Q: What makes the e-clear oxygenator system such an effective sanitizer for your swimming pool?

Transcription

1 FAQ Q: What makes the e-clear oxygenator system such an effective sanitizer for your swimming pool? A: The e-clear oxygenator produces natural oxidizers OH, O1, H2O2 that are more powerful than chlorine or ozone (click here for ORP Values). These oxidizers are highly unstable and produced in a sealed oxygen chamber rather than in the swimming pool itself. This allows e-clear to generate extremely high levels of sanitizers without any toxicity. The e-clear oxygenator also generates high levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the swimming pool water. Oxygen is a stable oxidizer and provides a healthy yet effective sanitizing residual. The e-clear oxygen technology is further combined with ionization to provide a lasting algaecidal and biocidal residual in the swimming pool that, unlike chlorine, is not affected by heat and sunlight. Q: What makes the e-clear method of oxidation more healthy than other methods? A: Unlike chlorine, salt chlorination or ozone that generates sanitizing oxidizers/oxygen radicals in the swimming pool itself, the e-clear oxygenator system is unique in that it produces powerful oxidizers OH, O1, H2O2 in a sealed chamber away from the swimmer. OH, O1 and H2O2 are highly unstable and revert back to water immediately leaving water sanitized, but non-toxic. In the swimming pool, the swimmer is only exposed to O2 and copper ions which are both beneficial, nonburning, soft and healthy. With e-clear there are no harmful DBPs produced in the water. Q: Does the e-clear system need to run 24/7? A: No. With a stable oxygen and long lasting ionization sanitizing residual, water remains sanitized even when the e-clear system is switched off. The e-clear oxygenator runs on the same cycle as your pump. Q: Does the e-clear oxygenator system require ph management? A: Yes. e-clear swimming pools are maintained at neutral ph 7 (pure water), with an optimal range between 6.8 and 7.2. e-clear's natural oxidation is ph dependent with efficiency reduced at ph levels above 7.2. e-clear swimming pools do not require alkaline management. Oxygen converts calcium in the pool into a soft bicarbonate alkaline form. This means that you never have to check and adjust your alkaline level in the water. ph is reduced using pool acid, HCL (food grade recommended) or citric acid. Since the DO caps the ph and the water is chemical free, acid usage is reduced by ~10-fold as compared to chlorine and salt swimming pools. Factors that affect ph include bather load, debris and porous pool linings such as marbelite. ph can be adjusted manually or automated. Water features and drinking water systems do not require ph management. Q: Does an e-clear swimming pool require calcium hardness management? A: Yes. Upon installation, calcium hardness levels are raised to ppm. Calcium hardness levels are important for two reasons: 1. Calcium increases the conductivity of water which is important for electronic oxidation. When readings on the e-clear management system (e-box) drop below 2 Amp, this usually indicates that calcium hardness levels need to be increased.

