I just read a bunch of stuff on Wikipedia about algae, and cyanobacteria, while waiting for a process to run.
Lots of confusing terminology.
And eesh, yuck, slimey, blech, :tongue:
So the reason to keep algae or any growths low, is to keep the water as safe and non-toxic for humans.
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Products containing silver are not to be applied in marine/estuarine
environments or oil fields. Discharge of effluent into lakes, streams and
ponds or public water is subject to NPDES license restrictions. Water
treated with silver as a pesticide cannot be discharged into sewage systems
without notifying the sewage plant authority
From an EPA .pdf that I found in following CG's links. Boy did I wish I had found this two years ago.
Good thing I usually discharge my backwash into my landscaping.
Also from the same EPA R.E.D.
Silver, a naturally-occurring element, is registered for use in water filters to
inhibit the growth of bacteria within the filter unit of water filter systems
designed to remove objectionable taste, odors, and color from municipally
treated tap water; these bacteriostatic water filters account for over 90% of
its pesticidal use. Silver also is used to control several types of algae in
swimming pool water systems; this algicide use accounts for only about 3%
of silver's use as a pesticide.
Apparently the EPA recognizes silver as a "bacteriostatic" but not as a "bacteriocide". A huge difference.
Again, I wish I had found this stuff two years ago.
So, this explains why I have what looks like good clean water in my pool with the combination of the ionizer (silver and copper), the ozonator, and the frequent scrubbings of surfaces by the 'bot. The addition of the DE in the sand filter helps as well, by removing more of the small stuff in the water.
But the objections that everyone keeps making is that the water is not appropriately sanitized for use by people other than myself and my wife, and for frequent use. At issue is person to person transmission of disease, and animal to human transmissions since we have a large bird population and acquire frogs on occasion.
One of the problems with using ions in the pool, is that I have a test for copper, but not a test for silver, so I have to trust the ionizer's proportions.
The EPA article also makes me want to wear a dust mask when I clean the ionizer electrode, something I don't remember being cautioned about, and probably should were gloves? Or am I being too paranoid? I mean, I used to be an electronic technician, and I'm only partly crazy from the lead in the solder and other stuff.
oops, gotta go, probably starting to ramble anyway.
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But, what is the chemistry for how silver ions do their thing?