Without question water is our most valuable natural resource. It covers most of the earth's surface, and supports the most diverse ecology known to man. It governs every facet of our daily life, and like air, is essential to life itself.
Safe water is rarely available in the natural environment because of pollution, and in most countries of the world, has to be chemically treated and filtered to make it safe for human consumption. We take its availability for granted, and never question how it arrives at our homes for the multitude of uses we put it to.
Water must be managed and protected to achieve the greatest possible benefit from it, and it must be considered a finite resource. It is utilised by many industries, and provides pleasure, recreation and lifestyle for everyone. It is undoubtedly, our most highly recycled natural resource.
Wherever and however water is used, it will need to be valued more highly, with better management practices and conservation so future generations will be able to enjoy its benefits as much as we do today. Clean healthy water and air free of pollution, are probably the greatest legacies one generation can leave to another.
Water Balance is a term used to explain the compatible relationship between pH, Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness. The parameters recommended offer the most effective means of achieving quality water using a particular sanitation chemical or process.
Total Alkalinity is measured in parts per million of carbonates and bicarbonate salts within pool water, regulated to provide a stabilising influence on pH.Low alkalinity causes pH to bounce or alter dramatically with the addition of small amounts of adjustment chemicals, whereas high alkalinity increases acid demand, contributing to the scaling properties of pool water, if pH is correspondingly high.Total alkalinity control is essential in building an effective treatment program, with most pools requiring an alkalinity of 80 to 120ppm. This may be varied up to 150ppm to suit particular sanitation processes or surface types.
Alkalinity is raised by adding alkalinity increaser at the rate of 900gms per 50,000 litres of pool water, for every 10ppm rise required.Alkalinity is lowered by adding 1.2 kg of dry acid or 1 litre of hydrochloric acid per 50,000 litres of pool water for every 10ppm reduction required. Dilution with low alkalinity tap water will achieve a similar result. Pre dissolve acid in a bucket of water before distributing evenly over pool surface. Filter well after addition.
(The measure of acidity or alkalinity)
pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of pool water and is influenced by temperature, chemical addition, rain, bather contamination, or by almost anything the water comes into contact with. A pH test determines when chemical adjustment is necessary.
Maintaining pH control is very important in the water treatment process, allowing chlorine to achieve its maximum efficiency and sanitation effect. Whilst high pH reduces chlorine efficiency and contributes to the scaling property of pool water, low pH causes corrosion of pool surfaces and equipment. Low pH will also irritate eyes and skin.
To raise pH: Add a maximum of 1 kg of pH increaser per 50,000 litres of pool water at any one time. Distribute evenly over pool surface and filter well after addition.
To Lower pH: Add a maximum of 1 kg of dry acid, or 1 litre of liquid acid per 50,000 litres of pool water at any one time. Pre dissolve acid in a bucket of water before distributing evenly over pool surface. Filter well after addition.
Hardness is measured as parts per million of calcium carbonate present in pool water. Calcium is an essential mineral, which should be kept within recommended parameters to prevent water from becoming corrosive, when low, or scale forming, when high.
Water has a natural ability to re-balance itself when calcium is low by absorbing minerals from the pool surface. This can damage plaster surfaces, and cause pebbles to come free from an aggregate surface.
200 to 225ppm of calcium is recommended for pebble, tiled, concrete, painted or marble pools, and 175 to 225ppm for vinyl or fibreglass.
To raise calcium hardness: Add Hardness Increaser at the rate of 500gms per 50,000 litres of pool water for every 10ppm rise required. Add by broadcasting evenly over pool surface and circulate well.
To lower calcium hardness: Dilute with tap water that has a lower hardness value or use a suitable sequestering agent for effective chemical reduction.
Sanitation refers to the process or means used to kill bacteria and organisms in water, rendering it safe for human consumption or use. It can be achieved by adding chlorine in its many forms or by producing chlorine in situ, using salt and electrolysis. Ozone gas and Hydrogen Peroxide are other effective sanitisers of water, however they are generally not considered to be beneficial alternatives to chlorine, because of cost and availability. Chlorination is by far the most effective means of sanitising water in use today.
Depending on overall water condition, a level between 1.5 and 3.0ppm of free chlorine will be necessary to provide water that is safe for recreational use
Sodium Hypochlorite: 10%-13% Liquid Chlorine-Strong bleach, short shelf life - Has high pH value.
Calcium Hypochlorite: 65 - 70% Granular Chlorine-Precipitates low % of insoluble calcium - Has high pH.
Lithium Hypochlorite: 35% Granular Chlorine-Fully soluble Suitable for spa pool sanitation.
Sodium Dichlor: 56 - 60% Stabilised Chlorine-Fully soluble Has low pH value.
Sodium Trichlor: 90% Available Chlorine-Hard pressed tablet Slow dissolving Fully soluble Has very low pH value - Suitable for floats, feeders, and skimmer application.
Sodium Chloride: Granular Pool Salt-Fully soluble Used in a dilute solution between 3 and .9% - Produces Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) through electrolysis.
Chlorine, whilst the most widely used sanitiser, is very susceptible to loss when exposed to ultra violet sunlight. Adding stabiliser (cyanuric acid) to pool water provides protection for the chlorine from UV degradation, whilst allowing the chlorine to remain active and controllable in the pool during daylight hours. Levels between 35 and 50ppm are recommended, depending on the particular type of chlorine being used.
Clean healthy water is achieved by a combination of factors working in harmony, namely, correct water balance, sanitation, and effective filtration.
All water contains microscopic algae spores and organisms, which, if not treated and removed, can grow rapidly in the presence of sunlight. These solids along with all other foreign materials such as dust, leaves etc, are removed by passing the water repeatedly through a filter medium.
The three accepted filter processes used commonly on swimming pools are, sand, cartridge and diatomaceous earth (DE).
These processes will remove solids effectively, and achieve high standards of polish and clarity; however, they also require suitable sanitation and oxidation of the water for maximum results.
Well-filtered and treated water will be obvious by its clarity and sparkle. Turbidity or cloudiness would suggest a lack of filtration or sanitation effect, or incorrect water balance.
The minimum filter cycle recommended will require 2 passes of the total volume of pool water through the filter medium per day. Eight to twelve hours of filtering will generally achieve this.
Salt pools may require additional filtration time to meet chlorine demands within the pool.
All filters require regular cleaning and maintenance to achieve optimum results.
Visually clear and clean water would normally indicate water quality, however, it is only by testing the water balance, residual sanitiser and other support chemicals, that the assumption of quality can be confirmed.
Simple kits are available to carry out basic water testing, particularly for chlorine and pH.
Free chlorine must be available in sufficient quantity at all times to take care of the changing demands placed upon it, and pH must be maintained within the 7.2 and 7.6 range to ensure chlorine effectiveness. Regular pH control also contributes to water clarity and comfort of bathers.
Pool owners should carry out these two simple tests, at least once per week, and adjust levels accordingly.
Thereafter, monthly testing by a pool service professional of alkalinity, hardness, stabiliser, salt, total dissolved solids, or any other factors relevant to the water treatment program is recommended.
WARNING: Swimming pool chemicals can be reactive when mixed or contaminated. Handle carefully and use a separate clean measuring device for each chemical.
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