About Ozone

There are two types of ozone. So called, “bad ozone” is a component of the air pollution we sometimes see in the lower layer of the atmosphere. “Good ozone” is found in the upper atmosphere and is responsible for protecting earth’s inhabitants from harmful UV rays. Ozone is a reactive, unstable gas that is formed naturally in earth’s atmosphere by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation or from electrical energy produced when lightning strikes.

When it comes to using ozone for commercial aquatics, ozone systems are designed to safely produce and dissolve ozone gas into the water to kill microorganisms, destroy organics, and break down chloramines by oxidation. This occurs immediately at the ozone gas injection point, and continues as the side-stream remixes with the main return. (A small residual of approximately 0.1 PPM) of dissolved ozone will enter the pool, providing further oxidation of contaminants.)

Ozone is the most powerful oxidizer that can be safely used in swimming pools and spas.

At DEL Ozone, we engineer and produce ozone systems that safely generate ozone to kill microorganisms and oxidize organic and inorganic contaminants and chemical byproducts, from swimming pools and hot tubs, to laundry, drinking water, and equipment.

Properties of Ozone (O₃):

Ozone is an EPA-approved antimicrobial, disinfectant, and sanitizer by all definitions and has been in use for a century worldwide as a water disinfectant.

Ozone is a disinfectant.

Disinfectants are antimicrobial agents that are applied to non-living objects to destroy microorganisms, the process of which is known as disinfection. Ozone is one of the three groups of antimicrobial agents registered by the USEPA for public health uses (the other two being antibiotics and antiseptics).

Ozone is a sanitizer.

Sanitizers are substances that reduce the number of microorganisms to a safe level. The main difference between a sanitizer and a disinfectant is that at a specified use dilution, the disinfectant must have a higher kill capability for pathogenic bacteria compared to that of a sanitizer.

Ozone is readily dissolved in water.

Ozone is a gas derived from oxygen which can be readily dissolved in water. Gaseous ozone dissolved in water becomes odorless aqueous ozone, which is an effective antimicrobial agent and oxidizer that also improves system filtration as an effective micro-flocculant.

Ozone is many times more powerful than chlorine.

Ozone is more powerful, yet still compatible with chlorine in commercial aquatic venues, including swimming pools and hot tubs. In terms of microbial killing strength, 1 PPM Aqueous Ozone, on average, in aquatic venues, is equal to approximately 200 PPM Chlorine (Air Liquide Corp. James T.C. Yuan, PhD, 2000).