Chlorine

[trux]

Copper Sulfate used by PristineBlue is a commonly used algaecide. Treating water against algae is only a very small part of swimming pool water treatment. It is not a replacement of disinfection methods mentioned above, and I do not think it is used in drinking water treatment at all (it is quite toxic).

EDIT: well, they claim on their website, it can be used to fight bacteria too and added even to drinking water, but I wonder if it is really as harmless for the health as they claim. I guess it contains other chemicals than just the Copper Sulfate, but I do not see the chemical components anywhere on their website.

 

[trux]

Well, so I was wrong - it is indeed used as a chlorine alternative and probably is no hoax. I found for example this:

Copper Sulphate: Chlorine Alternative in Swimming Pools

Child asthma solution comes from space – and the Greeks... 'Following a warning from scientists linking asthma in children to indoor swimming pools, Allergy UK today awarded its “Seal of Approval” for a new alternative to chlorine. The award comes as hot tubs, spas, swimming pools and inflatable pools become the “must have” accessory as Britain swelters in the sun. The technology was discovered by the Greeks, and is used today by NASA for keeping drinking water clean in space. It works by deactivating bacteria, rather than aggressively killing it. Instead of chlorine, Pristine Blue uses a natural copper sulphate solution at levels permitted for use in drinking water. It has been approved in the US for use in all 52 States, and is used there in 600,000 pools and spas.'

Seal of Approval awarded to Chlorine Alternative. 'Millions of British swimmers can now avoid bloodshot eyes following the Allergy UK “Seal of Approval” for Pristine Blue, a new alternative to chlorine. The Seal of Approval has been awarded to Pristine Blue for skin and respiratory irritation and as a safe alternative to chlorine treatments. This comes as hot tubs, spas and inflatable swimming pools become the “must have” home accessory for summer 2006.'

 

[naiad]

Interesting. A few weeks ago I went to a wholesaler of tropical marine aquarium fish, and they use a very low level of copper in their fish system to kill algae and parasites. Copper is toxic to fish, and coral reef fish are very sensitive to polluted water, so the amount used must be very low. It did seem to prevent algae very effectively. The corals and other invertebrates were in a different system, without copper, and there was some algae growth.

If it is effective against bacteria as well as algae, it should be a lot safer than chlorine, as the amount needed would be very small.

 

[wet]

Chlorine induced VCD in swimmer:

Chlorine Induced Paradoxical Vocal Cord Dysfunction CHEST - Find Articles