Commercial Pool Problems

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Managing the Chlorine level, of pool water!!!

Commercial pools are expected to be maintained to a higher standard, than residential pools.  High bather usage places extra demands on sanitizing, water chemistry, filtration and safety.  A ColorQ, all digital Water Tester can perform all of the common tests, while eliminating the color-matching and guesswork.  With 10 models, performing up to 11 different test factors, one is right for every need.  An Electronic PockeTester Kit is a convenient way to monitor the salt level.  The WaterLink SpinTouch Labs are the ultimate tester, doing up to 10 different water test factors, in just 1 minute.  Maintains a past history and allows for the remote monitoring of test results.  Voted product of the year, by the trade association. ColorQ All-Digital Water Testers Testing The Salt Level WaterLink SpinTouch Labs Product and Ordering Information Product and Ordering Information Product and Ordering Information If you have a pool or spa water testing need, we should have the product.  ► Scroll down to read through some Question & Answer information. ◄

A structural, concrete crack requires more than just epoxy.  Torque-Lock Staples use 5000 pounds of torque, to hold the opposite sides together and make a rock solid repair.  Ultra Poly One Coat is a hybrid-epoxy coating, that is easier to prep and apply and can be used to refinish masonry or fiberglass pools, spas and fountains.  Used in commercial pools, water parks and water features, all across the U.S.   Keep the area around a pool or spa cleaner and they stay cleaner.  A MetalTrap Dual-Cartridge Filter attaches to a garden hose and can be used to remove sediments and dissolved copper, iron and manganese, from new water additions.

Structural Concrete Crack Repairs Hybrid-Epoxy Pool and Spa Coating MetalTrap Dual-Cartridge Filter Product and Ordering Information Product and Ordering Information Product and Ordering Information If you have a pool or spa water testing need, we should have the product.  ► Scroll down to read through some Question & Answer information. ◄

How to manage a commercial swimming pool?

 Commercial Pools cannot always use the same chemicals that are used in typical residential pools, because of the regulations of local health departments. What is permitted will vary from state to state. High bather usage can require specialized equipment and sanitizing practices. Make sure that your pool is in compliance with the latest anti-entrapment requirements. If problems arise, refer to the Pool Problems Page, as a source of problem-solving information, broken down into various categories.  Scroll down the page and click on the linked keywords, catch phrases or images, in the archived answers below, to access additional information, on that topic or product.

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► Commercial Pool Chlorination?

I recently started taking care of a commercial pool and am having problems getting the chlorine levels up. It seems that no matter how many times I clean/replace the filters, add trichlor sticks or shock with lithium, I can't get the chlorine level any higher than 1 on my 4-way test strips. Any suggestions. Thanks in Advance.

Rick S., Bolton Valley, VT, 4/23/2019

There are basically two possibilities here. The chlorine requirements could be so high that the chlorine sticks cannot keep up with the demand. Unless the chlorine feeder is oversized and full, it may not be able to dissolve the product at a fast enough rate and that explains the need for the shock treatment. Trichlor is not the best way to sanitize a commercial pool. The other possibility is that the test strips are not reading properly. This can happen, if the strips are removed with wet fingers or not stored properly. I suggest that you use something else to verify the results. In either case, you must use products and testers that are allowed for use in commercial pools. State laws vary, on these matters. A WaterLink SpinTouch Lab is not only the fastest way to do a comprehensive water analysis, it is easy to use.  It keeps track of the previous tests results and all testing can be monitored, from a remote location, using cloud-based software and a computer.  Even multiple locations can be centrally monitored, so long as each is using a WaterLink SpinTouch Lab. When the pool operators know someone can be watching, they are more likely to stay on top of things.  Has anyone ever thought about upgrading the sanitizing? A salt chlorine generator would be an excellent choice, as it is a benefit to both the operator and the pool users. Another thing to consider is the use of ultraviolet sanitizing. It won't replace the chlorine, but will greatly reduce the amount of chlorine required, dramatically reduce the chloramine odor and simplify the water chemistry. I hope that this information will prove helpful.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 4/23/2019


► Controlling The Water Chemistry?

