Proper water balance is critical for the life of your pool surface, your pool equipment and swimmer comfort. With care, your swimming pool will be an investment that will bring years of enjoyment and pleasure. Neglecting your pool and pool equipment can cause problems that can be very expensive to remedy.

For this basic introduction to Pool Water Care, we will explain the concepts of Minerally Balanced Water, Biologically Sanitized Water,

Physically Clean Water and Pool Surface Stain Prevention.

The factors that contribute to proper water balance are pH, Total Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness. The water temperature also plays a vital role in this relationship but will not be discussed in this basic introduction. pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity. The pH Scale runs from 1 to 14. A reading below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic or alkaline. We want to keep our pool water slightly on the alkaline side of the scale between 7.2 & 7.6. The pH in a concrete pool will tend to drift upward because of the high alkaline content of the cement plaster. Small amounts of muriatic acid will need to added to the pool to lower the pH to the 7.4 - 7.6 range.Total alkalinity helps buffer pH in a well-maintained pool. A range or 80 - 120 PPM is ideal. The total alkalinity will tend to drift lower during the swimming season and can be increased with the addition of baking soda.

Calcium hardness helps protect your plaster pool surface and pool equipment. A calcium hardness of 250 - 400 PPM is the ideal range to maintain. A low calcium hardness level combined with aggressive water (pH below 7.2 will result in the etching deterioration of the marcite plaster. This condition is irreversible and can only be corrected by resurfacing. A high level combined with scaling water (pH above 7.8) will cause staining and calcium scale deposits.

Left untreated, water quickly becomes a breeding haven for germs and algae. Proper amounts of Chlorine will safely and effectively sanitize your pool water and provide for a safe and enjoyable swimming environment.

A Chlorine residual of 1.5 - 3.0 PPM Free Available Chlorine is necessary for this. If you choose to manually feed into your pool, two types are required. Chlorine tablets in a dispenser will dissolve slowly and can easily maintain the proper level. Remnants of the sanitized germs and algae must be oxidized out of the water with a weekly shocking program. Effective oxidizers are sodium (liquid bleach), calcium (granular) hypochlorite, or a non-chlorine oxidizer will burn out these contaminants.

Sometimes in our climate, a maintenance algaecide program is necessary to combat the many forms of algae just waiting to take over your pool.

When contaminants get into our pool water we need to remove them as quickly as possible. A good functioning filtration system is necessary to remove small particulate contaminants. All the water in your pool should flow through the filter at least 3 or 4 times per day in the swimming season. An 8 to 10 rise in the pressure gage is your signal to clean the filter. Larger contaminants such as leaves, twigs, dirt and sand must be removed from the water on a regular basis to minimize the effects of the contamination and unsightly appearance.

Stains are inevitable in swimming pools. Some are easy to remove and some are more difficult. Stains on the pool surface and will either be organic or inorganic in nature. Organic matter allowed to decompose will stain the surface. A slight increase in the chlorine level will help bleach out this type of stain. Inorganic (metal) stains can vary in color depending on the particular metal. All water will have some metal content and oxidizers (chlorine) can cause these metals to stain our pool surfaces.

Sometimes we inadvertently introduce metals into the pool water through metal heater parts, copper plumbing, metal based algaecides, fertilizer, etc. The best suggestion for stain control is the regular use of a metal sequestering agent. These chemicals help keep the metals in solution in the water so they don’t plate out on the pool surface causing a stain.

Your pool water should be tested and balanced at least weekly and after heavy rains and swimmer usage. You should maintain the following water balances:

Chlorine 1-3 ppm Free Available Chlorine

pH 7.2-7.6

Total Alkalinity 80 ppm - 120 ppm

Calcium Hardness 250 - 400 ppm

Cyanuric Acid(Stabilizer)30 - 60 ppm

Metals (copper, iron, manganese, etc.) 0 ppm

Total Dissolved Solidsless than 1000 ppm

NOTE: Always adjust pH thirty minutes before shocking. Never mix

chemicals. Store chemicals safely. Always follow the instructions on the label of the chemical being used.