Making your pools and spas safer, economical,
and environmentally friendly.
1. What is ultraviolet (UV) light? 2. How is UV used to sterilize water? 3. How is UV used in industry? 4. Why is UV especially well suited for swimming pool sterilization?
16. How can I maintain a
Combined Available Chlorine level of 0 ppm, and a Free
AvailableChlorine
(FAC) level of 1/2 ppm.
Ultraviolet (UV) light represents one portion of the
sun's electromagnetic spectrum. It is the wavelength
shorter than that of visible light, but longer than
x-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from
3 eV to 124 eV. It is so named because the spectrum
consists of electromagnetic waves with frequencies
higher than those that humans identify as the color
violet.
Most people are aware of the effects of UV through
sunburn, but the UV spectrum has many other effects,
both beneficial and damaging, on human health.
An electric arc, struck the length of the lamp, travels
through an inert gas. The UV light passes through a
special quartz glass which is placed in the water
current. The water flows around the UV lamp exposing
any microorganisms, viruses, bacteria and/or algae to a
lethal dose of UV light.
Ultraviolet lig ht penetrates the cell wall of a microorganism and reacts with the microorganisms DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The C=C carbon bond in the molecules of the microorganism is broken causing cellular death. The microorganism is rendered incapable of growing and multiplying. UV is very effective, destroying 99.9% of harmful organisms.
After UV light exposure, a strong oxidative effect
occurs on any orgaism that passes through the media,
converting algae, pathogens, and viruses into harmless
inert byproducts.
UV is commonly used in drinking water and wastewater
treatment plants and is finding an increased usage in
swimming pool treatment. Many bottlers of spring water
use UV disinfection to sterilize their water. New York
City has approved the construction of a 2 billion gallon
per day ultraviolet water disinfection facility.
UV has two very impressive effects on swimming pool
water. First, UV destroys 99.9% of harmful organisms as
they pass through the SpectraClear sterilizer chamber.
This germicidal benefits of UV has been known for
decades. The scientific community recently discovered a
second benefit which is equally impressive as the
first. UV almost perfectly unlinks the hypochorous acid
from ammonia, destroying unwanted combined chlorine,
also known as chloramines. Chloramines are known to
cause a host of problems in swimming pools, from the
foul odor to burning eyes, and skin irriation. In
addition, they have been linked to much more serious
conditions such as "swimmers asthma" and bladder cancer.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes UV
as a proven technology:
 "Ultraviolet
(UV) radiation has been found to be an effective
disinfectant….Simplicity of installation, ease of
operation and maintenance, and low costs relative to
chemical disinfection, make UV a useful small systems
disinfection technology option."
EPA,
August 1997
The World Health Organization recommended for swimming
pool sanitization.
The State of New York requires UV sterilizers on all water parks. The Olympic Games in Athens and Sydney utilized UV lights for their swimming pools. The University of Texas and Yale University use UV to purify their swimming pools. NASA has used UV for purification. Visit our UV Pool Sterilizer Accolades page for more on where UV is used
No, UV lights are highly efficient. Residential
SpectraClear sterilizers use about the same electricity
as a low wattage light bulb. It's a very cost effective
method of pool sterilization, often saving hundreds or
even thousands in annual maintenance costs.
7. Why not just use chlorine in my swimming pool or spa?
When chlorine combines with perspiration, urine, oils
and organic matter, harmful by-products called
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are formed. These nasty
by-products have been linked to cancer, asthma, and
other diseases. Scientists are just beginning to
discover how harmful these chemical compounds are to
human health. For more information, visit our
risks of chlorine page.
UV destroys nearly 100% of chlorine byproducts and
chloramines. In addition, UV has been proven to
deliver the lowest cost of ownership by lowering
dependence on chlorine and chemicals.
Pools that use traditional levels of chlorine can become
sort of a chemical soup of chlorine by-products when
chlorine combines with perspiration, oils, and organic
debris. The unwanted chemicial compounds cause:
- the "pool smell" that people usually associate with chlorine - red, burning eyes - burning sesation in the nose, throat, and lungs - dry, itchy skin, and dry hair - breathing difficulty leading to "swimmers asthma", particularly in young children - milky colored water - green water due to high combined chlorine levels 9. Do I still need a residual sanitizer for my pool with SpectraClear installed?
SpectraClear does not recommend using UV technology as
the sole method of pool or spa santization. UV does not
enter the pool and no UV residual is maintained in the
water. It is impossible to pass the internal parts of
your pool (ie. wall, ladder, etc.) through the
sterilizer. The good news is with UV, a little residual
sanitizer goes a long way.
SpectraClear UV has the ability to eliminate up to 80 -
90% of chlorine used in traditional chlorinated pools
(commercial pools may require slightly higher
residuals). A small residual level of Free Available
Chlorine between .3 and .5 ppm is recommended. This is
about the about the level found in drinking water. If
you must eliminate all chlorine, see the #17
I'm Allergic to
Chlorine question. Most experts agree that a low
level of Free Available Chlorine is safe and does not
pose a health risk. Chlorine side effects are
eliminated at this low chlorine level.
Yes, because salt systems simply make chlorine,
SpectraClear is compatible with salt systems and
chlorine generators. SpectraClear will allow you to
dial down the amount of chlorine the salt system
manufactures.
However, there are pool owners who successfully use SpectraClear with no chlorine by choosing other residual sanitizers. Again, we recommend a low level of chlorine for safety and simplicity.
