WATER TESTING FOR A HEALTHY POOL

 Swimming strengthens the body and is very often recommended for people with all sorts of illnesses and injuries, but if you don't have the luxury of a pool at home, and are forced to use the gym or public pool, then you will want to believe that they do water testing! While you think you may be benefiting from all the exercise, there are unknown dangers lurking in those waters that might well outweigh the advantages of the exercise part.

All pools contain pollutants, although these are kept to a minimal when the pool is well maintained as it should be. Urine in the water is bad enough, but when you swallow faeces, it is so gross that you will never return!! If anyone defecates in a pool, it should be immediately cleaned out and people should be made to shower before they enter a pool. Anybody can see that water testing is all but essential.

Water testing and residual chemical concentration

Water testing is essential to operating a pool and maintaining it as chemical reactions are constantly taking place. Water is constantly evaporating leaving behind a constantly increasing residual chemical concentration so the frequency of water testing will depend on the type of chemical residual that is being tested. The pH is the most important test and the pH value determines whether or not chlorine is disinfecting efficiently and whether or not the water is corrosive, neutral or scale-forming. A common problem, cloudy water, is when chemicals crystallize with a high pH so the chlorine test, together with the pH test, will tell you whether the pool is being properly maintained.

Every swimming pool keeper, whether public or private has to ensure that the water in the pool complies with the following:

• The pH value of the water must not be less than 7 or higher than 8.
• Where chlorine is used, minimum free available chlorine residual of 0,5mg/1 with a maximum free available chlorine residual of 3mg/1 must be maintained.
• The water must be free from settled debris and the walls and steps must always be free from slime and algae.