| WHAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT? |
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 Perhaps the largest question about the future of saltwater pools—particularly in Canada—relates to how they affect the environment. Will regulation prevent saltwater pools from being practical? |
Following the automation and integration trend
These days, consumers are becoming familiar with the idea of integration and automation in their homes and cars. They purchase mobile phones and expect those phones to sync easily with their computers. They purchase cars and expect those cars to sync with the data and music stored on their mobile phone or tablet. And newer appliances contain computer chips that constantly monitor activity, turning on and off as needed to conserve energy.
This expectation is also translating to swimming pools. For instance, any part of a pool that must be turned on or off can be programmed and automated for convenience. This applies to lighting, running the pump, monitoring and adjusting chlorine and pH levels, and more. Automation makes it easier to maintain the pool, which ultimately increases enjoyment and free time for the pool owner.
ECGs are easy to automate and allow pool owners to combine two popular trends: saltwater pools and automation. Offering this type of automation becomes a point of differentiation for pool professionals, providing more options to sell, and positioning the business and its products as technologically advanced—similar to the homes and cars consumers are buying. Training for these new automation applications is generally available from the product manufacturers and distributors.
It is important to note, pools compete directly with other uses of discretionary income, such as luxury cars, boats, and recreational vehicles (RVs). If these types of products meet consumer’s expectations for advanced technology, pools should as well.
The need for saltwater pool products is increasing
When saltwater pools were first introduced in Canada, many pool owners and even pool professionals thought the same treatment products used in traditionally sanitized pools would work in saltwater pools. They also thought all salt was the same, so they used whatever products they could conveniently obtain.
It was soon obvious these products were not working as well as anticipated, and as industry knowledge caught up, the reasons became clear. Treatment products designed for traditional pools often contain sulfates or phosphorous-based sequestrants, which can contribute to scale in the ECG. Because the ECG produces high pH levels, temperature, and chlorine levels, these products break down and become useless in fighting scale, and they can actually denature into compounds that form additional scale in saltwater pools.
Salt designed for other purposes, such as water conditioning, and even some commodity pool salts, contain additives as well as organic and inorganic contaminants that can contribute significantly to scale, stains, and cloudy water. The chemistry of salt crystals or sodium chloride (NaCl) is the same for all pool salts. However, where it comes from and how it was produced affect the levels and types of contaminants that are embedded in the salt crystals.
As more manufacturers recognize saltwater pools are here to stay, and how these pools require high-quality salt and treatment products, which are formulated specifically for saltwater pools, they have seen opportunities to create new products. Examples to date include premium salt products that are blended with non-phosphate based scale- and stain-fighters that hold up against the extreme conditions within the ECG, powder-coated ladders and other rail goods that resist corrosion in a saltwater pool, and even parts that contain more plastic rather than metal.
The result is easier maintenance for pool professionals, more enjoyment for pool owners, and continued momentum behind the saltwater boom.
Bob Harper is vice-president of sales for Compass Minerals’ consumer and industrial business and also serves as general manager of the company’s Pristiva subsidiary. He has 25 years of experience in the pool and spa industry and is an expert in saltwater pool systems. He can be reached via e-mail at harperb@pristiva.net.
