Island Pools’ invention aims to end 'the chemical soup' in swimming baths and spas

British start-up Island Pools System thinks so with its revolutionary cleaning technology for swimming pools, spas and jacuzzis.

This removes the need for the water to be topped with large doses of chlorine and other harsh chemicals.

The company’s computerised disinfection E-system is now ready for commercial roll-out, with big public pools a top priority.

This follows four years of trials and successful safety testing with a hotel chain in Portsmouth, a leisure centre in southern England and independent assessment by Southampton University.

The salt and heat conversion technology, which is housed in a poolside cabinet, operates a closed loop process that is remotely monitored round the clock.

This means after the precisely-measured disinfectant is produced and released, it cleans the water leaving it clear and odour-free. This is then recycled back for further use.

Isle of Wight-based inventor and business founder Richard Morrison said: “There is nothing else like our solution on the market.

“It is more natural and cost-effective as there is no need to buy or store conventional disinfection chemicals. This reduces any handling hazards for staff and maintenance is easier. It also requires less energy when treating comparable volumes of water.”

Managing director Richard Rushworth explained: “For families it has the big advantage of being very child-friendly and for everyone it can make their time in the water more enjoyable.”

The company, which plans to manufacture in the UK then rent the equipment to customers, is now looking for individual investors to fund a £150,000 sales operation. Markets both in the UK and France will be targeted.

Previous backing for the development has come from Morrison himself. A sailor, he first got the idea when thinking about wider applications for the natural processes he employed to clean the hull of his boat. 

Investments, which must be £2,500 and above, are set to qualify for SEIS or EIS entrepreneur’s tax relief. The round closes on March 1.

“The market is large with 3,745 public pools in the UK alone,” adds Morrison. “Just a two per cent conversion from chemicals to our E-system would produce over £3 million in rental revenues. Now we can prove there is an alternative to the chemical soup.”

www.islandpoolsystem.co.uk