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31
March 2006
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Copper / silver: keep taking the chlorine says pool group Swimming pool water treatment using silver and copper should not be promoted for use without a residual disinfectant, says the independent Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group. Claims that such products offer 'chlorine-free' bathing should be resisted by pool operators. PWTAG'S chairman, Howard Gosling, is clear about the limitations of such products, being actively promoted recently. 'Silver inhibits bacterial growth, rather slowly, and copper is an algaecide. There is no good evidence that used together they give more than marginal benefit. Pools need to be dosed with a chlorine residual disinfectant as well.' PWTAG's website (www.pwtag.org) carries some new material summarising the role of copper / silver and other 'novel' treatments. This will form part of the new edition of the group's definitive book, Swimming Pool Water treatment and quality standards, due out this summer. The current edition is still available [see page 2] Howard Gosling is concerned that Trading Standards departments don't seem to be prepared to take action about misleading claims. 'We think that some companies are wrongly promoting copper / silver alone - for small club pools, for example.This presents a real infection risk to bathers. Claims are often based on misleading data such as the use of copper / silver to keep drinking water 'healthy' in water systems, neglecting to mention that people are not swimming in that type of system, and that they introduce bather pollution. Trading standards should take action if companies are not prepared to operate more restraint in their promotions.
SWIMMING POOL WATER Treatment & Quality Standards (ISBN 0 9517007 66) is £35 (UK), £45 (Overseas) including post and packing. It is 144 pages and distributed by Greenhouse Publishing (tel: +44 (0)1379 890721 or fax: +44 (0)1379 898244). Bulk supplies (in boxes of 33) are available from PWTAG's secretary. |
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