SANITIZER/DISINFECTANT/OXIDIZER: Many pool owners refer to their chlorine (or its alternative) and its accompanying shock as either a "sanitizer," or a "disinfectant," or an "oxidizer." Chlorine (or its alternative), and its accompanying shock, must be able to perform all three tasks.

• By SANITIZING, all bacteria, living organisms, and other contaminates that are present in water will be killed.
• By DISINFECTING, all potential disease-carrying capabilities of these bacteria, living organisms, and other contaminates will be killed.
• By OXIDIZING, any AMMONIA that is present in the pool will be killed. Ammonia is present in a pool either via the environment itself, fertilizers that blow into your pool, swimmer wastes (such as perspiration, urine, saliva, and body oils), or even some suntan lotions. The presence of ammonia is the primary reason why shocking the pool regularly is required. Chlorine (or its alternative) can successfully kill all bacteria, living organisms, and other contaminates that are present in large bodies of water (such as your pool), but cannot successfully kill ammonia. Ammonia can only be destroyed by adding shock.