Water analysis

For clear, safe water all year round

To ensure clear and safe water, pool owners need to analyse their water regularly, taking a number of parameters into account. Pool water analysis is an essential step, and the key to healthy, enjoyable swimming.

Summary
►What are the main water parameters to monitor?
► How to measure the different water parameters?
► Why to analyse the water parameters and to monitor them?

- The pH
  
  The pH, or hydrogen potential, is the value that indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the pool water. Regulating the pH is the basis of water maintenance.
  A good pH is a balanced pH: the ideal pH is between 7.0 and 7.4 for chlorine, salt electrolysis or active oxygen pools and between 7.0 and 7.6 for bromine pools. A good pH is essential to ensure the comfort of bathers and the effectiveness of treatment products.
  A pH that is acidic or too low can cause skin and eye irritation and damage pool equipment. Conversely, an alkaline pH or one that is too high makes the water basic, reducing the effectiveness of chlorine and encouraging the appearance of limescale deposits and problems with green or cloudy water.

➡ pH, what are the ideal values?

The ideal pH is between 7.0 and 7.4 for chlorine, salt electrolysis or active oxygen pools and between 7.0 and 7.6 for bromine pools.

➡ pH, how often to measure it

To maintain safe, balanced water, we recommend checking and adjusting the pH and disinfectant levels once or twice a week, and up to 2 or 3 times a week in hot weather or when the pool is heavily used.

➡ How to measure the pH?

Measure your pH with Quicktest test strips, the Pooltester pH/Cl or the Electronic Pooltester.

➡ Which products should be used to regulate pH

To lower the pH, use pH-Minus, to raise it use pH-Plus.

- The TAC
  
  TAC, or Total Alkalimetric Titration, is measured in mg/L (ppm) as CaCO3. It measures the alkalinity of the water, which is the concentration of dissolved bicarbonates in the water. Alkalinity contributes to the balance of pool water. The TAC indicates the water's ‘buffering’ capacity, i.e. its ability to absorb fluctuations in pH.
  If the TAC is too low or too low, the pH can become unstable and difficult to regulate. The pH can fluctuate easily, making the water corrosive, which affects surfaces such as the pool lining or equipment. If the TAC is very high, the pH tends to rise very quickly, and the water can become cloudy. Keeping the TAC above 80 mg/L helps to avoid variations and sudden drops in pH.

➡ TAC, what is the ideal value?

If necessary, increase the TAC to a value above 80 mg/L.

➡ TAC, how often to measure it?

Check the alkalinity of the water at the start of the season, then about once a month, and if the pH becomes acidic.

➡Which tool or device to use to measure the TAC?

Measure your TAC level with Quicktest test strips or the Electronic Pooltester.

➡ Which products to use to regulate the TAC?

To correct low alkalinity and increase your TAC, use Alca-Plus®.

➡ Swimming pool disinfectant, what are the ideal values?

The ideal chlorine level is between 0.5 and 2 mg/L. Ideal bromine levels are between 1 and 3 mg/L.

➡ How often should the disinfectant level be checked and adjusted if necessary?

To maintain safe pool water, we recommend checking and adjusting the disinfectant level once or twice a week, and up to 2 or 3 times a week in hot weather or when the pool is heavily used. In the event of water problems, heatwaves or bad weather, carry out a shock treatment.

➡ Which tool or device should be used to measure the disinfectant levels?

Measure your disinfectant levels with Quicktest test strips for chlorine, the Pooltester ph/Cl or the Electronic Pooltester.

➡ Which products to use for disinfecting

For continuous disinfection throughout the season, if you have a sand & glass filter, use Chlorilong ULTIMATE7, 7-function chlorine tablets for complete and regular disinfection of the pool and filter.

Chlorilong ULTIMATE7 tablets are two-phase tablets for 2-phase disinfection. A fast-dissolving blue layer for shock treatment of the sand filter and water and a slow-dissolving white layer for permanent disinfection, anti-algae, clarifying, anti-limescale and chlorine stabilising effects.

In the event of water problems, heatwaves or bad weather, apply a shock treatment.

➡ Stabiliser, what is the ideal value?

For manual chlorine treatment, the stabiliser level should ideally be < 100 ppm (or mg/l). When using an automatic dosing system (with liquid chlorine or salt electrolysis), we recommend a cyanuric acid content of between 30 and 50 mg/l.

➡ Stabiliser, how often should it be measured?

For outdoor pools, test the stabiliser level at the start of the season and afterwards whenever necessary.

➡ Which tool or device to use to measure the stabiliser?

Measure your stabiliser levels with the Electronic Pooltester. Or have your pool water analysed by a professional BAYROL dealer, bringing your pool water sample with you.

➡ How to lower the stabiliser in water?

The stabiliser in the water does not degrade, so the only way to reduce the cyanuric acid content is to renew some of the water (by renewing enough water each year and/or by washing the filter regularly).

