Chlorine-Reduced Saline Pools

• Most saline pools are modifications on the original chlorine pool design. These pools are not completely chlorine free, instead having lower chlorine content than traditional pools. They use a specially designed filtering system and a salt chlorine generator. The salt is used to create chlorine through an electrolytic process.
  
  

Chlorine-Free Saline Pools

• There is a growing "natural" pool movement. These pools may be saline or freshwater and can have many different design aesthetics. What they all have in common is that they are chlorine free. They are designed to be as close as possible to a "swimming hole" found in nature, and use plants and filtering systems to keep the pools clean and debris free. While these pools are the best for those looking to live a chemical free lifestyle, there are some concerns about safety, as it is impossible to keep these pools completely contaminant free.
  
  

Saline Pool Advantages

• The more efficient salt-generation of chlorine allows the chlorine levels to be reduced, thus alleviating the irritating effects produced by high chlorine levels. Over the long term, saline pools are more cost effective, as salt is less expensive than chlorine. The process of generating chlorine from salt helps eliminate some of the toxic byproducts of chlorine breakdown. Finally, the strong chlorine smell of traditional pools is much improved on, and the level of salinity in the water is so low that it does not impart a strong taste to the water.
  
  

Saline Pool Disadvantages

• One of the largest disadvantages of saline pools is the higher price tag for the equipment necessary. Even though they are cheaper to maintain, there is a higher cost of entry. This higher cost is exacerbated for "natural" chlorine free pools. This, more than any other factor, will put a saline pool out of reach for many average homeowners. Another criticism is that since the salt generators still produce chlorine, there is still a chance for chlorine toxic byproducts to be produced, albeit at a much lower rate than traditional pools.