2 2. Calcium and DO (dissolved oxygen) in the water result in water that is soft and gentle on the skin. Oxygen converts the calcium into a bicarbonate form which softens the water. Calcium hardness levels are very stable and for domestic pools, it is usually adjusted annually. A calcium hardness test is taken and levels adjusted accordingly. Q: How difficult is it to maintain an e-clear oxygen pool? A: Maintaining an e-clear oxygen pool is easy and requires less maintenance than a chlorine pool. With no harmful chemicals to handle, self-cleaning function and automated oxidation and ionization, e-clear offers hassle free pool maintenance. Your weekly maintenance involves checking ph (ph can also be automated), visually checking Amp readings on the e-box (ie conductivity) and checking copper levels using the copper test kit provided. All that is left to do is back washing and rinsing your filter and ensuring your pool is clean and free from debris and leaves. Each e-clear oxygenator system comes with full maintenance instructions and technical support. Q: What are the ongoing costs of running an e-clear oxygen pool? A: With an e-clear oxygen pool, running costs are very low with huge savings on chemicals and water. Extremely low levels of calcium hardness flakes and minimal levels of pool acid are used. Ionization plates are self-sacrificing and replaced approx every 1-2 years depending on bather load. Ionization plates are inexpensive and easy to replace. Q: Can I back wash my swimming pool directly to the garden? A: Yes. e-clear swimming pool water is chemical free and with high oxygen content water is healthy and excellent for your soil. With high levels of DO and very low copper ion levels, water is non-toxic and can safely be used for irrigation. Q: Can I convert my existing swimming pool to an e-clear oxygen pool? A: Yes. e-clear oxygenator systems can be retrofitted provided your pump and filter are correctly sized. Q: To convert my salt water pool, do I need to drain my swimming pool prior to installing an e-clear system? A: No. With regular back washing salt levels will decrease over time. However, you will not be able to back wash directly to your garden until salt levels in your swimming pool are sufficiently reduced. Q: Are the copper ions generated by the e-clear oxygenator healthy and ecofriendly? A: Yes. Copper has been used as a natural biocide for over 11,000 years and is the most effective, natural bactericide, fungicide and algaecide known to mankind. Developed by NASA in the 60's the ionization technology was used as an alternative to chlorine for drinking water aboard space shuttles. In its natural form, copper ions are an essential micronutrient and required by all higher organisms for healthy metabolism and enzyme function. Copper ions are not absorbed through the skin and requires specialized receptors in the gastro-intestinal tract for uptake. Copper is essential for healthy skin, hair, bones and metabolism. Copper ions strengthen, repair and protect arteries, veins, nerve fibers and the immune system and prevents arthritis. The WHO has recommended a daily intake of copper of between 1.5-2ppm and EC 98/83 Directives for drinking water stipulates max copper levels of 2ppm.

3 The e-clear oxygenator produces copper ions in its natural form. In e-clear swimming pools copper is maintained at very low levels, ie 0.5ppm, below that found in most food supplements. Q: When would the e-clear oxygenator system require additional UV? A: The level of sanitation obtained by the e-clear oxygenator system is far greater than that of UV alone. However, with increased DO in the water, UV boosts the production of sanitizing OH and H2O2 molecules. For domestic use UV is not essential, but a nice extra to have. E-clear oxygenator systems with UV are recommended for Jacuzzis and Spas and Koi ponds. Q: How often do you need to change replacement parts? A: The only replacement parts are the ionization electrodes and the UV lamps, which are inexpensive and easy to replace. Ionization anodes would normally be changed every 12 to 24 months. UV lamps have an 5000 hour life. Q: How are oxidation and ionization levels regulated? A: With the e-clear oxygenator system, oxygen and ionization anodes are housed in separate chambers rather than in one chamber. This enables oxidation and ionization functions to be regulated independently of one another with NO "switching" required between modes. The e-clear electronic managment technology provides for fully automated oxidation output and a regulator switch automatically controls ionization output at correct levels. Q: Can the e-clear system be adapted for unique requirements? A: Yes, e-clear can custom make systems to match clients unique requirements such as bather load, water temperature and usage. Q: Does e-clear offer a warranty? A: Yes, all e-clear systems come with a 3 year warranty if units are weather protected and 1 year if unit is unprotected. Oxygen electrodes come with a 5 year warranty. Q: Is there a size limit for pools? A: No, e-clear systems have been installed in spas, Jacuzzis and domestic pools to commercial pools of over 10 million litres. Q: Is there a limit to the number of bathers you can you have in an e-clear swimming pool? A: With any form of water sanitation, bather load is an important factor. The bather load is dependent on the volume of water and the WHO has set recommended limits on the amount of bathers per water volume within a 24 hour period, generally 1 bather per 4,000L water. When swimming pools are over loaded filters are unable to remove the excess organic matter. Generally in chlorine or salt chlorinated pools this require an increase in chlorine levels to provide adequate sanitation. High chlorine levels and organic matter result in high levels of DBPs and chloramine gas, creating an extremely unhealthy environment. With e-clear we recommend bather loads in accordance to limits set by the WHO. If however a pool becomes overloaded to deal with the excess organic matter, a ppm chlorine residual may be used. Q: Why is good filtration and flow rates important? A: Good filtration and flow rates are crucial with any form of water sanitation to ensure suspended/organic matter is removed. The WHO has recommended standards of flow rates and filtration according to application.