- The TH
  
  The TH, or Hydrotimetric Titer, measures the hardness of the water, i.e. its calcium and magnesium content. Water that is too hard, with a high calcium content, can lead to limescale deposits that are harmful to pool equipment and uncomfortable for bathers.
  Conversely, water that is too soft can be corrosive. The ideal TH for a pool is between 100 mg/L (ppm) and 200 mg/L (ppm) measured as CaCO3. When the water is heavily loaded with limescale, its TH exceeds 200 mg/L and the pH is above 7.6, there is a risk of limescale deposits.
  The limescale builds up on the walls, creating a rough water line and scaling the filter and pipes. To limit these risks and protect the pool and its equipment, you need to use a limescale sequestrant such as Calcinex.

➡TH, what is the ideal value?

The ideal TH for a pool is between 100 mg/L (ppm) and 200 mg/L (ppm).

➡ TH, how often to measure it?

Analyse your TH levels at least once at the start of the season.

➡ Which tool or device to use to measure TH?

Have your pool water analysed by a professional BAYROL dealer by taking a pool water sample with you.

➡Which products to use to prevent limescale?

Use Calcinex® to prevent the formation of limescale and to avoid the appearance of metal stains in the pool. The limescale remains in suspension and does not settle on the walls and bottom of the pool. It prevents the formation of rough surfaces. Calcinex® remains stable in the presence of chlorine, bromine or active oxygen.

Measuring water parameters

How to do it

► Quicktest test strips: the simplest method

Simply dip the strip into the water directly in the pool and determine the value by comparing the colour of the strip with the colorimetric scale. Because the strip has fewer coloured fields than the Pooltester, the measured value is not as accurate.

Simple and quick, this method nevertheless gives sufficient results for weekly monitoring and compliance with water parameters. We have the right test strips for analysing your pool water:

Quicktest for chlorine-treated pools

► The manual Pooltester: a fast, reliable solution

Chosen according to the treatment method, the Pooltester analysis kit measures the pH and disinfectant - chlorine, active oxygen or bromine - in your pool water.

Measurement is carried out by dissolving the tablets in a small container filled with pool water. The result can be read with the naked eye on a colour scale.

Pooltester pH/Cl for chlorine-treated pools

►The Electronic Pooltester: the most accurate solution

If you have problems with the quality of your pool water, or if you want an accurate analysis of your water, use an electronic tester such as the Electronic Pooltester. Accurate analysis allows you to optimise the dosage of treatment products.

The Electronic Pooltester measures pH, free chlorine, bromine, alkalinity and chlorine stabiliser values. These values are available quickly and displayed in digital format to one decimal place.

Reliable, accurate measurements based on the principle of photometry.

➡ Why do I need to test my pool water?

Testing your pool water ensures that the levels of the main parameters (pH, TAC and disinfectant) are correct, guaranteeing better water quality, greater swimming comfort and longer-lasting equipment.

➡ What should I do if the pH of my pool water is too high or too low?

Use pH corrector products (pH reducer, pH minus or pH booster, pH-Plus) depending on the results of your tests to maintain the pH between 7.0 and 7.4 for pools treated with chlorine, salt electrolysis or active oxygen and 7.0 and 7.6 for pools treated with bromine.

➡ How do you measure the TAC of a swimming pool?

TAC can be measured using test strips or the Electronic Pooltester.

➡ How can you prevent water problems?

Maintain a regular routine of analysing your water, clean the pool frequently, make sure the filtration system is working properly and follow the 4 care steps from BAYROL.

➡ Who can help me if I have a water problem?

To help us give you the most accurate advice, take a sample of the water in your pool to your nearest BAYROL dealer.

Download the My Pool Expert app for an immediate, free diagnosis.

➡What's the best tool to choose for analysing the pool water?

There are several solutions available to you: test strips, Pooltester, Electronic pooltester.

➡ What are the 3 main parameters to monitor?

pH, TAC and disinfectant levels.

Why to analyse swimming pool water?

- Identifying problems
  
  As soon as they appear
  
  This may seem a daunting task at first, but don't neglect it: this step will make it easier to treat your pool water, while saving you time and money in the long term, because by identifying problems as soon as they appear, you'll avoid the intensive and costly treatments needed to recover your water.
- Good water quality
  
  For the swimmers' health
  
  Unbalanced water can cause irritation and red eyes, and encourage the growth of bacteria and algae in the pool. That's why it's vital to check the quality, water balance and disinfection of your pool regularly, both when you re-open at the start of the season and throughout the swimming season.
- Optimising the dosage
  
  ‘The right product, in the right dosage, at the right time.’
  
  Checking and maintaining the main parameters of your water will make water maintenance easier and will allow you to optimise the dosage of the treatment products you use so that you consume only the right amount.