 These are some of the most frequently asked questions Ozone FAQ’S What Is Ozone What Does Ozone Do Is Ozone Safe for the Environment and my new Equipment Is Ozone Convenient in Pools and Spas Will Ozone hurt me Can Ozone damage my pool or spa equipment Can I now do away with chlorine or other conventional water treatments Do I still have to filter the water as often Will Ozone affect my pH Will Ozone reduce scum lines and foaming in spas If I use Ozone in my pool or spa, will I help replenish the ozone layer
Ozone FAQ’S What Is Ozone?  Ozone is an unstable and reactive gas with a short lifespan, created naturally during lightning storms or by ultra violet radiation converting two molecules of oxygen O2 into three molecules O3. Ozone is also referred to as activated oxygen, allotropic oxygen or triatomic oxygen.
Ozone is second only to fluoride as the most powerful oxidizer or oxidant in the world for sanitation. It will break down most chemicals into that chemicals basic naturally occurring component parts. It is commonly used to purifying drinking water, the first water purification plant using ozone was built in Nice, France in 1906.  With advances in technology and cost reductions Ozone sanitisation in pools and spas is becoming more and more popular. Compared with Chlorine, Ozone purifies water 3,000 times faster and leaves no by-products except pure oxygen, where as chlorine produces hypochloric acid and other salts in water applications. In the quantities needed for water purification, ozone does not irritate people or equipment or have any noticeable smell, taste or colour and it eliminates much of the routine maintenance because it does such an effective job keeping the water clean.
back to the top of page What Does Ozone Do? The Ozone layer in the upper atmosphere protects the earth from deadly radiation it is also what makes the sky look blue when we look up. Ozone destroys bacteria, viruses, mould, and mildew. Ozone eliminates spores, cysts, yeast, and fungus Ozone oxidizes iron, sulphur, manganese and hydrogen sulphate. Ozone oxidizes soap, deodorant, hair spray, cologne makeup, perfume, body lotion, hand cream, sun tan lotion, saliva and urine. Ozone keeps water clean, fresh and sparkling dear.
back to the top of page Is Ozone Healthy? Ozone leaves no chemical by-products in water. Ozone leaves no chemical taste or smell. Ozone will not bum eyes or make them red or irritated. Ozone will not irritate or dry out skin, nose, or ears 0zone will not leave a chemical film on material or skin Ozone will not discolour or damage hair or clothing Ozone adds no contaminants or by-products to water. Ozone rids water and air of unhealthy micro organisms Ozone is NOT a carcinogen
back to the top of page Is Ozone Safe for the Environment and my new Equipment? Ozone will not explode Ozone is not a fire hazard In the dose required for excellent purification, ozone does not produce harmful fumes. Ozone will not damage plumbing fittings or pipes.
back to the top of page Is Ozone Convenient in Swimming Pools and Spas? back to the top of page Will Ozone hurt me? However, you should never breathe concentrated ozone gas. back to the top of page Can ozone damage my pool or spa equipment? No. In fact, it is very gentle to spas, pools, and equipment. Applied properly, ozone is gentler than any other water purifier in existence.
back to the top of page
Can I now do away with chlorine or other conventional water treatments? We prefer that you continue to use a soluble oxidizer such as chlorine to maintain a total protection against bacteria, viruses and algae. Although extremely efficient ozone in a pool or spa environment needs the background disinfections that chlorine or bromine can give. Many people are worried about the use of chlorine in their swimming pool water. When asked why, most people will answer that they don't like the smell. Actually chlorine is not the culprit here, at least not directly, Most problems with chlorine occur when the water chemistry is not correct, Here is why. When any type of chlorine is added to water, it usually forms hypochlorous acid (HOCI -the most powerful killing form of chlorine in water) and hypochlorite ion (OCI), a relatively weak form of chlorine in water. The percentage of HOCI and OCI is determined by the pH of the water. As the pH goes up, less of the chlorine is in the killing form and more of the chlorine is in the weaker form. The total of HOCI and OCI is the free available chlorine. Chlorine can combine with ammonia and nitrogen compounds in the water to form chloramines, sometimes called combined chlorine. By combining with ammonia and nitrogen, free chlorine in the water is disabled. Chloramines are 60 to 80 times less effective than free chlorine. Chloramines are formed any time ammonia and nitrogen are in the water. Some of the ammonia and nitrogen compounds are introduced into the water by swimmers and bathers in the form of perspiration, urine, saliva, sputum etc. For example an active swimmer sweats ½ litre per hour, the average person sweats 1½ litre per hour in a heated spa. Chloramines smell bad. This is the smell most often associated with pools and spas in Sports centres, Health clubs and Hotels. Chloramines are eye and skin irritants, and they cloud the water. Chloramines can be removed from the water by the following three methods: I. By adding a mega-dose of chlorine. Usually 3 to 6 times more chlorine than a normal dose is added to the water, or the level of chlorine is raised to 5 to 10 ppm and held there for 4 hours. This is called super chlorination. To remove chloramines, the ratio of chlorine to ammonia must be at least 7.6 to 1. If this ratio is not obtained, then more chloramines will be produced. Swimmers and bathers should not enter the water until the level of chlorine has dropped to below 3 ppm or less. II. By adding a non-chlorine shock to the water. The most common chemical used for this is potassium peroxymonosulphate. This shocking requires the addition of 10 grams of shock for each 7500 litres of pool water. III. By adding ozone to the water, oxidation of the ammonia and nitrogen compounds will take place whenever the ozone system is operating. Ozone takes care of the big job of oxidizing all these organic contaminants. back to the top of page Do I still have to filter the water as often? back to the top of page Will Ozone affect my pH? back to the top of page Will Ozone reduce scum lines and foaming in spas? back to the top of page If I use Ozone in my pool or spa, will I help replenish the ozone layer? back to the top of page | 