4 A general rule for public/commercial pools are: A max water turnover rate of 2-4 hours; and 1Ton filtration media per 100,000L In chlorine or salt chlorinated pools if filters are under sized and flow rates inadequate chlorine levels are often increased to bleach away suspended matter and provide adequate sanitation. High chlorine levels and organic matter result in high levels of DBPs and chloramine gas, creating an extremely unhealthy environment. e-clear does not produce chlorine/bleach in the swimming pool that can "burn" away suspended matter. Therefore, good filtration and flow rates are essential. For commercial swimming pools, e-clear also recommends water turn over rates and filtration in accordance to recommendations set by the WHO. For domestic swimming pools (under 60,000L) as with chlorine, e-clear recommends a minimum 1.1kW pump and 5 bag sand filter. Technical recommendations are provided with each e-clear quotation. Q: How difficult is it to install an e-clear system? A: Easy! E-clear systems are no more difficult to install than conventional salt chlorinators and can be installed by most pool builders in about 2 hours. Q: Can I use solar heating to heat my e-clear oxygen pool? A: Yes. The e-clear oxygenator system is excellent at sanitizing heated water (far more efficient than chlorine or salt chlorinator systems). However, it is important that solar heating does not affect the flow rates. Pumping water to the roof greatly reduces flow rates and the swimming pool pump should therefore not be used for solar heating. Solar heating should be installed on a separate dedicated line with its own pump. However, if using a heat pump or heat exchanger, this can be on the same line as the pool pump. Q: How long must the pool system run each day? A: Similar to chlorine. Small pools of up to 40,000 liters ~8 hours a day Medium pools of up to 60,000 liters ~10 hours a day Larger pools~12 hours a day Q: Can the e-clear system be installed in any pool? A: The e-clear system works best with an impervious lining such as fiber-lined, fiberglass, epoxy painted or tiled pools. Porous linings such as marbelite leaches calcium into the water which has the effect of raising the ph of the water. Water quality is more stable, therefore, with an impervious lining such as fiberglass. Although it can work in good quality marbelite pools, white marbelite linings are prone to copper discoloration (blue colour). The calcium can act as a magnet for the ionization. This may cause the copper to fall out of suspension and discolour white marble. Charcoal or dark coloured pools are no problem since you won't see any copper discoloration. Since e-clear pools are chlorine free, you do not get the formation of copper chloride and therefore no black stains on your lining. Q: Is the e-clear oxygenator system suitable for koi or fish ponds?

5 A: Yes, the system is fantastic for fish ponds and very healthy since it oxygenates the water. For koi and fish ponds e-clear combines its oxygen technology with UV whilst ionization is omitted. Q: Does e-clear oxygen pools comply with WHO health directives for public pools? A: Yes. Our public pools are regularly tested by independent laboratories and complies with international Health directives. e-clear is 100% effective against E.coli, coliforms, and chlorine resistant organisms such as Legionella, Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium. Q: Do you get any odours from an e-clear oxygen pool? A: No. Since e-clear swimming pools are 100% chlorine free, no harmful chloramine gas (or chlorine odours) are generated. e-clear pools are therefore ideal for asthma sufferers and those with allergies to chlorine can swim for hours without any adverse health effects. Q: Do you get any corrosion with an e-clear oxygen pool? A: No. With e-clear water is soft and gentle. With no chlorine or salt, there are no bleaching or aggressive water chemicals to destroy the filter sand, pumps, immediate pools surround and indeed the pool shell itself! Q: Can I use borehole water in my e-clear oxygen pool? A: Yes, however, since the quality of borehole water can vary from region to region and the quality can change from time to time, borehole water is generally not ideal. Some borehole water can contain black algae, pathogens such as E.coli and faecal coliforms as well as harmful heavy metals such as mercury and cyanide. Borehole water is often rich in iron, sulphur and heavy metals and as with chlorine sanitation, will require a metal remover pre-treatment and treatment from time to time.