Richard, I am not holding my breath on Europe reversing their decision for use of Borates in Swimming pools.. Yet again another fine example of Europe making a decision and completely over reacting based upon ignorance and lack of understanding. It is a real shame as I firmly believe Borates closely monitored and correctly administered did far more good than harm. Mmm I wonder if they did a study on 50PPM of chlorine in a pool without any CYA would they then ban chlorine, or 25 litres of acid in a 25,000 litre pool,would they then ban acid and list goes on. Put too much of nearly any chemical into a pool and it will be harmful to humans, so why target borates?
I remember once I had a white substance which brushed off the walls of a pool, it was in perfect balance, 275PPM of calcium, all grout rock hard and intact, no salt other than from the chlorine and for the life of me I could not get rid of it, 25Kg of boric acid (35PPM) and within a week no more white substance, to this day I still have no idea what it was.