Live Chlorine Free

Hard-to-Kill Pool Parasites: Is Your Water Protected?

Much has been sensationalized about the “explosive diarrhea parasite” in the news and on social media. The biggest concerns are Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium. These organisms are spread by ingesting contaminated food and water, leading to the question: “Could your pool be at risk, and what preventative measures can be taken?”

Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora are both oocysts, living organisms protected by an outer shell. This is why they are extremely hard to kill and not handled well by routine chlorine levels alone. At normal maintenance levels, the chlorine is expended on breaking down the protective shell, leaving nothing to kill the organism itself. This is why a well-run pool needs more than just a normal chlorine reading of 1-3 ppm to be truly safe.

Swimmer behavior is the first line of defense. A pre-swim shower helps wash away germs, frequent bathroom breaks reduce the chance of accidents in the water, and thorough hand washing helps keep contaminants out of the pool in the first place.

Just as important, anyone with diarrhea should stay out of the water and not return for at least 2 weeks after symptoms disappear.

That is where ozone water treatment can help. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer and, when properly designed into a pool system, it can add a valuable layer of protection against hard-to-kill pathogens like Crypto, Cyclospora, and Giardia*. It should not replace proper chlorine, pH control, or filtration, but it kills cryptosporidium at a rate 10,000 times faster and more effectively than chlorine*, and therefore significantly improves overall water quality and reduces the burden on your chlorine.

For homeowners, the key point is simple: a pool is only as safe as its maintenance program and the habits of the people using it. Vigilant monitoring of pool users, especially children, combined with regular testing, balanced chemistry, strong circulation, and advanced treatment like ozone, can all work together to reduce risk.

Thank you to Live Chlorine Free for their sponsorship of the golf outing on Aug 24.

Live Chlorine Free tip: If chlorine smell or skin irritation is a constant battle, ask your pro whether an ozone-assisted system fits your pool.

Grateful for Live Chlorine Free and partners who help Michigan families think beyond “good enough” water care.

To learn more, visit Live Chlorine Free — https://www.livechlorinefree.com/

Thank you to the FSPA Gulf Coast chapter for allowing me to present my ozone primer class.

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