Do you need chlorinator if you use the BBB method?

The "BBB Method" is a method of simplified pool care focused on using basic chemicals, often available from the grocery store or Walmart. These include bleach, borax, or baking soda. The name, invented by CarlD a moderator at PoolForum.com where the method was popularized, refers to those three materials.

The core elements of the BBB method are

1. Focusing first on chlorine, pH and stabilizer levels.
2. Using the chemicals needed, and no others.
3. Buying those chemicals in the simplest generic form possible.
4. Using the "Best Guess Chart" to adjust chlorine levels to correspond with stabilizer levels.

The method originated at PoolSolutions.com, in the late 90's, and was developed further at PoolForum.com. When PoolForum became inactive from 2006 to 2009, refugees from that site started TroubleFreePool.com, and popularized the method further. Those three sites continue to promote its use, but it is also sometimes advocated at sites like GardenWeb and Havuz.org. However, because it cuts chemical usage substantially, it has never become widely accepted in the pool industry.

Today, many advocates still use only bleach, borax and baking soda (and stabilizer). But, other methods of chlorination commonly used include use salt water chlorine generators, tablet feeders.