Benefits of salt
There are great benefits to a saltwater hot tub system. The main benefit is the continuous production of an active sanitizer. Many users also claim the water feels softer, there are no irritating chemical smells, and less draining is required. Salt or sodium bromide hot tubs offer one striking benefit over standard units—they provide pure chlorine or bromine, unlike granular chlorine which contains fillers and stabilizers, or bromine tablets which comprise fillers and preservatives. The byproducts of packaged chlorine and/or bromine end up in the water and the buildup leads to increased TDS, poor water quality, and greater draining frequency.
It is important to realize hot tub owners want to reduce their overall chemical usage and are turning to alternative sanitizers such as salt chlorine generators and ultraviolet (UV) systems. In fact, many hot tub manufacturers are now including UV sanitizers within their original designs. Further, several manufacturers are also offering retrofit chlorine generators that simply ‘drape over’ into the hot tub water. These units generate the sanitizer needed—with a simple tap on the device—to keep the water clean, while also reducing the amount of traditional chemicals needed.
What about draining?
Great care should be taken when draining salt system hot tubs. First, the chlorine or bromine levels should be allowed to drop to as close to zero as possible. The salt generator should be shut off and the hot tub should be left uncovered for a day or two to allow the active sanitizer levels to drop before the water is drained. The best place to drain the water is directly into the sanitary sewer through a clean out located beside the exterior of most homes. If a clean out cannot be located, the pump hose can be placed inside a bathtub or toilet. Be sure to use a low-flow sump pump to prevent backflow. The pump flow should be no more than 75.7 litres per minute (lpm) (20 gallons per minute [gmp]).
Water should never be drained onto lawns or into gardens as the sodium will burn the grass and kill plants. Any type of hot tub or pool water should never be drained into storm drains. There are strict regulations against draining chemically treated water into the storm drain. Storm drains lead directly to creeks and streams and eventually end up in larger rivers and lakes. Thus, it can have a detrimental affect on fish and wildlife in the surrounding eco-system. Hot tubs and pools should also never be drained directly into a creek or stream. Two years ago, more than 1,000 wild salmon were killed in a stream in Vancouver, B.C., when a pool contractor inadvertently drained chlorinated pool water into a storm drain that led directly to the stream. In many areas in Canada and the U.S., there are fines and penalties for draining pool and/or hot tub water directly into storm drains or streams. Fines can range up to $2,000, or in some cases even imprisonment.
Saltwater hot tubs may be emptied onto drain fields or rock pits, but this should be verified with local authorities first. There are some who claim the sodium bromide treated pools can be drained safely onto lawns without any risks of burning or bleaching the grass. In this case, however, it may be wise to test a small inconspicuous area of the lawn first before doing a complete drain.
Keeping salt system hot tubs clean and maintained is fairly simple, too. A bit of acid may be needed from time to time to keep alkalinity levels down. Phosphate levels should be checked and managed monthly. For metals, a phosphate-free metal treatment should be used to sequester the metal ions. Also, a natural clarifier should be used weekly to keep the water clear, while also effectively removing any organic solids to the filter.
Terry Arko has more than 30 years experience in the swimming pool and spa industry, working in service, repair, retail sales, chemical manufacturing, customer service, sales and product development. He is also a Certified Pool/Spa Operator® (CPO®) and CPO Instructor through the National Swimming Pool Foundation® (NSPF®). Arko is currently product specialist and for SeaKlear Pool and Spa Products a subsidiary of Halosource, Inc., a clean water technology company based in Bothell, Wash. He can be reached via e-mail at tarko@seaklear.com.
