The first priority in any hot tub or spa is to have safe and healthy water and secondarily to keep that water clear
and inviting. The pool and spa industry typically uses chlorine and bromine to sanitize – to destroy 99% of
microorganisms in the water. EcoOne is not a sanitizer, but uses similar processes to keep your water clean and
safe. EcoOne is a spa water treatment created for natural spa maintenance.
How Chlorine Works.
Chlorine destroys bacteria though a fairly simple chemical reaction. Chlorine when dissolved in water breaks down
into many different chemicals, including hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl-). Free available
chlorine (hypochlorous acid) enters through the bacterial cell wall and kills the organism by destroying (oxidizing) the
sulfur groups on the cell's enzymes, causing the cell's metabolism to stop, resulting in the cell's death. The
difference between HOCl and OCl- is the speed at which they oxidize. Hypochlorous acid is able to oxidize the
organisms in several seconds, while the hypochlorite ion may take up to 30 minutes.
Only 10% of the chlorine added to spa water goes on to kill living organisms. The other 90 % of the chlorine oxidizes
(destroys) waste products in the water. The byproducts of chlorine oxidation are chloramines, which have very little
sanitizing ability. Chloramines have a very strong chlorine odor, and they cause nasal and eye irritation. Shocking
the water with chlorine will eliminate excessive chloramines, but it requires raising the spa chlorine level to
approximately 10 ppm. Then you have to wait till the chlorine drops to 5 ppm before using your spa. So the cycle of
adding chlorine to maintain the 1 to 3 ppm and then shocking the spa to remove the chloramines goes on.
How EcoOne Works.
EcoOne removes the organic materials in the spa water through a biological process. All bacteria, whether
beneficial or pathogenic, require stable food sources to grow and reproduce. If you remove the food sources, the
bacteria will starve and die. As food (organic material) becomes scarce, the bacteria have to compete for the
remaining food and often will attack each other (protozoas) thus further reducing the number of bacteria. The
naturally occurring enzymes in EcoOne break down organic contaminants (oils, lotions, deodorants, sweat, dead
skin cells, etc.) that bacteria feed on, thus removing the food source. These enzymes continue to work for a month
constantly removing new sources of organics.
Since EcoOne is not a sanitizer, minimizing the sources of bacteria and organic materials introduced into the spa,
and removing the organics is key to keeping the water clean and healthy. Some additional products are
recommended to assist the EcoOne in the spa water treatment.
Use a shock weekly. ONEshock makes shock easy. No measuring. Just use the proper number on packets for the
gallons of water in your spa. Non-chlorine shock (potassium monopersulfate) is a good alternative for people
sensitive to chlorine and gives quick results by oxidizing the organics in the water. Non-chlorine shock should be
used at least once a week or as needed. You can use your spa in as little as 15 minutes after adding a non-chlorine
shock, but we recommend adding it to your spa after you get out.
Water clarifiers are helpful in removing oils and lotions. Some work by clumping small particles together so the filter
can remove them. Enzyme clarifiers break down the contaminants into harmless components like water and carbon
dioxide. Water clarifier should be added weekly for maintenance or daily as needed to clean up cloudy water.
Filtration is the final piece. Using a pre-filter when filling or adding water to your spa will remove metals and
minerals that can cause cloudiness, discoloration, or other water quality issues. Good filter maintenance can be
achieved by rinsing your spa filter to remove loose materials once a week, and clean your filter with Nova
Penetrating Spa Cleanser once a month by soaking it in the cleanser, rinsing, and allowing to dry before reinstalling
it. (Filter Maintenance Tips)
Additional information
Sterilization: 100% destruction of all bacteria on the object being sterilized. This process has no use in
recreational water. One cannot 'sterilize' a pool or spa. There is simply too much activity - bathers entering and
leaving, air volume changes, large spaces, etc.
Disinfection: 100% destruction of all disease-causing bacteria (pathogens) on the object being disinfected. As
with sterilization, one cannot obtain complete destruction in the pool environment. Although improper, the terms
"disinfection" and 'disinfectant' have persisted and are commonly used.
