There are 3 main factors in your overall water quality: filtration/circulation, water chemistry, and sanitation. They work together to keep pool water clean and clear. So, your job as a pool owner is to maintain all three. But, before you can do that, you must first determine your pool's water capacity since it determines the dosage requirements of any water treatment products. To figure this out, use one of the formulas below:

For Rectangular Pools
Length (in feet) X Width (in feet) X Average Water Depth* (in feet) X 7.5 = Pool Volume in Gallons (U.S.)

For Circular Pools
Diameter (in feet) X Diameter (in feet) X Average Water Depth* (in feet) X 5.9 = Pool Volume in Gallons (U.S.)

For Oval Pools
Long Diameter (in feet) X Short Diameter (in feet) X Average Water Depth* (in feet) X 5.9 = Pool Volume in Gallons (U.S.)

For Irregularly Shaped Pools
Check with the builder, if possible. Otherwise, use the calculation for either an oval or rectangular pool and substitute an average diameter, width or length.

* Average Water Depth for inground pools = (Depth of Deep End (in feet) + Depth of Shallow End (in feet)) ÷ 2

Now that you know your water volume, here are the basics of pool care…

FILTRATION/CIRCULATION:
Water quality is affected by any foreign matter that naturally enters the pool during use, such as leaves, dirt, sweat, lotions, etc. Part of maintaining your pool is removing these contaminants. This is done through filtration and circulation. Your pump and filter are the "heart" of your pool. The pump circulates the water so it flows through the filter, which then traps and removes contaminants in the water. Be sure to run them long enough to filter your pool effectively. The longer you run the pump, the cleaner your pool will stay. A minimum of 8 hours a day is recommended. It's also important to keep your pump and filter in good operating condition by keeping the components clean. Your filter should be cleaned and inspected at least once a year. Vacuuming and leaf skimming are also essential to proper pool care, as they are merely other ways of filtering out foreign matter.

WATER CHEMISTRY:
Water chemistry is the makeup of your pool water. It consists of water balance (pH and total alkalinity), calcium hardness, stabilizer level, sanitizer level, and mineral levels. It's important to keep your water chemistry within the recommended parameters below. There are several factors that can affect your water chemistry, including one level affecting another. So, the best way to maintain it is to test your water regularly to determine your pool's levels and adjust accordingly.

PROPER RANGES FOR POOL/SPA WATER

pH:                                     7.2 – 7.6 (for chlorine); 7.2 – 7.8 (for bromine) Total Alkalinity:                  80 – 120 PPM Free Chlorine:                     1 – 3 PPM Total Chlorine:                    Not more than 1 PPM higher than the Free Chlorine Bromine:                              3 – 5 PPM Calcium Hardness:               80 – 120 PPM (vinyl or fiberglass); 150 – 200 PPM (masonry finishes) Chlorine Stabilizer:             20 – 40 PPM (in northern areas); 40 – 80 PPM (in sunbelt areas) Iron:                                    0 PPM Copper:                               0 PPM (from natural sources); less than 1 PPM from product or algaecide use

* With the exception of the chlorine and chlorine stabilizer levels, these parameters are the same for all other pools or spas being maintained on other sanitizers, unless specifically recommended otherwise by the equipment or product manufacturer.

SANITATION:
If your pool is properly sanitized, it will help keep your water free of algae and bacteria. There are different ways of sanitizing a pool, using chlorine, bromine, ozone or ionization. Chlorine, which has been used for sanitizing drinking water for almost 100 years, is the most popular choice. For chlorine-maintained pools, you must maintain a Free Chlorine level of 1-3 PPM. Chlorine can either be manually added to the pool or produced right in the water with a saltwater chlorinator. For information on the alternative methods, contact your local pool professional. Regular water testing will ensure that your pool is being sanitized effectively. Under certain conditions, you may also have to shock treat or superchlorinate your pool in order to destroy any buildup of contamination that the normal level of chlorine cannot effectively destroy. It is recommended that you shock weekly, as well as after heavy bather loads, heavy rain or windstorms, extremely hot temperatures, and at first signs of diminished water quality or algae growth.

Click for Helpful Tips.
Click for Glossary of Terms.
Visit www.askalanaquestion.com.