In most pools, chlorine is used to disinfect the water and kill germs. But chlorine is also highly toxic, and it’s not the only option available. Michael Geyer, CEO of Aquadei, and Mike Low, vice president of business development, are on a mission to use bubble technology to help naturally disinfect pools, use fewer chemicals to treat the water, and ultimately create safer, healthier water. “All the elements that we utilize are all natural,” says Geyer.
THE HISTORY
Prior to launching Gilbert-based Aquadei (meaning “God’s water” and pronounced “aqua-day”), Geyer had been in the commercial pool industry since 2005. “We were always very much into improving water quality in general. That was our main focus,” he says. The company was born from an experience Geyer had with a doctor who introduced him to a product that used ultra fine bubble technology to clean the water. Geyer tried the product and was happy with how it worked. “It showed really favorable results with water quality. It cleaned the water. It actually looks super clear.
Bathers loved it,” says Geyer. “So, from that point, we just took it and ran with it.” The company started out creating systems just for commercial pools but then eventually started working on residential pools, too. “My whole goal was to try and reduce chemicals as much as possible, to have clean water without all [this] excessive use of chemicals just being thrown in the pool all the time, which were highly unhealthy,” says Geyer.
HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS
Aquadei’s bubble technology reduces chlorine usage by 30% to 50% in commercial pools, which are defined as pools that are 250,000 gallons and larger. In residential pools, it’s about 20% to 30% less. How does it do this? By utilizing oxygen and ozone to purify the water. “That is used for oxidation and disinfection purposes. Ozone is typically anywhere from 20 to 3,000 times stronger than chlorine is. So, it essentially is going to annihilate anything that’s in the water,” says Mike Low.
To control the pH of the water, the technology uses CO2 or carbon dioxide. The same carbon dioxide is used to create fizz and bubbles in a can of Coke. “What we’re doing is, we’re utilizing natural elements: oxygen, ozone, and CO2, and that’s why we’re able to get the benefits of, in the commercial environment, far less chemical use,” says Low. “[The] clarity of water is amazing. It’s unlike anything that we’ve ever seen.” The feel of the water is also softer than in pools treated with chlorinated water. “We get that soft feel. It’s like salt water but better, actually. It doesn’t leave the bather running to the shower like you do in most chlorinated commercial pools,” says Low. Locally, the Revel Surf Park at Cannon Beach in Mesa and all of the City of Scottsdale pools use this technology.
ECO-FRIENDLY ASPECTS OF CLEANER WATER
In a residential environment — which is roughly 60% to 65% of the business — pool water typically can’t be reused since it’s full of chemicals. But when the water is treated using Aquadei’s technology, it can be. “We can take that same pool water in a backyard environment and feed our plants and our grass, our entire landscaping with the pool water,” says Low. “It’s not going down the sewer anymore. You’re reusing it, and every day, you’re getting fresh water back into that backyard swimming pool and spa.” But Aquadei’s reach extends far beyond backyard pools.
Many customers have reached out because their children have skin conditions like eczema or allergies and are searching for an alternative to chemical-laced pool water. And as health and wellness of its customers is one of the company’s primary goals, Aquadei also makes wound-care water that’s infused with minerals. The company works across multiple industries, in fact — including oil, gas, mining, agriculture, and wastewater.
Aqua Fuzion skid equipment installed at a local home.
Aquadei has relationships with clients in India, Mexico, and Australia, and is the supplying manufacturer for the Master Pool Guild, which comprises roughly 105 builders in the United States. The company is also partnering with Siemens, one of the largest water technology providers in the entire world. Aquadei’s technology will be incorporated into all of Siemens’ systems moving forward. With its devotion to water quality and partnerships, Aqaudei is poised to make a positive impact on the world.
“One of our main things is helping people improve their quality of life,” says Geyer. “One thing we really are passionate about is really diving in and understanding water to the nth degree. And it is very, very fascinating on the different things it can do for people.”
For more information, visit www.aquadei.net.