We run a small community pool and would like to research a better means of adding chemicals. The pool uses liquid chlorine and acid and these are added with feeding pumps, tied into the operation of the filter and pump. The problem is that the bather use is anything but consistent and sometimes there is too much chlorine and other times there is not enough. Are there controllers that can be added? How expensive are they? Thanks for the help.

B. M., Knoxville, TN, 6/23/2020

Yes, controllers can be added that will help regulate the addition of the chlorine and acid. It should give you more uniform conditions. So far as the cost of these controllers is concerned, I will have to pass. There are several manufacturers of such equipment. I suggest that you consult with a pool company that deals with non-residential pools. There are other chemical saving and highly controllable sanitizing methods, that are suitable for use in commercial-type pools. Ozonation, for example, would deal with the introduction of bather wastes and would decrease the amount of chlorine required to maintain a satisfactory level. Salt chlorine generators and UV Sterilizers are other possibilities. Browse through the pages on these topics for more information. Sorry, that I couldn't provide all of the details.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 6/24/2020

 
► Reducing The Chlorine Odor?

I operate a commercial indoor pool that gets a lot of use. The odor is a real problem with some of the users. I know that chloramines are the cause, but I can't keep on adding shock, as the pool is very high volume. I have heard the ultraviolet can make a difference. Is there any truth to that? Thanks for the time spent.

Frank B., 5/18/2013

In indoor high-use commercial pools, odor can be an unpleasant feature. You will find the environment of the pool to be vastly improved, within 1-3 days, after installing an Ultraviolet Sanitizer System. The UV rays not only sanitize the water, but dramatically reduce or eliminate the chloramines. When chlorine combines with nitrogen-ammonia compounds, chloramines are formed and produce the chlorine smell that is so obnoxious, irritating and unhealthy. Less chlorine will be required to maintain the customary levels and the overall water chemistry will be less subject to fluctuation and buildup problems. I hope that I have explained some of the benefits.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 5/18/2013


► Chloramines And Ionization?

A public pool, that I swim at has had chronic chloramine build up that has resulted in air quality issues. The pool is approximately 125,000 gallons with a high bather load and uses liquid chlorine and muriatic acid.  I know there are a lot of factors that go into reducing chloramines, but my question is specific to a copper/silver ionizer.  This equipment was installed at this pool for the sole purpose of reducing chloramines, but there has been no real improvement. According to the owner, it is working, but you wouldn’t know it. Chloramines are consistently above 1 ppm and the air is heavy with the odor. They also state that they shock the pool with liquid chlorine to reach breakpoint. They do not use MPS for shock treatment. My question is whether or not the ionization system, they have in place, is actually capable of breaking down chloramines? My understanding of copper/silver is that they are sanitizers via ionization, but not strong oxidizers. Can you tell me if there are merits to this system with respect to chloramine reduction? Thanks for any insight. You provide a great service.

Richard W.,1/26/2008

You seem to have an excellent understanding of the issues. Ionization alone will not eliminate or reduce the chloramine concentration. It should reduce the amount of chlorine required to maintain a proper free chlorine level, but will have no effect on chloramines. To destroy or reduce the chloramine content, oxidation is required. It can be in the form of chlorine or potassium monopersulfate. Ozone Generators will reduce chloramines and odors very effectively, but will still need some chlorine to act as a backup sanitizer. A salt chlorine generator would have been a better choice, as it manufactures chlorine, right in the pool. The water would be stripped of chloramines, as water passes through the salt cell. State law might enter into which equipment is best suited for a public or commercial pool and this should be considered. I think a better choice could have been made. I hope that this information will prove helpful.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 1/26/2008

► Clouded Up?

I am on the board of a homeowners pool and a recent grad of a CPO course however, I need some help on a problem. Our pool is 80,000 gallons. The pH reading is 7.2, FAC is 2 ppm, TA is 220. We use Calcium Hypochlorite as our sanitizer. Our pool opened today and the water was crystal clear. The ambient temperature was 91 °F. Not sure of water temperature. Four hours into our first day the water started to become cloudy. Two hours later very cloudy. We backwashed the filters. Additionally, according to my CPO book we should try the acid column to convert the C03 to C02. I have read several of your answers regarding TA. I am more concerned with the cloudiness. Any help?

