Water purification material and method for use in sanitizing pools and spas where the water purification material is free of antimicrobial materials

A method and device for maintaining a body of water in a sanitized condition wherein the body of water is free from a source of bicidal metal ions and free from bromide or bromine compounds that can sanitize the body of water, the method including that steps of maintaining a chlorine level in the body of water at a level of between 1 ppm and 1.0 ppm; introducing a non-chlorine based oxidizing agent into the body of water wherein the chlorine level in combination with the oxidizing agent is selected so as to be insufficient to sanitize the body of water, and introducing a compound having a hydantoin ring therein into the body of water whereby the combination of the chlorine and the oxidizing agent sanitize the body of water without the presence of a source of biocidal metal ions to supplement the chlorine.