Splashing in the pool and taking a trip down the waterslide are highlights of the summer season. But for many water lovers, eye irritation is an unfortunate byproduct of pool time, caused by traditional chlorine sanitization methods used in swimming pools.  At the primary pool complexes at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, swimmers have said goodbye to red eye. With swimmer comfort and safety top of mind, Village Center pool facilities have transitioned to salt water chlorination.

Unfamiliar with salt water chlorination? For swimmers, pool water treated with a salt water chlorine generation system has some benefits over traditional chlorine sanitization. Salt water chlorination is less irritating on the eyes and softer on the skin. It also won’t fade or damage swim suits. And it provides a more comfortable experience for swimmers with asthma, allergies, or chemical sensitivities. At one tenth to one twelfth the concentration of salt in ocean water, it even increases swimmer buoyancy.

There are environmental, safety and resource management bonuses, too. Conversion from chlorine allows Smugglers’ pool managers to reduce storage of this hazardous chemical on site. Also, the salt water system is regenerative, which creates less waste – and that translates into savings.

Here’s how the process works:

First, salt is dissolved in the water. The salt used is standard sodium chloride, the same salt you’d have in your shaker at home. The water passes through a salt cell which generates a chemical reaction that creates enough chlorine to keep the pool disinfected. Eventually, the reaction slows down and the molecules revert back to their original forms, becoming salt and water again. This reduces the need to add salt on a regular basis, and because chlorine is generated within the water, there is better consistency of sanitization.

Smugglers’ primary water complexes have been converted to salt water chlorination. These include the Mountainside lap pool and lagoon, the Courtside pool and hot tubs, and the Notchville pools. Feedback from guests is extremely positive, with many folks remarking on the softer skin feel of the water and asking questions about installation for their own pools at home.

Pools serving individual neighborhoods at the resort are also part of the conversion. The West Hill community’s pool is expected to be fully converted by mid June in time for the resort’s summer season kick off.

Out of 537,600 gallons of pool water at the resort, approximately 464,100 gallons are disinfected using the salt system, notes resort aquatics manager Tara Snow. Snow adds that the goal is to achieve full conversion by 2017, so that resort guests will enjoy the benefits of salt water chlorination at all their favorite splash and swim spots at Smugglers’.