Salt Water Pools Still Contain Chlorine. Here Is the Real Alternative.
Salt water pools don't remove chlorine — they generate it on-site. The electrolysis cell converts salt to chlorine at 1-3ppm — exactly the same level as a conventional chlorine pool. If you want a chemical-free pool with no chlorine at all, there is only one option. Over 100 pools installed across the UK since 2010.
Why Salt Water Pools Are Not Chlorine-Free
A salt water pool uses a salt chlorine generator (SCG) — an electrolysis cell plumbed into the filtration circuit. As salt water passes through, the cell splits sodium chloride into sodium and chlorine. That chlorine dissolves into the pool at the same concentration as a manually dosed chlorine pool: typically 1–3ppm.
The chlorine reacts with sweat, sunscreen, and body oils to form chloramines — the disinfection byproducts responsible for red eyes, skin irritation, and the sharp smell you notice at busy public pools. Salt water pools still produce chloramines. They are not chemical-free. They are just a different delivery mechanism for chlorine.
Thinking of Converting To Salt Water? Read This First.
If you're considering switching from chlorine to salt water, the conversion is straightforward — but it won't give you the chemical-free pool you're hoping for. Salt water systems generate chlorine on-site via electrolysis at exactly the same 1-3ppm as a manually dosed pool. The salt doesn't replace chlorine. It just makes it.
The Salt Chlorine Generator Problem
splits the salt
1–3ppm, same as chlorine pool
Beyond chemistry, salt water pools carry an additional cost: the electrolysis cell corrodes and must be replaced every 3–5 years (£300–£800 per replacement). Salt also accelerates corrosion of pool equipment, ladders, and surrounding stonework. Saltwater chlorination is a marginal improvement over manual dosing — not a chemical-free alternative.
How Mineral+Biome® Is Different
Instead of killing pathogens with chemicals, Mineral+Biome® starves them of nutrients. Beneficial bacteria in the mineral substrate remove phosphate, nitrogen, and carbon from the water — the nutrients pathogens need to survive. No nutrients, no pathogens, no need for disinfectants. The result is a genuinely chemical-free pool.
- No chlorine, no salt, no UV, no ozone
- No chloramines — no red eyes, no skin irritation, no chemical smell
- Crystal-clear, soft water — closer to a mineral spring than any pool system
- One-day retrofit — works on any existing chlorine or saltwater pool
- Two service visits per year — compared to 6–12 for salt or chlorine
How It Works — 3 Steps to a Chemical-Free Pool
Free survey
We review your existing pool and provide a written specification — pool size, filtration type, and a cost comparison against your current system.
One-day installation
Mineral+Biome® is fitted into your existing filtration circuit. No rebuild, no replumbing. Your pool is swimmable the same day.
Annual service
Two technical visits per year, handled entirely by Origin Aqua. No chemicals to buy, no call-outs, no surprises.
Salt Water Pool vs Chlorine vs Mineral+Biome® — Full Comparison
| Salt water pool | Chlorine pool | Mineral+Biome® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine present? | Yes (1–3ppm) | Yes (1–3ppm) | Non |
| Chloramines formed? | Oui | Oui | Non |
| Red eyes / skin irritation? | Yes, same risk | Oui | Non |
| Annual chemicals spend | Salt + maintenance | £800–£2,000 | £0 |
| Service visits / year | 6–8 | 6–12 | 2 |
| Equipment cost | SCG cell (replace every 3–5 yr) | Dosing pump | One-off installation |
Frequently Asked
Do salt water pools have chlorine?
Yes. A saltwater pool generates chlorine on-site via electrolysis, maintaining 1-3ppm of free chlorine — the same level as a conventionally dosed chlorine pool. The pool is not chlorine-free. Chloramines still form under bather load.
Are salt water pools chlorine free?
No. Salt water pools are not chlorine free — the electrolysis cell produces chlorine continuously at 1-3ppm. The source of the chlorine changes (salt instead of tablets) but the chemistry in the water is identical. If you want a pool that is truly chlorine free, Mineral+Biome® is the only option.
Are salt water pools better than chlorine pools?
Marginally. You avoid buying chlorine tablets, but you still have chlorine in the water, still deal with pH management, and have an additional piece of equipment (the SCG cell) to replace every few years. If your goal is a genuinely chemical-free pool, salt is not the answer.
Can I convert my salt water pool to Mineral+Biome®?
Yes. One-day retrofit — the SCG cell is removed and the Mineral+Biome® system is integrated into your existing filtration circuit. No rebuild, no replumbing. Most existing equipment is retained.
Is Mineral+Biome® suitable for indoor pools?
Particularly so. Indoor chlorine and saltwater pools produce trichloramines — the gas that causes respiratory irritation and the sharp chemical smell in enclosed pool buildings. Mineral+Biome® eliminates chloramines entirely, so indoor air quality improves immediately after installation.
How does Mineral+Biome® compare to Dryden Aqua AFM or UV systems?
AFM and UV/ozone reduce the amount of chlorine needed but still require chemical dosing. They are improvements, not alternatives. Mineral+Biome® is the only system that removes the need for chemical disinfection entirely.
Does a saltwater pool smell like chlorine?
Yes — under heavy bather load, a salt water pool produces the same chloramine gases as a chlorine pool. Chloramines are the compound responsible for the sharp 'pool smell', not chlorine itself. Because a saltwater pool runs at the same chlorine level as a conventionally dosed pool, chloramine production is identical.
What are the disadvantages of a salt water pool?
Salt water pools still contain chlorine, still produce chloramines, and require pH management. The salt chlorine generator corrodes and must be replaced every 3–5 years (£300–£800). Salt accelerates corrosion of pool equipment, ladders, and stonework. Maintenance costs are lower than chlorine tablets but higher than genuinely chemical-free systems like Mineral+Biome®.
What is the healthiest type of swimming pool?
A pool with no chemical disinfectants and no disinfection byproducts. Mineral+Biome® achieves this by starving pathogens of nutrients rather than killing them with chemicals. No chlorine, no chloramines, no trihalomethanes. The water quality is closer to a mineral spring than any chlorine or salt water system.
“We switched from a saltwater pool last year. The difference is immediate — no chemical smell, no red eyes.”
— Pool owner, Surrey
Get a Free Specification for Your Pool
Ready to Remove Chlorine From Your Pool — For Good?
Join over 100 UK pool owners who have already made the switch from chlorine or saltwater to a genuinely chemical-free pool with Mineral+Biome®.
We'll review your current setup and send a free specification within 48 hours — including installation cost and a running cost comparison. Limited slots available for summer installation — enquire now to secure yours.
Prefer to talk? Call us on 0330 128 9885.