A .3 - .5 chlorine residual can be maintained using a
few 1" or 3" chlorine tablets. Most pools do not
require many tablets to reach a 1/2 ppm chlorine
residual. Automatic feeders are thought to be the
better choice as they release precise amounts of
chlorine into your pool water. A floating chlorine
feeder or an automatic chlorine feeder can be found at
most supply stores.
Yes, but it becomes much easier. Maintaining proper pH
is very important to maintaining neutral water that does
not burn your eyes. High chlorine levels and high
combined chlorine can cause a high variation in pH. A
pool which has UV in use will tend to have a very stable
pH and alkalinity, so adjustments will be rare.
1/2 part per million (PPM) is a very, very low amount of
chlorine. 1/2 PPM is equivalent to:
-
one drop of dye in 36 gallons of water. -
one second in 24 days-
one penny out of $20,000.
SpectraClear recommends a Combined Available Chlorine
level of 0.
16. How can I obtain a Combined
Available Chlorine level of 0 ppm, and a Free Available
Chlorine (FAC) level of 1/2 ppm.
SpectraClear is designed to automatically and
continuously lower CAC to 0 or near 0.
SpectraClear
destroys ammonia and the organic compounds that form
CAC, or chloramines. A FAC level of 1/2 PPM may be
maintained with a small amount of chlorine tablets,
released with a floater or automatic feeder.
To totally eliminate chlorine, some Spectra Clear owners
are using hydrogen peroxide.
You may consider trying a low level of Bromine. Bromine
is preferred by some pool and spa owners that are
allergic to even very low levels of chlorine. Bromine
is also available in tablet form and can be added to
pool water using a chemical feeder to dissolve the
tablets. The disadvantage to bromine is that it is more
expensive than chlorine. SpectraClear recommends trying
a low chlorine residual of .3 - .5 ppm for individuals
that are sensitive to traditional chlorine levels.
Please remember, .5 PPM is equivalent to one drop in 36
gallons of water, a very low level.
Spectra Clear is a distributor that sells direct to
dealers anddpool
owners. If there is no dealer in your area, we
ship direct. SpectraClear
sterilizers are easily shipped anywhere and can be
installed in less than 30 minutes by the pool owner or
any plumber. Installation does not require a "pool
company". Pool owners appreciate the 30 - 50 in cost
savings realized from our direct sales model.
Yes, the safety of UV for sterilizing swimming pools has
been proven over decades. UV began purifying drinking
water over 30 years ago. UV does not leave the
sterilization chamber nor does it produce any residual
in the water. SpectraClear should be used only as
directed, and the unit should not be disassembled and
turned on.
Over the years, there have been attempts to make and
sell devices with the claim of replacing chlorine in
swimming pools. Some of these devices can still be
found online. The problem is that most are not based on
sound scientific principles and simply do not work. UV
is the most popular non-chlorine sanitizer at
municipalities and major universities.
1.
Is the technology based on proven data widely accepted
by the scientific community?2.
Has the technology been recommended by leading health
and environmental organizations? 3.
Have municipalities and leading universities chosen the
technology for their swimming pools?
All SpectraClear UV housings have a limited lifetime
warranty against failure to defects in materials and/or
workmanship. The complete unit is covered for one year
from the date of purchase or 18 months from the date of
manufacture.
SpectraClear’s try me option allows you to try out
SpectraClear (residential units qualify) for up to 30
days in your own pool or backyard. If you’re not
completely satisfied, simply return it to us and we’ll
refund your investment, less shipping. Try
SpectraClear
for 30 days and chances are we couldn’t get it back if
we tried!
SpectraClear ships free to anywhere in continental USA
and Canada.
SpectraClear sterilizers are installed on the
filteration pad, near your pump and filter. The best
place to install your SpectraClear is after the filter.
However, if installation after the filter is not
feasible, it may be installed before the filter.
Your SpectraClear will begin working immediately. Since
all of the water must pass through the sterilizer, it
typically takes 1-2 days to see improvement. After 3-5
days, most owners report a level of clarity and color
they have never seen before.
Spectra Clear's Ultra Uv must be installed vertically.
28. How long should I run my pool pump
each day?
We recommend running the pump at least 12 hours per day. Experts agree that it is better and more cost efficient to operate a pool pump longer, 12 - 24 hours per day, but to operate it at a slower speed (RPM). Many states such as California have made 2-speed/multispeed pumps mandatory. These new style pumps have the ability to lower electrical consumption up to 80% and will pay for the upgrade costs many times over. The rule of thumb is a 50% reduction in pump speed uses 1/8 of the electricity.One option to consider is the Pentair Intelliflo.
We recommend running SpectraClear when your pump is
operating, 12 - 24 hours per day. Please note that
operating a pump slower, but longer can save 80% in
electricity use. Consider upgrading to a 2-speed or
multi-speed pump such as the
Pentair Intelliflo if you don't already have
one.
The Quartz sleeve should be cleaned once every 1-2
weeks. The unit contains an ingenious quartz wiper
which cleans the Quartz sleeve much like a squeegee
cleans your windshield. To quickly and easily clean the
unit, you simply move the black handle on each unit back
and forth 3-4 times.
The UV lamp must be replaced once a year. The ability
to emit UV light decreases over time and replacement
ensures your pool is protected well before the UV power
significantly declines.
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