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Water quality of Pools and Spas

Nominal EC and pH values for Hydroponic Crops | What is Conductivity? | What is pH? | Reef Tanks | Pool and Spas

We all understand how important temperature is in a swimming pool...after all, we either swim for sports, for fun, or for relaxation. But what about the pH and conductivity?

The ideal pH for pool water is between 7.2 and 7.6 and needs to be measured daily. If the pH is not correct, the following potential problems may occur.


Low pH (below 7.0)	Ideal pH (7.2 - 7.6)	High pH (above 7.6)
Eye and skin irritation, and swimming discomfort	Ideal swimming environment	Eye irritation
Excessive sanitiser use	Most effective chlorine sanitation effect	Poor sanitiser efficiency
Water can eat away at plaster, tile grout, cement, metal pipes and equipment	Water is close to neutral - neither wanting calcium nor wanting to give up excess calcium. The ideal pH to achieve balanced water	Scale can form on pool walls, inside pumps, filters and other equipment causing numerous problems, such as restricted water flow, poor filtration
Etching of plaster		Cloudy water

Conductivity

The TDS (ppm 500 scale) is ideally under 2000ppm for chlorinated pools and 5000ppm for salt water pools. Dissolved solids enter the pool through the original water source or through the addition of chemicals. As the water evaporates from a pool, total dissolved solids remain behind and the level will rise. This can cause cloudy water and in some cases corrosion.