Sanitation: The destruction of microorganisms to levels (usually by 99% or more) deemed safe by public health
standards. This is the proper term to be used with pool / spa water. One "sanitizes" pool / spa water with a 'sanitizer'.
Oxidation: Simply stated, oxidation is the combination of an element with oxygen. Burning coal (carbon) to produce
carbon dioxide is oxidation. This usually means destruction of the substance being 'oxidized. Oxidation can occur
without flames when chlorine oxidizes the organics from bathers in pool water. The substance is oxidized, destroyed
or 'burned out'. Oxidizing does not necessarily mean sanitation. Nor does sanitation necessarily mean oxidation. For
example, potassium monopersulfate, a non-chlorine shock commonly used in the pool industry, is an oxidizer but an
ineffective sanitizer. Whereas polyhexamethylene biguanide, which is sold as 'Bacquacil', is a sanitizer but not an
oxidizer.
Calcium hypochlorite is widely used for pool and spa water treatment. This chemical is considered to be relatively
stable and has greater available chlorine than sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). It has been estimated that over
90% of the free available chlorine residual is used to oxidize organics introduced into the pool by bathers. Positives
are that it kills almost all bacteria and removes food sources that the bacteria live on. Negatives are that it is caustic
and can cause irritation to skin and respiratory systems even at low doses deemed safe by the EPA. Additionally,
chlorine kills beneficial bacteria that eat organic contaminants in the water, and you have to maintain chlorine levels
for it to be effective.
Sodium hypochlorite solution, commonly known as bleach, is frequently used as a disinfectant. Positives are that
it kills the widest range of pathogens of any inexpensive disinfectant; it is extremely powerful against viruses and
bacteria at room temperature; it is commonly available and inexpensive; and it breaks down quickly into harmless
components (primarily table salt and oxygen). Negatives are that it is caustic to the skin and eyes, especially at
higher concentrations; like many common disinfectants, it degrades in the presence of organic substances; it has a
strong odor; it is not effective against giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium.
and inviting. The pool and spa industry typically uses chlorine and bromine to sanitize – to destroy 99% of
microorganisms in the water. EcoOne is not a sanitizer, but uses similar processes to keep your water clean and
safe. EcoOne is a spa water treatment created for natural spa maintenance.
How Chlorine Works.
Chlorine destroys bacteria though a fairly simple chemical reaction. Chlorine when dissolved in water breaks down
into many different chemicals, including hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl-). Free available
chlorine (hypochlorous acid) enters through the bacterial cell wall and kills the organism by destroying (oxidizing) the
sulfur groups on the cell's enzymes, causing the cell's metabolism to stop, resulting in the cell's death. The
difference between HOCl and OCl- is the speed at which they oxidize. Hypochlorous acid is able to oxidize the
organisms in several seconds, while the hypochlorite ion may take up to 30 minutes.
Only 10% of the chlorine added to spa water goes on to kill living organisms. The other 90 % of the chlorine oxidizes
(destroys) waste products in the water. The byproducts of chlorine oxidation are chloramines, which have very little
sanitizing ability. Chloramines have a very strong chlorine odor, and they cause nasal and eye irritation. Shocking
the water with chlorine will eliminate excessive chloramines, but it requires raising the spa chlorine level to
approximately 10 ppm. Then you have to wait till the chlorine drops to 5 ppm before using your spa. So the cycle of
adding chlorine to maintain the 1 to 3 ppm and then shocking the spa to remove the chloramines goes on.
How EcoOne Works.
EcoOne removes the organic materials in the spa water through a biological process. All bacteria, whether
beneficial or pathogenic, require stable food sources to grow and reproduce. If you remove the food sources, the
bacteria will starve and die. As food (organic material) becomes scarce, the bacteria have to compete for the
remaining food and often will attack each other (protozoas) thus further reducing the number of bacteria. The
naturally occurring enzymes in EcoOne break down organic contaminants (oils, lotions, deodorants, sweat, dead
skin cells, etc.) that bacteria feed on, thus removing the food source. These enzymes continue to work for a month
constantly removing new sources of organics.
