One technology many pool owners may not know about for pool maintenance is Ultraviolet sterilization. UV light is a powerful tool in the fight against algae, germs, and bacteria, and can be used in conjunction with a sand filter to keep your pool water healthy and sparkling!
After installing a UV sterilizer for your pool, the cost of pool upkeep will go down. Pool owners will see up to a 75% reduction in chemical use. Another bonus of reduced chlorine in your pool water will be the diminished impact of chlorine on your pool equipment. Pool liner fading is a major problem associated with chlorine disinfection. UV sterilizers also allow the small amounts of chlorine needed for the residual treatments to remain “free chlorine,” meaning the chlorine is able to sterilizer longer. Aside from the financial gains of reducing chlorine, pool owners will see a dramatic reduction in disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in their pool water, which have been linked to breathing, eye, and skill irritation and even cancer.
Disinfection byproducts (DBP’s) are compounds which form when chlorine mixes with organic material, such as sunscreen, deodorant, sweat, urine common in swimming pools. DBPs are harmful to humans and can cause cancer, asthma, and other physical problems. The risks associated with DBPs can be substantially reduced with a UV sterilizer.

Aqua Ultraviolet swimming pool sterilizers
UV sterilization also has an advantage over chlorine when dealing with water transmitted sickness. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are two protozoa which are not uncommon to find in pool water. Both Cryptosporidium and Giardia are harmful to humans and can be lethal in cases that go untreated. Cryptosporidium and Giardia have built up a resistance to Chlorine, and may only be removed with ultraviolet light, or ozone. When the water containing Cryptosporidium and Giardia pass through an Aqua Ultraviolet unit, the UV-C light alters the DNA of the protozoa, effectively neutralizing it.
Hot tubs and spas can also be made safer using UV technology. When many liquid chemicals are heated, they turn to vapor. As seen in an earlier post on taking showers in unfiltered tap water, chemicals inhaled as vapor are much more harmful to one’s health than if the pool water or shower water is ingested. Hot tubs can be easily fitted with a UV sterilizer to provide the same protection against algae, bacteria, and pathogens reducing chemical use by b75% and their associated risks.
Aqua Ultraviolet manufactures the UV that will suit your needs for pool sterilization. Our UV units can replace most of a pool’s chlorine use limiting the amount of chemicals pool owners immerse themselves in when they take a dip. UV units are easy to manage, simply change the bulb and quartz sleeve once a year, and take the necessary precautions during winter to ensure the cold does not harm your unit. Aqua UV’s pool units are durable, and are available in either plastic or stainless steel. For large pools over 50,000 gallons, our Viper UV is built to sterilize 95 gallons of water per minute.
Please visit http://www.aquaultraviolet.com/industries/swimmingpools to view current models made for pool sterilization.
For more information, email Sales@aquauv.com or call 800-454-2725. We can help you through the process of installing a new UV system on your pool or spa. Our tech support is available Monday through Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM.