Page 24
Water Quality and Maintenance
LONG TIME PERIODS (5-14 DAYS)
Prior to leaving:
1. At least one day before you leave, set Water Care Mode to Away.
IMPORTANT:
Fitness system
water oxidizers such as sodium dichlor
(chlorine) maintain their level of effectiveness substantially longer in
cool water
15°C (
59°F
)
than in hot water 38°C - 40°C (101°F to 104°F).
2. Adjust the pH as required. Sanitize the water by following the shock
procedures.
Upon your return:
3. Sanitize the water by following the shock procedures. Return the set
temperature to its original setting. The
fitness system
water will be
safe for you to use once the Free Available Chlorine residual level has
dropped below 5.0 ppm.
IMPORTANT: If you will not be using your fitness system for an extended
period of time (in excess of 14 days) and an outside maintenance service
(or neighbor) is not available to assist with the water maintenance,
draining or winterizing of the fitness system is recommended.
SUPPLEMENTAL WATER MAINTENANCE
Proper water sanitation and mineral balance (pH control) are absolutely
essential for a complete
fitness system
water maintenance program.
Here are two other popular water additives that are optional:
Mineral Deposit Inhibitors
As water evaporates from your
fitness system
and new water is added,
the amount of dissolved minerals will increase. (Minimize evaporation
by keeping the cover on the
fitness system
whenever possible.) The
fitness system
water may eventually become “hard” (Calcium Hardness
too high) enough to damage the heater by calcifying its surface. Proper
pH control can minimize this.
Occasionally, high iron or copper content in the water may produce
green or brown stains on the
fitness system
. A stain and scale inhibitor
may help to reduce these metals.
IMPORTANT: Well water may contain high concentrations of minerals.
The use of a low water volume, extra-fine pore water filter (in-line pre-
filter such as the CLEAN SCREEN pre-filter) will help to remove many
of the larger particles during the filling of the
fitness system
. In-line pre-
filters can be purchased at your local ENDLESS POOLS dealer.
Foam Inhibitors
Fitness system
water requires changing due to the buildup of soap in
the water. Typically, soap will cause the
fitness system
water to foam
when the jets are used. Soap is introduced into the
fitness system
water from two sources: users’ bodies, which retain a soap residual after
showering, and swimming apparel, which retains soap after washing.
Foam inhibitors can suppress foam, but cannot remove soap from the
water. Soap is very difficult to remove from the water because soap is
not oxidized by any chemical added to the
fitness system
. Only ozone
can oxidize soap. Eventually the soap build-up in the water will be
concentrated, resulting in an unclean feeling on the bather’s skin, which
is impossible to remedy. When this occurs, it’s time to drain and refill the
fitness system
.
GLOSSARY
The following chemical terms are used in this Water Quality and
Maintenance section. Understanding their meaning will help you to
better understand the water maintenance process.
Bromamines: Compounds formed when bromine combines with
nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. Unlike chloramines,
bromamines have no pungent odor, and are effective sanitizers.
Bromine: A halogen sanitizer (in the same chemical family as chlorine).
Bromine is commonly used in stick, tablet, or granular form however,
stick and tablet form should NOT be used.
Calcium Hardness: The amount of dissolved calcium in the
fitness
system
water. This should be approximately 75 - 150 ppm. High levels
of calcium can cause cloudy water and scaling. Low levels can cause
harm to the
fitness system
equipment.
Chloramines: Compounds formed when chlorine combines with
nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. Chloramines can cause
eye irritation as well as having a strong odor. Unlike bromamines,
chloramines are weaker, slower sanitizers.
Chlorine: An efficient sanitizing chemical for
fitness system
s. Watkins
Wellness recommends the use of sodium dichlor-type granulated
chlorine. This type is preferred because it is totally soluble and nearly pH
neutral.
Chlorine (or Bromine) Residual: The amount of chlorine or bromine
remaining after chlorine or bromine demand has been satisfied. The
residual is, therefore,
the amount of sanitizer which is chemically available to
kill bacteria, viruses and algae.
Corrosion: The gradual wearing away of metal and plastic
fitness
system
parts, usually caused by chemical action. Generally, corrosion
is caused by low pH or by
water with levels of TA, CH, pH or sanitizer which
are outside the recommended ranges.
Halogen: Any one of these five elements: fluorine, chlorine, bromine,
iodine, and astatine.
MPS: Monopersulfate is a non-chlorine oxidizer.
Nitric Acid: The formulation of nitric acid, a highly corrosive chemical, is a
byproduct of the ozone generating process. Nitric acid is produced in very
small quantities and is readily dissolved in the water stream with ozone.
Oxidizer: The use of an oxidizing chemical is to prevent the buildup of
contaminants, maximize sanitizer efficiency, minimize combined chlorine
and improve water clarity. See MPS and Ozone.
Ozone: Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent which is produced in
nature and artificially by man. Ozone forms no byproducts, oxidizes
chloramines, and will not alter the water’s pH.
pH: The measure of the
fitness system
water’s acidity and alkalinity.
ppm: The abbreviation of “parts per million”, the standard measurement
of chemical concentration in water. Identical to mg/l (milligrams per liter).
Reagent: A chemical material in liquid, powder, or tablet form for use in
chemical testing.
Sanitizer: Sanitizers are added and maintained at recommended
residuals to protect bathers against pathogenic organisms which can
cause disease and infection in
fitness system
water.
Scale: Rough calcium-bearing deposits that can coat
fitness system
surfaces, heaters, plumbing lines, and clog filters. Generally, scaling is
caused by mineral content combined with high pH. Additionally, scale
forms more readily at higher water temperatures.
Super-Chlorination: Also known as “shock treatment.” Super-
Chlorination is a process of adding significant doses of a quick dissolving
sanitizer (“dichlor” is recommended) to oxidize non-filterable organic
waste and to remove chloramines and bromamines.
Total Alkalinity (TA): The amount of bicarbonates, carbonates, and
hydroxides present in
fitness system
water. Proper total alkalinity is
important for pH control. If the TA is too high, the pH is difficult to adjust.
If the TA is too low, the pH will be difficult
to hold at the proper level. The
desired range of TA in
fitness system
water is 80 to 120 ppm.
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