Since EcoOne is not a sanitizer, minimizing the sources of bacteria and organic materials introduced into the spa,
and removing the organics is key to keeping the water clean and healthy. Some additional products are
recommended to assist the EcoOne in the spa water treatment.
Use a shock weekly. ONEshock makes shock easy. No measuring. Just use the proper number on packets for the
gallons of water in your spa. Non-chlorine shock (potassium monopersulfate) is a good alternative for people
sensitive to chlorine and gives quick results by oxidizing the organics in the water. Non-chlorine shock should be
used at least once a week or as needed. You can use your spa in as little as 15 minutes after adding a non-chlorine
shock, but we recommend adding it to your spa after you get out.
Water clarifiers are helpful in removing oils and lotions. Some work by clumping small particles together so the filter
can remove them. Enzyme clarifiers break down the contaminants into harmless components like water and carbon
dioxide. Water clarifier should be added weekly for maintenance or daily as needed to clean up cloudy water.
Filtration is the final piece. Using a pre-filter when filling or adding water to your spa will remove metals and
minerals that can cause cloudiness, discoloration, or other water quality issues. Good filter maintenance can be
achieved by rinsing your spa filter to remove loose materials once a week, and clean your filter with Nova
Penetrating Spa Cleanser once a month by soaking it in the cleanser, rinsing, and allowing to dry before reinstalling
it. (Filter Maintenance Tips)
Additional information
Sterilization: 100% destruction of all bacteria on the object being sterilized. This process has no use in
recreational water. One cannot 'sterilize' a pool or spa. There is simply too much activity - bathers entering and
leaving, air volume changes, large spaces, etc.
Disinfection: 100% destruction of all disease-causing bacteria (pathogens) on the object being disinfected. As
with sterilization, one cannot obtain complete destruction in the pool environment. Although improper, the terms
"disinfection" and 'disinfectant' have persisted and are commonly used.
Sanitation: The destruction of microorganisms to levels (usually by 99% or more) deemed safe by public health
standards. This is the proper term to be used with pool / spa water. One "sanitizes" pool / spa water with a 'sanitizer'.
Oxidation: Simply stated, oxidation is the combination of an element with oxygen. Burning coal (carbon) to produce
carbon dioxide is oxidation. This usually means destruction of the substance being 'oxidized. Oxidation can occur
without flames when chlorine oxidizes the organics from bathers in pool water. The substance is oxidized, destroyed
or 'burned out'. Oxidizing does not necessarily mean sanitation. Nor does sanitation necessarily mean oxidation. For
example, potassium monopersulfate, a non-chlorine shock commonly used in the pool industry, is an oxidizer but an
ineffective sanitizer. Whereas polyhexamethylene biguanide, which is sold as 'Bacquacil', is a sanitizer but not an
oxidizer.
Calcium hypochlorite is widely used for pool and spa water treatment. This chemical is considered to be relatively
stable and has greater available chlorine than sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). It has been estimated that over
90% of the free available chlorine residual is used to oxidize organics introduced into the pool by bathers. Positives
are that it kills almost all bacteria and removes food sources that the bacteria live on. Negatives are that it is caustic
and can cause irritation to skin and respiratory systems even at low doses deemed safe by the EPA. Additionally,
chlorine kills beneficial bacteria that eat organic contaminants in the water, and you have to maintain chlorine levels
for it to be effective.
Sodium hypochlorite solution, commonly known as bleach, is frequently used as a disinfectant. Positives are that
it kills the widest range of pathogens of any inexpensive disinfectant; it is extremely powerful against viruses and
bacteria at room temperature; it is commonly available and inexpensive; and it breaks down quickly into harmless
components (primarily table salt and oxygen). Negatives are that it is caustic to the skin and eyes, especially at
higher concentrations; like many common disinfectants, it degrades in the presence of organic substances; it has a
strong odor; it is not effective against giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium.
| Enzymes and sanitizers |