Doug, 5/18/2010

It would have been nice to know what the calcium hardness reading was? The use of calcium hypochlorite will raise the calcium level, the pH and the TA. Your TA is already too high and it is likely that the calcium reading is in the hundreds of PPM. That can account for the cloudy pool water problem. Depending on the makeup of the dissolved mineral, lowering the TA might prove difficult, but it should be tried. I suggest that you consider using something other than calcium hypochlorite. Liquid chlorine would seem logical. Even better would be a salt chlorine generator. Otherwise, the increasing calcium hardness levels will only cause more and more pool water clarity problems. Adding mineral treatments will help to an extent, but is not a long term solution. I hope that I have been of assistance. Good luck.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 5/19/2010


► ORP Confusion?

Having a bit of a bizarre issue with the pool which I run! The Alkalinity is always a bit low (65-75ppm) so have been adding sodium bicarbonate to the pool to bring it up a bit, I use sodium hypochlorite as the disinfectant. The levels of disinfectant are measured in redox only (this is the only one I've ever come across that does not have the PPM reading on as well) which only measures the disinfectant activity and not quantity. Every time, I add sodium bicarbonate the chlorine goes up. does adding bicarbonate interfere with the redox reading, thus causing it to dose more chlorine? Or is it just a freaky coincidence? I really hope you can help as most people run at the mention of redox controllers. Not sure buying a new controller is an option? Yours in anticipation.

Julie, United Kingdom, 8/15/2005

It is not a matter of interference. The controller is measuring the Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP). As expected, adding chlorine causes the reading to rise. The ORP is based on the hypochlorous acid concentration, which rises as the PPM of free chlorine increases. This same reading falls as the pH rises and rises as the pH drops, due to the equilibrium between the hypochlorous acid and hypochlorous ion concentrations. In your case, adding sodium bicarbonate causes the pH to nudge upward, lowering the ORP and causing the controller to add more chlorine to raise the ORP. In order to maintain proper pH and chlorine conditions, the pH and ORP must both be under control. So long as the pH is within the desired 7.2-7.6 range, the controller will keep the chlorine at the proper level. I hope that this information proves helpful.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 8/15/2005


► Stabilizer and Indoor Salt Chlorinator?

We have two pools/spas with chlorine generators. I read where a stabilizer is recommended, but these are indoor (hotel) pools, so why would I need the cyanuric acid? Thanks for your time!

Steve, Iron River, MI, 3/37/2007

I don't know where you read that. I see no reason that Cyanuric Acid should be required. UV is an outdoor problem. Dichlor is used, indoors, because it is quick dissolving and essentially pH neutral. My guess is that the instructions were not written with an indoor pool in mind. I hope that this information is helpful.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 3/27/2007


► Calculating Bather Loads?

I have a large group coming into our municipal pool. How can I be sure that the pool will accommodate that number of people?

M. C., 9/8/2005

According to CPO information, the following calculations are used.

Commercial Pools: Surface Area in Square Feet divided by 24 = maximum bathers.
Commercial Spas: Surface Area in Square Feet divided by 10 = maximum bathers.
Please verify that this information is current or applicable to for your area.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 9/9/2005


► Combined Chlorine Issues?

This is not your standard question regarding chloramine reduction. As a Health Inspector I deal with this issue a lot but here I want to ask about speed. Specifically the speed at which breakpoint can be achieved. A health club that closes at 10:00 pm and opens at 5:00 AM tries to beat the clock in super chlorination. With chloramines that reach 1-2 ppm, how fast can breakpoint be achieved with conventional shocking with liquid chlorine? 125,000 gallon lap pool. The CDC discusses contact time in cases of liquid stool contamination. Double the dose of chlorine results in half the time needed for contact. Can this same principle be used in chloramine elimination? 1.0 ppm CC conventionally requires 10 ppm chlorine to reach breakpoint (actually 7.5 or so but who's counting). What about 1.0 ppm CC hit with 20 ppm chlorine? Potassium peroxymonosulfate could be an option, but they do not have a test kit to deal with the interference on testing chlorine. Seemingly pointless, if you don't know you have reached breakpoint. Alan, please hurry! Thanks!

