As far as I know, few if any hot tubs can reach 140. That’s hot enough to seriously maim or kill people.
Besides, lots of bacteria love that sort of temperature.
Certainly - you’d need some sort of way to ensure that no one tries to get in while the tub is on its “self-clean” cycle (as with an oven).
The same bacteria that cause problems at 104 degrees? If so, the idea is of no value.
I’m Getting a Hot Tub! I’m Getting a Hot tub!
Hijack question: I know that egg white coagulates near 140. Does anyone know the coagulation temperature of semen?
You would have to ask mangeorge.
140F is the USDA minimum temperature under which all pathogens are killed. However, I believe you have to hold it there for at least 1/2 an hour. At higher temperatures, you can sterilise it in less time.
If this is true then why does the USDA still recommend cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160-degrees F?
Bad reasoning here - evaporation only allows for water vapor to escape, the dissolved inorganic (sodium, sulfate, hardness, alkalinity, etc.) constituents in the water plus the inorganic additives that you use for treatment will just continue to concentrate until it finally start getting either or both soft or scale on your wetted surfaces. To maintain the concentration of dissolved constituents at a reasonable level it is recommended to drain off some of the water on a regular basis and then replace that with fresh water. One of the reasons (see below for another) that most chlorine and bromine compounds that are used for treatment are organic is because they will not add any dissolved constituents since the organic compounds are usually volatile and will be dissipated.
Asterion - yes, you could use iodate or other iodine compounds (remember tincture of iodine as a local antiseptic). Off the top of my head I can’t tell their relative effectiveness compared to either bromine or chlorine.
Most chemical additives for controlling bacteria, as Qadgop the Mercotan has stated, are now organic compounds containing either/or chlorine and bromine. Because chlorine is a gas it has a much stronger odor component than bromine which is a liquid at room temperature.
Read carefully … how long do you cook your pork, hmmm? 
The point is that 140-degrees is not sufficient to kill pathogenic bacteria in water no matter how long the exposure is. There are some bacteria, as already pointed out I believe, that actually thrive at such temperatures. You have to reach much higher temperatures to eliminate bacteria from water if that is your only source of protection.
Good point, Waterman. Maybe we’re fortunate in that we have a small tub, about 400 gallons, and we splash a lot.
Actually, the REAL point is if your hot tub gets up to 140º, you goy WAY TOO MUCH WOOD under that there cider drum, Gomer… and you just might be a redneck.
What’s beyond redneck? :rolleyes:
Stop - Let’s not turn this into one of those conservative vs. liberal things - this is a science oriented thread. - OK
Can you name one? That would be common in hot tub water?
You have my word. I came in here to get AWAY from that shit! That’s what hot tubs are for!
I do not have a reference handy for the actual maximum temperature; however, the pasteurization process (while not practical as a means of treating municipal water) requires a temperature of 62.8 degrees C (145 degrees F) for 30 minutes. The waterborne bacteria that I can think of most readily are giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium, which are both waterborne bacteria and have the been the cause of several major outbreaks over the last decade. The LT2 (Stage 2 Long Term Surface water rules) regulations will require, if my memory is correct (as I am home and not at work) somewhere between a 4- to 6-log removal for surface water supplies and ground water under the influence. I would certainly not feel the least bit safe relying on temeratures that we are discussing (around 140 degrees F) to provide the necessary kill rate to prevent a waterborne disease. There are other bacteria that also linked to waterborne illnesses that I would be happy to list if you want me to get out my microbiology book and dust it off.
My point, supported by others, is that hot tubs are a great environment for the growth of most bacteria (pathogenic or not).
Amen to that!!! Go back to the hot tub and enjoy.