Chemical Factors in Pool Water Maintenance

Chemical Factors

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Chemical Factors Include:

Now that the physical processes are understood, we turn or attention to managing the chemical treatment of the pool water.

Proper chemical treatment is needed in order to prevent a wide range of potential problems including scale and stain formation, colored or cloudy water, corrosion of pool surfaces and equipment and to assure proper performance of the sanitizer being used.

There are five chemical factors that affect water quality. These are listed below in order of importance along with their ideal levels.

Test	Ideal Level
pH	7.2-7.6
Total Alkalinity	80-150 ppm
Calcium Hardness	200-250 ppm for concrete pools
Calcium Hardness	175-225 ppm for vinyl pools
Stain Producing Minerals	Absent
Total Disolved Solids (TDS)	250-1500 ppm
Free Chlorine Level	1-3 ppm

The first three, along with the temperature of the water, determine the overall "Water Balance". Water balance is the term used to refer to the tendency of the water to be either "scale forming" or "corrosive or aggressive".

Partial contents of this maintenance site copyright 2001 Bio-Labs, Inc., "Pool Care Guide" and copyright 2000 LaPorte Water Technologies, Inc., "Swimming Pool Water Chemistry - The Care & Treatment of Swimming Pool Water by John D. Puetz, VP R&D Laport Water Technologies, Inc.