Kim Greenberg did it for her 5-year-old daughter. For Cass Beegle her 6-week-old Chihuahua was the incentive. And Jeannie Davis says it makes her blond hair stay blond. What do these three have in common? The homeowners have switched their backyard pools from conventional chlorinated water to saltwater.

"Many people refer to saltwater pools as non-chlorinated, but it’s actually a misnomer," said Chris Horn, owner of Poolside, a Palm Desert-based saltwater specialist and surface cleaning company. The difference between saltwater pools and so-called chlorine pools is the way the water is treated. In conventional chlorinated systems, you must add chlorine via a carrier mineral to the water in either tablet or liquid form. In saltwater systems, a salt-chlorine generator is added to the filtration system to automatically convert salt to the natural form of chlorine.

So which one is better?

Dr. Syed Ahsan, a Rancho Mirage physician, says saltwater is less abrasive to the skin. "Harsh chemicals in water can cause rashes and hives," said Ahsan. However, he says both saltwater and conventional chlorinated pools can carry bacteria that causes ear infections.

Less irritation for the skin was Cass Beegle’s reason for switching to saltwater. But the change was not as much for herself as for her new puppy that she is teaching to swim. "Some friends had told me dogs have bad skin reactions to strong chemicals in their pool," she said. So when she welcomed her pet to her home, she switched to saltwater. "It feels like silk against my skin," said Beegle.

Greenberg chose a saltwater pool to prevent eye irritation. "My daughter Skyler would get out of our pool and sneeze and rub her eyes," said Palm Desert resident Greenberg. Dr. Mehdi Shaaf, a Palm Desert-based ophthalmologist, says saltwater doesn’t irritate eyes as does conventional chlorinated water. "But at its diluted state, chlorine won’t cause permanent damage, just discomfort" said Shaaf.

Maintenance

The cost for adding a chlorine generator to a filtration system ranges from $1,200-$1,500 for the average sized backyard pool. Jeannie and John Davis say saltwater pools cost less in the long term. "We don’t have to buy chlorine every month, so the chlorine generator paid for itself quickly," said Jeannie Davis.

"The most important thing for homeowners to know about switching is that not all pool companies are experienced in saltwater systems," said Jason Lewis, owner of Cray Pools Inc., a Rancho Mirage-based pool service company. Lewis and Horn suggest that homeowners ask contractors and maintenance companies if they are licensed and bonded, how long the warranty will last and for references from other customers who have switched. "That’s the one advantage of chemically treated chlorine systems," said Lewis. "There are more pool companies in the valley that are familiar with how to maintain them."