growth rate is to try to slow the algae growth.

This can also be accomplished through specialty chemicals. Algicides and algistats are obvious ways to control algae, but what about removing the conditions that favor algae growth?

If a primary source of algae food – that is, phosphates – is removed, algae have a much more difficult time getting a toehold, so phosphate removers can make a real difference.

The other method of reducing chlorine demand is by removing the other source of that demand – the non-living oxidants. In a pool, those non-living oxidants come in three main categories that include metals, nitrogen compounds, and non-living, carbon-based bather waste.

In swimming pools, chlorine reacts with these items by oxidizing them, so if their presence can be reduced, chlorine demand will naturally go down. Fortunately, there are certain specialty chemicals that can reduce some of oxidants.

In this issue of Service Industry News, we’ll take a closer look at some of the popular specialty chemicals used today, and how they can reduce chlorine use, in a time when there has never been such strong demand.