Water

Pool Water Chemistry – It’s a Balancing Act!

Pool Chemical Test Kit

How to Balance Your Pool Water

Keeping your pool healthy is based on many different factors. Balancing the pool water properly is the cornerstone to maintaining a healthy pool. Pool water chemistry is based on many criteria but there are three main parameters: Chorine, pH, and Alkalinity. When the level of these three chemical indicators is within their proper range, the pool water is said to be balanced.

The amount of chlorine in pool water is important; it should be between 2-5 parts per million. But more significant is the chemical form of chlorine. Only when the chlorine in the water is present as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) does the chlorine have the strong anti-microbial powers needed for sanitation.

To get the majority of the water’s chlorine into this hypochlorous form, the pH of the pool needs to be controlled. When the pH is between 7.2 and 7.6, about 60% of the available chlorine will exist as hypochlorous acid, enabling it to kill harmful microorganisms. This is also a pH just above neutrality and therefore very comfortable for swimmers.

pH levels tend to go up & down however and controlling fluctuations is not very easy. That is where alkalinity becomes important. When the alkalinity is kept between 80-120 ppm, the pH stabilizes and won’t bounce up and down (changing the effectiveness of the chlorine).

Each week, our trained pool technician’s goal is to balance your pool’s water – controlling the alkalinity so the pH is kept in line which, in turn, maximizes the effectiveness of the chlorine. This helps keep your pool water healthy and ready for your enjoyment. Pool Water Chemistry- It’s a Balancing Act!.

Call Blue Water today if you would like to receive an analysis of your pool water or to learn more about how to keep your pool water properly balanced.