Oxidation October
How did it come to be October already? It feels like summer went by in a flash. Most pools close in late September and early October here in the Northeast. With sweater weather upon us and the presence of autumnal favorites like foliage viewing, pumpkin picking, and hay rides, our swimming pools are not at the forefront of our minds. October is an ideal time to learn about and understand our pools. And, if your pool is still open, you are seeing increased debris in the form of leaves, acorns, and twigs falling from trees. So, what can we do about that?
OXI-WHAT?
Many new cleaning products on the market promote accelerated cleaning power by incorporating the word “oxi” into their names. Using “oxi” in the name of these products is an indication that there is an oxidizing agent used. In the swimming pool world, oxidation is something we think about every day. What is oxidation? By definition, oxidation is the process of changing the chemical structure of water contaminants by increasing the number of oxygen atoms or reducing the number of electrons in the contaminants. What the oxidizing agent does is increase the number of oxygen atoms to get rid of or “oxidize” contaminants and chemically destroy them.
ON DEMAND
The good news is that chlorine and bromine, which are the most common disinfectants, are also oxidizers. This means you can essentially use one product to kill the germs and oxidize the contaminants. When you buy “shock”, it will have the ability to both disinfect and oxidize. In commercial applications, supplemental systems are more commonly used to assist with oxidation, including ozone and UV systems.
OUT OF SIGHT
When there are small contaminants that are unable to be filtered and cannot be oxidized, this can lead to cloudy water. Cloudy water can also result from poor water balance, poor filtration, and an overabundance of chemical additions. Environmental contributors like wind and rain can bring in organic particles from the trees, bushes, grass, and more that can contaminate and cloud the water. While probably not an issue in October, bathers also play a factor in cloudy water and disinfectant depletion by bringing contaminants into the water such as skin, oils, hair, and bather waste. If you have a problem with colored water, it is most likely due to metals in your water that have been oxidized. Metals can enter your water through your fill water and certain products you may use for specialty reasons.
OHHHH
So now you know what the oxidation process is and what actually happens in your pool with your oxidizer. Interested in learning more? Check out our website or give us a call for more pool information and tips.
