By Emily Johnson
The summer season is the time for communities to seek out the swimming pool. From Victoria Day through Labour Day (and sometimes beyond), pools are filled with people splashing, swimming, and playing during which bather loads get heavy and outside temperatures rise.
Maintaining pool water in top condition demands continuous effort throughout the entire season, not just during openings and closings. As the season progresses, various factors can lead to water quality issues that may not have been evident when the pool was first opened.
To effectively prevent unsightly conditions and potential hazards to swimmers’ health, pool operators and technicians should consider a few essential factors when tailoring their recommendations. By diligently adhering to pool maintenance routines, the water can remain clean and safe not only throughout the entire duration of summer vacation, but also well into the fall.
Keeping the water clean and sanitized
Establishing an effective routine for pool maintenance involves prioritizing the sanitization of water to eliminate harmful organisms. While chlorine is effective in killing most biological contaminants, relying solely on it may not address all types of pollutants. As the demand for pool chemicals grows, exploring alternative methods can contribute to maintaining the water in its desired condition.
Complementary solutions: Chemicals in harmony
To enhance the effectiveness of free chlorine and protect it from rapid depletion due to direct ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, pool owners can add stabilizer in the form of cyanuric acid (CYA). Trichlor-based tablets can also slow down tablet dissolution, and certain varieties may contain additional components that offer benefits like clarification or scale inhibition. Further, supplemental chemicals can assist in eliminating unwanted contaminants, complementing chlorine’s primary role in targeting biological organisms.
Regular oxidation routine
Rain, source water, swimmers, thunderstorms, and nearby vegetation introduce waste products that must be eliminated from the pool. While some pool operators only use oxidizers to address significant issues like algae outbreaks or cloudy water, a more economically viable approach is to perform weekly shocks for oxidation to maintain a clean pool.
