|
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. |
