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By Jeffrey J. Zeigler
The Whalehead Club in Corolla not only had the first swimming pool on the Outer Banks, it had the first saltwater pool. Although the pool no longer exists, the original owners, Marie Louise and Edward Knight, incurred the additional expense of running saltwater pipes to their bathrooms because they enjoyed the healthful benefits of saltwater bathing. Recently, the largest saltwater pool in the world opened at the San Alfonso del Mar resort in Algarrobo, Chile. The pool is more than 1,000 yards long (that’s 10 football fields), covers 20 acres, and holds about 66 million gallons.
Although these pools used (and use) natural saltwater, they are not to be confused with saltwater technology that has become popular among many private pool owners on the Outer Banks.
The saltwater technology actually uses salt to create chlorine by way of electrolysis. The water with the salt is converted into a steady drip of chlorine with plates similar to an automobile battery, and one can increase or decrease the amount of flow going into the pool.
The sales of saltwater pools have grown substantially in the past five years mainly because the water feels softer. It also does not dry out your skin or burn your eyes like chlorine pools. The reason that happens in chlorine pools is that people have a tendency to overdo the chlorine, and once it is put in, it cannot be removed. A saltwater pool takes the guesswork out of it because the chlorine is added at a constant rate and therefore, there is no buildup. That buildup is what causes your eyes to burn and wrecks your swimwear.
There can also be a significant cost savings. Some saltwater pool owners report saving as much as $300 to $400 a year in chemicals. The one possible disadvantage reported by some homeowners is that saltwater systems can cause corrosion of metal components and the stone around the pool.
Most local companies are enthusiastic about offering pools that utilize green practices. Mark Welch of Oceanside Pools & Spas says his company has installed about 200 of them and continues to be a big proponent.
“We are also big on recommending a two-speed pump or one of the new variable speed pumps because they can save energy in a huge way,” he said.
Welch explained that most pool owners on the Outer Banks have a one-horsepower pump that runs 3450 RPMs, 24 hours a day, which consumes about $108 in electricity monthly. By simply switching to a two-speed motor and utilizing low speed (1725 RPMs) to do the filtration, the homeowner could realize an 87 percent savings on their electric bill without compromising the pool turnover filtration rate. In most cases the motor can be switched out in a matter of minutes, without redoing any plumbing. High speed can then be used for water features such as fountains and waterfalls.
“The new variable speed pumps that have come out are even better. The green you save is like money in the bank. We put one in at our house and found we recovered the extra cost for that motor in no time because it costs us about $12.34 a month to run it.
“The average one-speed pump costs about $450 to buy and a two-speed is $700. The variable rate pump jumps up to $1,200 or $1,300.”
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Tips from the Pros
Here are a couple of fun facts.
Did you know that percentage-wise, the salt in a salt water pool contains only one third the salt content of a human tear drop?
Ocean water has a salt content of 35,000 parts per million. For the average person, the salt-taster threshold though is 3,500 parts per million, and the optimal level for a salt water pool is between 3,000 and 3,100 parts per million, which is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt per gallon.
– Mark Welch of Oceanside Pools and Spas
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