivity level; hence, only a few materials can be used in the installation of ozonators.

OZONE GENERATOR

Some of these materials include...

• Stainless steel (316L quality).
• Titanium.
• Aluminium (providing no moisture is present in the system).
• Glass.
• Polytetrafluorethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride.

Another downside to the installation of ozonating machines, is that O-rings and gaskets made of elastomer materials, are susceptible to embrittlement or shrinkage and what is called O3 cracking. These are common signs of failure of these types of materials when they are exposed to the O3 ozone gas.

Ozone Gas Applications

The largest use of ozone gas treatment is in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, synthetic lubricants, swimming pools, and spa treatment.

Once you have an abundant supply of electrical power, treating your spas and swimming pools using ozonators can be very cost effective.

O3 gas is always produced on demand; therefore, it does not require any sort of transportation...just injection. It also means that you will not be required to store any hazardous swimming pool chemicals. Once the 03 gas decays, no trace of it is found in your swimming pool or spa water.

Good control of the surrounding air humidity can vastly improve both the killing power and the rate at which ozone is converts back into oxygen. Evidence reveals that the more humidity presents, the more effective O3 gas will be.

Ozone Swimming Pool And Spa Treatment

O3 gas is not only used in the treatment of swimming pools and spas. Other applications of this very toxic oxidizer are in the treatment of the water in aquariums and fishponds. The use of this gas oxidizer can...

• Minimize the growth of bacteria.

• Control the influx of parasites.

• Eliminate the transmission of some diseases.

• Reduce or eliminate the "yellowing" of your spa or swimming pool water.

Health Risk Of Ozone Exposure

Ozone is both naturally and man-made and whether in its pure form or mixed with other swimming pool chemicals, ozone can be harmful to your health. Some health problems that can be experienced due to the exposure of this gas oxidizer include:

• The constriction of the muscles in the airways; thus, trapping the air in alveoli. 

• Wheezing and shortness of breath in an individual making it difficult to breathe.
  

• Painful deep breaths.

• Coughing and sore or scratchy throat.

• Damaged and Inflamed airways.

• Aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

• Increase the frequency of asthma attacks.

• Make the lungs more susceptible to infection.

• Continue to damage the lungs even when the symptoms have disappeared.

• Cause (COPD) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Children and adults alike when exposed to ozone gas for an extended period can sustain prolonged health issues. Consequently, missing a lot of school and workdays.

Can Ozone Cause Cancer?

Ozone, apart from causing breathing difficulties, can cause cancer!  US Government researchers discovered convincing evidence that the highly reactive toxic ozone gas used as treatment in swimming pools and industries could be carcinogenic indeed. 

These researchers are also backed by a study conducted on mice by the US Department Of Health in their National Toxicology Program which shows some evidence of carcinogenic ozone activity. 

Conclusion

When using O3 gas to treat the water in aquariums and fishponds, it is vitally important that you do not allow the gas to come in contact with the gill structure of the fish.

If this were to happen, there would be fish fatalities. As you can see, the use of O3 gas as an oxidizer in your swimming pool treatment can be amazingly effective.

However, you must remember that because of the toxicity of this product, you must always have a properly ventilated room with the proper monitoring devices. In addition, extreme caution must be at all times when dealing or using this gas called ozone.

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