Swimming pool care
It is important that you regularly maintain and clean your swimming pool. Proper swimming pool care will reduce the risk of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs), kill bacteria and prevent algae from growing. Essential swimming pool care should include regular monitoring of the chlorine and pH levels in the pool. It is the job of chlorine to kill the germs and bacteria that exist in the water, but it takes time for chlorine to work. That is why it is important to regularly check that the chlorine levels are at the recommended health department levels. This is usually between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm.
The effectiveness of the chlorine in the water is dependant on different factors. One is the pH level of the water. The greater the pH level, the less effective the germ-killing power of chlorine will be. A swimmers body has a pH level of 7.2 to 7.8, and if the level of the water rises above that range, the swimmer will start to feel irritation to the skin and eyes.
Chlorine can combine with the dirt, debris, bacteria and organics from the human body that are in the water and become inactive. To counteract this, there is a procedure known as “shock treatment” that is an important part of swimming pool care. To kill off the chloramines, which is a technical term of chlorine combined with bacteria, an extra dose of chlorine is added to the water. To calculate the amount of shock treatment chlorine you need to add to the water you first need to calculate how much of the chloramines, or combined chlorine, is in your pool. You can find this result using a DPD kit or test strip. Once you are aware how much combined chlorine is in the water, you need to add 10 times that amount of chlorine to properly clean your water.
Many people complain about the overwhelming smell of chlorine from swimming pool care maintenance. But, the truth is that the strong odor that is accused of being chlorine is actually the smell of the bacteria and organics. Anyone who has ever smelt chlorine will testify that it actually smells rather fresh and clean and nothing like the smell of a pool.
Practice healthy swimming behaviors. Don’t get in the water if you are feeling unwell, don’t swallow pool water and practice good hygiene. These healthy swimming behaviors combined with regular maintenance and assessment, will make a positive and clean environment for your whole family to enjoy.