I don't know anything about "Pristine Blue" but did want to say that I have had a salt water system for about 3 years now with ZERO issues, no down side. However, just so you know, you will still have chlorine with a salt water system. The salt water runs through a cell which generates chlorine. You just don't have to purchase, or handle, the chlorine and you get a silky smooth feel to your water.

Thanks, was the salt water system expensive? Does it have any affect on a person health? Might be dumb question but I had heard the salt water softer systems for homes where bad for your health b/c of drinking and bathing in it.

homeimprovementdiva...we see this kind of question all the time on the forum. Please do some serious research before you buy this product. It's not an EPA approved sanitizer..it's a copper-based system (hello green hair and nasty UNHEALTHY bacteria). These companies prey on people who think chlorine is a bad thing to swim in. The water you shower in has chlorine. Properly maintained salt water chlorine generator systems (with the right amount of stabilizer in the water) let you have a relatively low but SAFE AND EFFECTIVE amount of sanitizer in your water, and it's a good way to go for ease of use. I have a SWG and love it but have done my research on keeping my pool water chemistry in balance. Please read the thread below about Pristine Blue and other "alternative" systems (they're great for eradicating money from your bank account-lol), read more similar threads on TFP, then make up your mind. HTH. I know you want the best safety-wise for you and your family.

Here is a link that might be useful: Problems with Chlorine Alternative Systems

Not that expensive. I think it worked out to about $1,500 more when we had the pool built.

As far as a health issue...I haven't noticed! =)
... and I highly doubt it. The salt level in a properly maintained pool is about the same as the salt level in the human body. The ocean salt level is about 10 times higher than a pool (at PPM).

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the input and important info, I am VERY thankful. This is why I posted this questions here b/c I knew I would find some people with knowledge and experience. :0)

@ pisces: I'm going to read the board you mentioned and have given up on going that route. I have been wanting to get the Salt Water system since we thought about getting a pool when we were going to build but we bought existing home with a pool and can't afford the the system right now but maybe we can change over in the next year or two. So I guess we'll stick with the chlorine stuff for now.

We don't have city water so no chlorine but I'm just one who doesn't like chemicals in my food, water or products. Over paranoid maybe but makes me nervous that the Chlorine is on your skin and sometimes swallowed by kids. I automatically associated chemicals=bad, but it is what it is for now.

Thanks again for the heads up!

homeimprovementdiva..oh, I truly know how you feel concerning chemicals, and wanting things to be healthy and good for the you and the kids...me, too. It's just one of those deals you have to become comfortable with if you have a pool, and wanted you to be able to do some research to ease your mind a little. You can ask the members at TFP any question at all about the safety of chlorine use and the associated chemicals used (like stabilizer, muriatic acid for pH regulation, etc.) and they'll give you the straight answer (there are members with years of pool water experience, chemists, homeowners who have been through all the different "alternative" systems then gone back to chlorine, etc.), so you can weigh the pros and cons of different materials. I knew if you had more info on the chemicals in the copper system products you wouldn't want them at all. ;-) Want you to be able to make a good choice for you and your family, then relax and ENJOY that pool!

Here are the best Non chlorine alternative for swimming pools

• Bromine
• Ozonation
• Reduction in Water Temperature
• PHMB
• U/V Light
• Ultrafiltration
• Mineral Water Pool Systems
• Pristine Blue
• Copper Ionization