Correct water chemistry starts with balancing the following seven principal
factors: |
|
Total Alkalinity |
Without a proper balance of total alkalinity wild fluctuations in pH may
occur. Total alkalinity is raised by adding sodium bicarbonate and
lowered by adding sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid. |
Proper Range (100 - 150 parts per million or ppm) |
|
pH |
When pH is not balanced your bathers experience discomfort and chlorine
is rendered useless. It also helps to deteriorate equipment and shorten
its life span. Water pH is raised by adding soda ash or caustic soda and
lowered by adding sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid. |
Proper Range (7.2 - 7.6) |
|
Calcium Hardness |
Without a proper balance in calcium hardness calcium is leached from pool
surfaces or deposited on equipment. Calcium hardness is raised by adding
calcium chloride. |
Proper Range (200 - 400 ppm) |
|
Free Available Chlorine |
When any chlorine compound is added to the water, the percentage of its
strength depends the pH level. At a pH of 7.0, 75% of the chlorine is in the
active form of hypochlorous acid. At a pH of 7.5, active hypochlorous drops
to 48% and at a pH of 8.0 hypochlorous acid is only 22%. |
Proper Range (1.0 - 3.0 ppm) |
|
Combined Available Chlorine |
When free active chlorine reacts with ammonia, organic nitrogen compounds
and other contaminates in the pool water, chloramines are formed.
Chloramines are not an effective disinfectant and are actually the cause of
most eye irritation and odor problems. The presence of combined chlorine in
water can be removed by the addition of 10 ppm free available chlorine per
ppm of combined chlorine or the use of other shocking agents. |
|
|
Total Dissolved Solids |
This is the total amount of all material dissolved in the pool water. As
water is reused and chemicals are added, a load develops that adversely
affects water balance and efficient operations. The only proper cure is
dilution with fresh make-up water. |
Proper Range (should not exceed 1,500 ppm) |
|
Temperature |
For swimming pools maintained within a range of 75 to 90 degrees
Fahrenheit, temperature is not an important factor in proper water
balance. |
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