Understanding Pool & Spa Water Testing: by Ivars Jaunakais Orlando Pool and Spa Show - February, 2010
Understanding Pool & Spa Water Testing: by Ivars Jaunakais Orlando Pool and Spa Show - February, 2010
Understanding Pool & Spa Water Testing: by Ivars Jaunakais Orlando Pool and Spa Show - February, 2010
By Ivars Jaunakais
Orlando Pool and Spa Show • February, 2010
R 021710
BEFORE WE BEGIN,
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK…
Happy customers
Produce accurate, and reliable results
Accurate results supports the correct
maintenance saving time and money
The time saved will allow you to develop new
customers
Over 12 million pools and 5 million spa in the
United States all require maintenance
THE GOAL
is too maintain a pool or spa that …
is free from harmful microorganisms or pathogenic
bacteria
is free from algae
is aesthetically pleasing (clean, clear, and inviting)
does not irritate the eyes, respiratory system, or skin of
bathers
is not stained or suffering from discolored water
contains water that does not corrode
contains water that does not deposit or leave residue
does not have debris, scum, or foam floating on the
surface
has no offensive odor
3 THINGS TO MAINTAIN A
HEALTHY POOL OR SPA
Circulation
Filtration
Routine
Cleaning
and Maintenance
STATE OF FLORIDA
64E-9.004 Operational Requirements
pH – 7.2 to 7.8.
STATE OF FLORIDA
64E-9.004 Operational Requirements
Cyanuric acid
1. 100 mg/L maximum in pools
2. 40 mg/L in spa pools
NOTE: Expect this level to be lower in the future
STATE OF FLORIDA
64E-9.004 Operational Requirements
Quaternary ammonium
5 mg/L maximum in pools or spas
STATE OF FLORIDA
64E-9.004 Operational Requirements
Copper –
1 mg/L maximum in pools or spas
STATE OF FLORIDA
64E-9.004 Operational Requirements
Silver –
0.1 mg/L maximum in pools or spas
STATE OF FLORIDA
64E-9.004 Operational Requirements
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
DISINFECTION OF POOL
AFTER FECAL ACCIDENT
OTHER BODY FLUIDS
Vomit
1. Noroviruses germ hazard
2. Respond to the vomit accident as you
would respond to a formed fecal accident,
using CDC's recommendations
Blood
1. Germs don’t spread in properly
chlorinated pool
2. There is no public health reason to
recommend closing the pool after a blood
spill
State Health Department Enforces these
rules because swimmers leave behind:
Up to 50 ml of urine per swimmer
(mostly by children)
90
Percent HOCl and OCl-
80 HOCl
Hypochlorous Acid
70
60
HOCl
50 OCl-
40
30
OCl-
20 Hypochlorite Ion
10
0
6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5
pH
WATER BALANCE - pH
WATER BALANCE - pH
What causes pH to go up
“buffering capacity”
Proper AL stabilizes pH
pH 7.5, 77 °F
78
BACTERIA REGROWTH
RISK
OF
ILLNESS
RISK OF ILLNESS
SOURCES OF
CHLORINE
Chemical Chemical Form % Chlorine
Name Formula
Chlorine Cl2 Gas 100%
Gas
Calcium Ca(OCl)2 Solid 65-70%
Hypochlorite
82
TYPICAL DEGRADATION
RATE OF SODIUM
HYPOCHLORITE
ABOUT THE SOURCES
OF CHLORINE
84
CHLORINE CHEMSTRY
85
HYPOCHLOROUS ACID REACTIONS
Two chemical reactions impact the performance
of Hypochlorous acid as a disinfectant:
First reaction involves a hydroxide ion (OH¯)
OH¯ is available in aqueous solution especially
when pH level is above 7 which causes
Hypochlorous acid to form Hypochlorite ion
Hypochlorite ion is less than one third as effective a
disinfectant as Hypochlorous acid
The next slide shows the relationship between pH
versus chlorine species (Hypochlorous acid and
Hypochlorite ion)
86
pH VERSUS CHLORINE SPECIES
90
Percent HOCl and OCl-
80 HOCl
Hypochlorous Acid
70
60
HOCl
50 OCl-
40
30
OCl-
20 Hypochlorite Ion
10
0
6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5
pH
CHLORINE REACTION
Second chlorine reaction is with ammonia (NH3)
and organic nitrogen compounds such as
proteins and amino acids in the pool
A series of reactions occur that form
chloramines
Chloramines are less effective as a disinfectant
Active chlorine can be transferred from inorganic
chloramine to amine (organic) containing
compounds
88
COMBINED CHLORINE
EQUATIONS
The sum of the chloramine species is called
