| Some of the terms: | |
| Acid Demand | Acid required to destroy excessive amounts of alkalinity. |
| Algae | A microscopic one celled plant organism. These organisims are continually introduced into the pool by winds, dust storm, rain showers, etc. Besides being unsightly, pools contaminated with algae are usually unsanitary. |
| Alkalinity (Total) | Amount of combined and uncombined alkaline material in the pool water, relating to the pH of pool water. |
| Alkaline | A condition when water is above 7.0 on the pH scale. |
| Bacteria | Invisible living germs that can be harmful to swimmers. |
| Calcium | Metal ion contained in water which can form salts such as calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate in sufficient amounts can cause cloudiness or scaling. It usually exits because of impoper balance pH. |
| Chlorine (Available) | Residual chlorine that is available to destroy bacteria on contact. |
| Chlorine (Free) | Chlorine known as hypoclorous acid which has not reacted with other materials to form combined chlorine. |
| Chlorine (Residual) | That chlorine remaining in pool water and after chlorine demand has been satisfied. |
| DPD | Is a reagent that determines free available chlorine in pool water. |
| Lithium Hypochlorite | Quick dissolving, leaves no reidue. 35% available chlorine. |
| Magnesium | A dissolved mineral in swimming pool water. Contributes to water hardness and turbidity. |
| OTO | A reagent used with your test kit in determining the amount of chlorine in the water. ppm ( parts per million of pounds per million ) - The term used to express quantity of a substance in water. |
| pH | Indicates where the pool is acid or alkaline on a scale of 0-14, with 7 being neutral. |
| Phenol Red | A reagent used with your test kit in determining the pH of pool water. |
| Scale | (Mainly calcium carbonate) -Shows up as white or dark streaks in the plaster caused by minerals precipitating and adhering to the plaster. Discoloration is caused by trapped dirt in the calsium deposit. |
| Stabilizer | A chemical, which when used properly, is very effective control of chlorine. Inhibits the ultra violet rays of the sun from destroying the chlorine. Cyanuric acid is normally used as a stabilizer in swimming pool water |
| Shock Treatment | Approximately five times normal chlorine dosage usually employed during summer swimming months and/or heavier than normal bathing loads on a weekly basis. |
| Super Chlorination | Same as ( Shock Treatment ) |
| Turbidity | Small suspended particles in the water which in high amount will cause cloudiness. |
