There are a lot of different terms used when discussing the chemistry of swimming pools and spas or hot tubs. Some can sound quite technical and complex and many will appear in our conversations with customers and our articles, so here's a list of some of the most common and important terms explained:
Algaecide - Group of chemicals that target algae growth in water
Active Oxygen - An oxidising chemical based on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
Automatic Dosing System - A system which constantly measures and adds chemicals
Biofilm - A chlorine-resistant growth which can sometimes be found in pipes
Bromamine - Disinfection byproduct formed when using bromine as a sanitiser. Less harmful and irritating than chloramines and are as effective at disinfection as hypobromous acid
Calcium Hardness (CH) - the total amount of calcium present in water, commonly reffered to simply as "hardness"
Chloramine - Disinfection byproduct formed when using bromine as a sanitiser. Can be harmful and irritating, do not aid disinfection, and can lower the effectiveness of free chlorine
Clarifier - Chemical added to water to resolve slight cloudiness
Colony Forming Unit (CFU) - Viable (able to multiply) microorganisms
Combined Chlorine - General term for chloramines
Cyanuric Acid (CYA) - Chlorine stabiliser used to prevent dissipation of chlorine by UV radiation
Disinfectant - Any chemical such as bromine or chlorine added to the water to counteract pathogens and other compounds in water
Disinfection Byproduct (DBP) - General term for chloramines, bromamines, Trihalomethanes and other compounds produced when sanitisers "do their job"
Feeder - General term for a tablet holder connected to the swimming pool or spa plumbing which gradually adds sanitiser to maintain residual levels
Floater - A tablet holder that floats on the surface of the water to slowly release sanitiser and maintain residual levels
Flocculant - Chemical that binds smaller particles together to aid filtration or allows removal via vacuuming
Flush - Chemical or process used to clean pipework and remove biofilm
Folliculitis - Term for "hot tub rash" caused by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Free Chlorine - Amount of dissolved chlorine available for disinfection
Hypobromous Acid - the active disinfectant produced when bromine is dissolved in water
Hypochlorous Acid - the active disinfectant produced when chlorine is dissolved in water
Oxidiser - product or chemical used to break down compounds and DBPs
Ozone - O3 gas used as secondary disinfection. Sanitises, is a potent oxidiser, and has a flocculant effect
Pathogen - microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses that can cause disease or infection
pH - the scale used to measure the quantity of hydrogen ions present (represented as how acidic or alkali a solution is)
Photometer - A digital testing tool that uses light frequencies to measure water chemistry
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa - Bacteria found in water which causes hot tub rash/folliculitis
Reagent - A tablet or liquid added to a water sample to produce a colour, which is then compared to a colour chart or placed into a photometer to assess water chemistry
Residual - the maintained level above zero of sanitisers such as chlorine or bromine
Sanitiser - Another general term for disinfectant
Secondary Disinfection - General term for systems including UV and ozone generators that support the action of sanitisers, can inactivate chlorine-resistant microorganisms, and sometimes have added benefits
Shock - The chemical or action used to increase sanitiser levels and oxidise compounds within water
Stabiliser - Another term for cyanuric acid
Total Alkalinity (TA) - the overall quantity of dissolved alkali in the water
Total Chlorine (TC) - Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorine
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) - Overall quantity of dissolved solid compounds in the water. High TDS affects sanitiser efficacy and clarity
Total Viable Count (TVC) - Concentration of undefined microorganisms present in water - measure of the colony forming units per ml.
Trihalomethanes (THMs) - type of disinfection byproduct
UV - Ultraviolet frequencies of light as given off by the sun or a UV lamp
UV System - Secondary disinfection system which uses UV lamps to disinfect water (and in some cases oxidise compounds)
Is there a term that you think we missed or would you like more information on water chemistry? Call us on 0333 577 9692 or email enquiries@energiseleisure.co.uk
For information on our products and services visit www.energiseleisure.co.uk/services
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