combined chlorine, and chemically created in the
pool as follows:
89
BREAKPOINT
CHLORINATION
The process which eliminates both the combined
chlorine and the ammonia problem responsible for
creating the chloramine is called Breakpoint
Chlorination
In the pool industry its called “Shock” also called
“Super-Chlorination”
Shock is required daily, weekly or monthly and
depends on a variety of considerations
90
EUROPEAN DIN REGULATION
The German DIN regulation requires pools be
drained:
1. Once a month or
2. ¼ every week or
3. 1/30 every day
Fresh water is added routinely which removes
chloramines (organic & ammonia) and other
contaminates
Universal use of ozone and / or UV for pools
and free chlorine levels are maintained at 0.4 to
0.6 ppm
TOTAL CHLORINE
Total chlorine is the sum of free chlorine and
combined chlorine
Free chlorine and total chlorine are monitored by
automated equipment and confirmed by poolside
testing for swimmer protection
Total Chlorine =
Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorine
92
TO ACHIEVE GOOD
TEST RESULTS
Test is acceptable or compliant (uses DPD)
Test is appropriate for the staff technical
ability
Test is robust, reagents and equipment are
reliable & stable
Test is not affected by interferences
Test is accurate when staff performs the test
correctly
93
US EPA ACCEPTED
TEST METHODS
(ACCEPTED BY FLORIDA
HEALTH DEPARTMENT)
94
DPD NOMENCLATURE
DPD-1 + DPD-2 is for free chlorine
(liquid systems only)
DPD-1 is for Free Chlorine
(Powders, tablets, test strips)
DPD-3 is KI
(Potassium Iodide reagent) and applies to all
except powders
DPD-4 is sum of DPD-1+DPD-2+DPD-3
(Total Chlorine)
DPD DELIVERY METHODS
96
DPD CHLORINE TESTING
97
TOTAL CHLORINE (TC) =
FREE CHLORINE (FC) +
COMBINED CHLORINE
Combined chlorine = TC - FC
98
Free Chlorine, reference method versus test method
10.00
y = 1.0268x + 0.0126
R2 = 0.9998
test method (ppm)
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00
99
CHLORINE TESTING
Step 3
Turn meter on and Zero
NEW DPD METHODOLGY
FOR POOLSIDE
COMPLIANCE TESTING
Step 4
Dip DPD-1 Test Strip into sample for
20 seconds with back and forth
motion (Press “READ” button that
begins countdown timer)
NEW DPD METHODOLGY
FOR POOLSIDE
COMPLIANCE TESTING
Step 5
Step 6
Continue the test to determine the
Total Chlorine concentration: Press
“READ” button and simultaneously
dip eXact® Strip Micro DPD-3 into
the water sample for 20 second
count down.
(During the 20 seconds constantly move the
strip back and forth, which releases the
Potassium Iodide reagent from the strip and
mixes the sample)
NEW DPD METHODOLGY
FOR POOLSIDE
COMPLIANCE TESTING
Step 7
At the end of the 20 seconds the meter will
display “1” at which time you remove and
discard the strip and the meter
automatically reads and displays the total
chlorine concentration, and stores the
result in memory.
1/3 X 3000 = 33
30
BROMINE
Bromine is a chemical relative of Chlorine
Used more commonly in spas because it is more stable at
high temperatures
When Bromine combines with ammonia it becomes
bromamine which is still an effective sanitizer (does not
irritate eyes and skin)
Bromine and bromamine are measured together as Total
Bromine (Typically with DPD-1 Reagent)
More expensive than chlorine and can not be stabilized by
cyanuric acid (rapidly dissipated by the sun)
Bromine comes most commonly in tablet form
Bromine as a sanitation agent can not be switched over to
chlorine without completely draining and replacing the
water
BROMINE
CHEMISTRY
Bromine's effectiveness dependent on the water's pH
Bromine breaks down in water forming Hypobromous
Acid (HOBr) and Hypobromite Ion (OBr -), the ratio of
the two being pH-dependent
At high pH, more of the OBr - is present
Recommended pH levels are the same for bromine
as for chlorine
HOBr is effective as an anti-algae agent
BROMINE
Customer wants it
State Health Department requires it.
Liability for bad results
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Any Questions?
Ivars Jaunakais – Chief Analytical Chemist
[email protected] www.sensafe.com