Tim R., 2/16/2008

All chemical reactions, and destroying combined chlorine is a chemical reaction, are partially governed by concentration. This is really a physical chemistry problem, but simply stated, time, temperature and circulation have to be considered, as well. Raising the concentration, will cut the reaction time, but even that is effected by variables. A pool is full is organics, that given time, will form more combined chlorine. If there is 1 PPM of combined chlorine at pool closing time, adding 10 PPM of free chlorine might not be enough, because of the organics present reacting with the free chlorine or the formation of more combined chlorine, from the nitrogenous wastes. Adding 10 PPM of free chlorine could still leave you with more than 1 PPM of combined chlorine. No two pools or situations are the same, so a set figure might not always work. If 10-1 does not produce a combined chlorine of less than 1 PPM, while leaving a free chlorine level, within your state's guidelines, I can see the utility of adding 12-1 or 15-1 or more.  Potassium monopersulfate would be an alternative worth looking into. It might be used, in conjunction, with the regular dosing of liquid chlorine. LaMotte Company offers MPS test strips. I am not sure what your state allows, in terms of alternative sanitizing, but salt chlorine generators, ozone generators or UV Sterilizers can go a long way towards improving swimming conditions and compliance with the sanitation requirements. I hope that I have been of some help.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 2/16/2008


► Appearance Of Stains?

I operate a 240,000 gallon painted plaster outdoor pool; after using bromine for about 20 years we switched to calcium hypochlorite in 2004. We never had any "staining: problem using bromine, just a minor green algae problem which we handled with the appropriate algaecide.  The summer of 2004  we experienced tan /light brown/yellowish "staining" - on the walls and floor of the pool, starting in the diving well, slowly moving out into the shallower parts of the pool, gradually increasing in quantity as the summer went on. The pool company I dealt with said it was a metal stain and had me use metal treatment products to take care of. Pool was shut down for several days, chemicals added - all pertinent directions followed, pool thoroughly brushed, backwashed sand filters thoroughly and put pool back into operation, using a metal treatment product on a maintenance basis. However, the stains began to return. They can be brushed off if done early in their appearance - but difficult considering the size of the pool.  When you brush it off water in area turns milky. When I opened pool in 2005 since metal staining did not seem to be the culprit we switched gears to algae "staining." I treated pool with shock and algaecide, initially and on a maintenance basis. But the stains appeared same as in 2004. Only thorough brushing kept them somewhat under control for the summer. My question is this? How do I determine for sure what is causing the "stain" to form, and then what to do to prevent or control it. The only thing we changed was switching from bromine to cal-hypo. Each spring the pool is emptied, then cleaned with TSP and an acid wash before refilling and putting into operation. We stay on top of everything else - free and combined chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, filter cleaning, etc. We checked the source water for the pool and nothing changed there.  The pool company I work with is at a loss. Any ideas? Would appreciate it.

Dick W., 3/8/2016

I am not sure that is the answer, but it does fit the facts. Bromine is acidic and will tend to keep the pH and TA towards the lower end, unless adjustments are made. It does not contribute to the calcium hardness. Minerals and metals tend to be more soluble at lower pH ranges. Cal hypo has a high pH and will raise the pH and TA, as product s being added. This tends to decrease the solubility of minerals and metals, as the pH and TA rise. Adding more and more calcium hardness over time only makes for more problems. I suggest that you monitor the calcium hardness and add regular doses of scale treatment. When the calcium level exceeds 400 PPM, scaling becomes more likely, as does metal staining. Calcium hypo may not be the best product to use, in this pool. I realize that there are cost considerations, but liquid chlorine would avoid the increasing hardness levels. Have you ever considered a salt chlorine generator? It will give you more control and less handling and storage problems. And the water will smell and feel better. Good luck and I hope that I have been helpful.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 3/8/2016


► Cracked Pool Wall?

We operate a 100,000 gallon commercial pool and recently had a crack develop in a wall. It was repaired and painted over. It now seems to have reopened and is probably responsible for a significant water loss. Do you have any suggestions for making a better repair? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Martin M., Georgia, 4/21/2009

Most likely this is a stress crack and needs to be stabilized. Products, such as epoxy, can be used, but don't always work while the crack is under pressure to expand.  The Torque-Lock system is designed to make structural concrete crack repair, that are rock solid.  If you want to make the proper repair, this is what you want to use.  Good luck and I hope that this solves the problem.

Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 4/21/2009

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