Pool water chemistry is complex, and having the perfect balance of all the different key parameters is important to ensure a safe environment for bathers. Here we discuss some of the top issues with swimming pool water, potential causes of these and how to troubleshoot including key water chemistry tests to perform.
Swimming pool water can suffer from multiple issues, a lot of these stem from an imbalance of key water chemistry parameters. The Lumiso Pooltest Expert is a multi-parameter photometer suitable for testing multiple times daily, quickly and accurately across key and troubleshooting parameters. Lumiso Pooltest Expert offers tests for all of the chemical parameters mentioned in this guide, as well as many other important parameters for pool water testing.
There are a few potential causes for pool water turning green, most link to signs of poor water chemistry. Usually, a green colour will indicate either a low disinfectant residual or high cyanuric acid levels.
Key parameters to check: Chlorine, pH and cyanuric acid
Solution:
If bathers are reporting a salty taste from the pool water, this is likely due to the TDS levels in the pool being too high.
Key parameters to check: TDS
Solution:
Highly turbid water usually indicates an imbalance in pool chemistry parameters, specifically linked to a lack of disinfection control. High combined chlorine values can cause a reduction in water clarity, this could be caused by any of the parameters which affect water balance. Inefficient coagulation and flocculation processes, or inadequate filtration can also cause highly turbid water.
Key parameters to check: Turbidity, water balance
Solution:
Potential causes of erosion of grout in the swimming pool include poor water balance, low calcium levels or high sulfate levels.
Key parameters to check: Calcium hardness, sulfate, water balance
Solution:
If the pH of the swimming pool is difficult to control, this could be pH ‘bounce’ due to low alkalinity levels.
Key parameters to check: Total alkalinity
Solution:
If the pH level of the water does not seem to be changing, even after addition of chemicals, this may be due to pH ‘lock’. This happens when the pool alkalinity is too high.
Key parameters to check: Total alkalinity
Solution:
Eye and skin irritation is usually caused by either the pH or disinfectant level being outside of the recommended range. If the free chlorine level is too low, or the combined chlorines too high, this can cause irritation and is unpleasant for bathers.
Key parameters to check: pH, chlorine.
Solution:
If there is scaling or corrosion on pool fixtures and fittings this is likely due to the water not being in balance.
Key parameters to check: Water balance.
Solution:
Most pool water issues are due to imbalance of chemical parameters in the pool. Palintest’s Lumiso Pooltest Expert offers tests for all key and troubleshooting parameters required to diagnose and treat pool water issues, as well as for day-to-day monitoring. With on-screen instructions included for every test, and user interface customisability including the option to add notes, labels, and users to tests, Lumiso Pooltest Expert makes pool and spa water testing intuitive, quick, and simple.
Following a pool water issue such as one of those listed above, recording testing and resolution steps is extremely important. Lumiso Pooltest Expert also makes compliance easy through automatic results logging and easy export through Palintest’s new data management platform, Palintest Connect. To find out more about this brand-new pool testing photometer, please contact the team here.
Pool chemistry limits and recommendations in this article are collated based on industry best practice. We would always recommend you seek advice on the local regulations from your local advisory board. For further information on pool chemistry, download our pool chemistry guide.