• There are several methods for sanitization that can reduce chlorine use.Swimming pool and pool house image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  Chlorine was first used to disinfect water in 1850 to disinfect the water supply in London during a cholera outbreak. Since that time, chlorine has been used in both drinking water and in pool sanitation to kill bacteria and other disease-causing agents. Over time, however, chlorine may lead to harmful byproducts, which has created the need for alternatives to using 100 percent chlorine for pool sanitation.
  
  

Salt Chlorinators

• Salt chlorinators work by adding sodium chloride to the water and running an electrolytic cell through the pool. When you turn on the pump, the cell begins to separate the salt into its components of sodium and chloride. This method still involves chlorine somewhat, as chloride gas is produced for a short time to oxidize bacteria and purify the pool. Most of the chlorine re-bonds with the sodium to become salt again almost immediately following the reaction. The purification takes place almost entirely in the cell chamber and not in the water itself so there is no need to worry about sanitizing chemicals on the skin or clothes.
  
  

Copper and Silver Ionization

• This process is quite similar to the processes used to purify drinking water. Copper and silver ionization requires an ionization chamber and much less chlorine is needed (0.5 parts per million). The ionizer is placed in the water and it sends an electric current through the copper and silver ions within. This sends out ions that oxidize the bacteria and viruses found in the water. This is not a purely chlorine-free solution but it uses much less of the chemical than would be needed without the ionizer.
  
  

Mineral Purification

• This process works similarly to the copper and silver ionizer though it does not use an electric current. A mineral purification unit passes the pool water through natural minerals like copper and silver which attacks algae and other living organisms in the water. Chlorine is still needed at 0.5 parts per million, but this is around an 80 percent decrease of the chlorine usually needed.
  
  

Ozone

• Ozone naturally oxidizes substances when added to water, which makes it a strong substance for pool sanitization. Dried concentrated oxygen or regular air passes through an electrical current, splits and collides with other oxygen molecules to make the ozone. Ozone has been used in spas and hot tubs as a sanitizer to avoid complete chlorine use. In a large sized pool you will require a great deal more ozone than is needed in a smaller hot tub. When used properly, the ozonator requires around 60 percent less chlorine for your pool than usual.