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GLOSSARY OF COMMON WATER MAINTENANCE TERMS
1. CHLORINE – in granular, liquid or puck/tablet form, is an oxidant and biocidal agent. It is very effective
and fast acting. Recommended chlorine residual level is 3.0 to 5.0 ppm.
2. CHLORAMINES – a compound formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen or ammonia present in the
water. When allowed to go unchecked, it causes eye and skin irritation and is indicated by a strong
chlorine odor.
3. ONE-PART BROMINE – also available in puck/tablet form, is another type of oxidant/biocidal agent, and
is introduced into the hot tub water via a brominator. Recommended bromine residual level is 3.0 to 5.0
ppm
4. TWO-PART BROMINE – composed of a liquid or powder component introduced manually into the water
on a weekly basis, and a granular component that is added daily or as the hot tub is used.
5. BROMAMINES – are formed when bromine destroys nitrogen-bearing organic matter. Unlike
chloramines, bromamines don’t cause eye irritation, however, when allowed to go unchecked, will cause
an objectionable odour.
6. SHOCK – the practice of adding an oxidizing agent to hot tub water to destroy ammonia, nitrogenous
and organic contaminants (chloramines and bromamines)
7. pH – a logarithmic value expressing the relative acidity or basicity of a substance (such as hot tub water)
as indicated by the hydrogen ion concentration. pH is expressed as a number on a scale of 0 to 14, where
0 is most acidic, 1 to 7 being acidic, 7 considered neutral, 7 to 14 being basic, and 14 being most basic.
The ideal range for hot tub water is 7.4 to 7.6 ppm
8. pH INCREASER – raises the pH level of the water.
9. pH DECREASER – lowers the pH level of the water.
10. TOTAL ALKALINITY (TA) – the amount of carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide compounds present
in the water that deter mines the ability or capacity of the water to resist change in pH. Also known as
the ‘buffering’ capacity.
11. ALKALINITY BOOSTER – raises the alkalinity.
12. CALCIUM HARDNESS – the calcium portion of the total alkalinity which represents 70 to 75% of total
hardness. Calcium concentrations determine whether water is ‘soft’ - too little calcium, or ‘hard’ -too much
calcium.
13. CALCIUM BOOSTER – increases the calcium level.
14. TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) – a measure of the total amount of dissolved matter in the water
(calcium, carbonates, bicarbonates, magnesium, metallic compounds, etc.)
15. SEQUESTERANTS (STAIN AND SCALE CONTROLLERS) – keeps dissolved metals and minerals in
the water from attacking the hot tub shell and support equipment components.
16. DEFOAMER – removes foam build-up from the water surface. At best, this is a temporary remedy, as
excessive foam is merely a symptom of improper water balance (typically high organic residue and/or
high pH).
17. CARTRIDGE FILTER CLEANER – degreases and cleans cartridge filters.
18. OZONATOR – generates Ozone (a gaseous molecule composed of 3 atoms of oxygen) and is injected
into the hot tub water for the oxidation of water contaminants.
19. TEST KIT – used to monitor specific chemical residual or demands in the water. May be in the form of
litmus strips or liquid drops.
20. PPM – abbreviation for ‘parts per million’, the unit of measurement used in chemical testing which
indicates the parts by weight in relation to one million parts by weight of water. Essentially identical to the
term mg/L - milligrams per liter.
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