Equipment & Hydraulics
An in-line device that generates chlorine electrolytically from dissolved pool salt, replacing or supplementing tablet / liquid chlorine dosing.
A saltwater chlorine generator dissolves sodium chloride (regular pool salt, typically 3,000–4,000 ppm) in the pool, then passes the water through an electrolytic cell that splits the salt into free chlorine + sodium. The chlorine sanitizes the pool, and then recombines back into salt. Net effect: continuous mild chlorination without hand-dosing tablets. Salt cells wear out on a cycle (3–5 years typical), need periodic acid-bath cleaning, and demand tighter pH management than traditional chlorine. Commercial pools use SWCGs alongside primary chemical feed, not in place of it, for reliability reasons.
A saltwater pool still has chlorine. It's just generated on-site, not added as tablets.
The water doesn't taste like the ocean — salt is at roughly 10% of seawater concentration.
SWCG installations add complexity, not simplicity, for commercial facilities — they need more chemistry attention, not less.
Where this shows up at Aqua-Guard
Relevant services our team runs every week:
Related terms · Equipment & Hydraulics
Pool Turnover Rate
The time required for the entire pool volume to pass through the filtration system once. Illinois IDPH sets maximum turnover times by facility type.
Variable-Speed Pool Pump (VFD Pump)
A pool pump with an electronically controlled motor that runs at varying RPMs to match demand. Typically cuts energy use 50–75% vs single-speed pumps.
Aqua-Guard runs certified commercial pool operations for 200+ Chicagoland HOAs, condos, and clubs. We handle the credentials so your board doesn't have to.
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