Pool Operators Study Guide

components and materials used for commercial swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs must comply with what standard?

ANSI/ NSPA Standard 5

Commercial swimming pools and spas are regulated by

ANSI/NSPI Standard 5

the term or explanation for removing the dirt/particles from the filter is

BACKWASHING

which algae is most difficult to control, often needing superchlorination and brushing?

Black

Powder chlorine is named

Calcium hypochlorite

the chemical name for dry chlorine is

Calcium hypochlorite

Add chemicals to water,

DO NOT add water to chemicals

What kind of filter media filters the smallest particles?

Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

how do you lower the Calcium Hardness Level?

Drain water out and add fresh water. Dilute the water

Resistance is caused by

Friction and Head Loss

electrical system at pool must have

GFI's

what should you use when handling chemicals?

Personal Protective Equipment--Gloves, Goggles, Apron

What should you have if the water is deeper than 5 feet?

Put up a safety line and have a slope line mark

If the chlorinator is working and you have chlorine in the vat, what is a possible reason for the chlorine reading being 0?

The test could be bleached (chlorine level is too high)

Flow Rate=

Turnover Rate divided/ Filter Media Rate

chloramines are

a combination of chlorine and ammonia in pool water

an aid in removing small particles from the pool water is

a flocculent

as the dirt in the filter _______the flow of the water going through the filter _______ while the filter pressure _________

accumulates; decreases; increases

stains on the interior pool surfaces are usually caused by

all of the above: copper, manganese, iron

sodium Hypochlorite

all of the above: deteriorates quickly into exposed air, sunlight, and high temperatures

cloudy water may be caused by

all of the above: filter malfunction, excessive bather load, chemical imbalance of the pool water

a pool should be free from

all of the above: floating debris, sediment and dirt, algae

chlorine can be used in which of the following forms

all of the above: gas, liquid, powder

the hypochlorinator doesn't work. what could be a possible cause for this?

all of the above: no chlorine in the vat, the injection fitting is clogged, the tube assembly needs to be changed

you see bubbles coming up from a return, the possible cause could be a

bad seal on the hair/lint strainer-- its not properly closed

the color of algae that causes damage to pool surface is

black algae

which type of algae is the most difficult to control in a pool, often requiring super-chlorination and brushing to eliminate

black algae

if patrons are complaining of red eyes and odor there are

chloramines present

what are chloramines?

chlorine combined with ammonia

if the telephone doesn't work

close the pool

if the pool is cloudy and you cannot see the main drain

close the pool to swimmers

To be a pool operator you must

complete pool operators training course

Low Calcium Hardness causes

corrosion of pool equipment

low calcium hardness in the pool water will cause

corrosion of the pool fixtures

as dirt accumulates inside a filter the amount of water that can pass through the filter

decreases

the filter medium that can filter the smallest particles is

diatomaceous earth

to remove stains from the pool surface

drain and acid wash the pool

on a pool without a diving bowl, no diving tiles must be placed

every 25 ft around the pool perimeter

in most jurisdictions the turnover time for a swimming pool is

every 6 hours

an aid in removing small particles from the pool is a

flocculent

resistance in a pool circulation system is caused by _____ and ______

friction and head loss

The flow of water through the filter is measured in ______ per minute

gallons

Chlorine in its natural state (gas) is ______ in color

green

Chlorine in its natural state is a halogen gas and is what color

green

the most common form of algae is

green

Low chlorine in the pool will cause or result in

green algae

stairs in a pool must be accompanied by a

handrail. the handrail must be anchored in the pool deck and in the bottom step

chlorine gas is ______ than air

heavier

microorganisms can be shielded from disinfectants if they are in suspended particles. This is caused by

high turbidity levels

microorganisms can be shielded from disinfectants if they are in suspended particles. this situation is caused by

high turbidity levels

Pool should have depth markers that are

horizontal, vertical and no more than 25 feet apart

chlorine reacts with water to form what disinfectant

hypochlorous acid

when you add chlorine to water it makes

hypochlorous acid

Chlorine is available to kill bacteria

immediately when added to the pool

Chlorine is available to kill bacteria

immediately when added to water

the volume of water going through a filter system is measured

in gallons per minute

Metals that damage the surface of the pool are

iron, manganese and copper

Bromine is sometimes used as a disinfectant because

it is more stable at higher temperatures than chlorine

the formula for area is:

length multiplied by width (number x number)

the formula for volume is

length multiplied by width by depth by 7.48 so: n X n X n X 7.48

chlorine comes in

liquid, powder, and gas

Low alkalinity in a pool causes

loss of pH control, or pH bounce

the strongest suction in the pool (ENTRAPMENT) is the

main drain

to measure the area for a circular pool

multiply R X R X 3.14 (R=radius)

to lower (decrease) pH you should add

muriatic acid

to lower the pH what may be added to the swimming pool water

muriatic acid

Channeling means

over the course of time the filter and sand is bad and deep channels are formed in the sand causing it to filter poorly

chlorine is used in pool water to not only kill germs, but to

oxidize organic contaminants

chlorine is added to the pool to

oxidize organic matter

What happens if the alkalinity level is too low?

pH is difficult to maintain, the water will cause damage to the pool walls

when doing the pH test and the sample turns purple, what does it mean?

pH is too high

when doing the pH test and the sample turns yellow, what does it mean?

pH is too low

Filtration is the

physical process of water moving through the system

Handrails are anchored to the

pool deck and bottom step

handrails should be anchored into the

pool deck and bottom step

the person responsible for keeping records at the pool is the

pool operator

algae forms because of

poor circulation

a sequestering agent may be used in a pool to

prevent precipitation of minerals on pool surfaces

a sequestering gent is used to

prevent precipitation of minerals on the pool surface

what do you do if a patron complains of a chlorine smell and their eyes are stinging?

raise the chlorine to Breakpoint Level

adding Chlorine (liquid or powder) to the pool

raises pH

main drain purpose is to

remove sediments and is located at the deep end of the pool

High Calcium Hardness causes

scaling

if the patron smells chloramines (bad chlorine) you should

shock the pool

there are complaints of red eyes in the swimmers and chlorine odors are present. the alkalinity is 1.0 ppm. What should the operator do?

shock the pool with chlorine

to clean a cartridge filter

soak in de-greaser and hose off

to clean cartridge filters:

soaked in degreaser and hosed off

to raise (increase) pH you should add

soda ash

to raise pH what may be added to the swimming pool water

soda ash

to raise alkalinity levels in the swimming pool water, what chemical is added

sodium bicarbonate

to raise total alkalinity you should add

sodium bicarbonate (same as baking soda)

the chemical name for liquid chlorine is

sodium hypochlorite

Liquid chlorine is named

sodium hypochorite

Cyanuric Acid is commonly called

stabilizer

Bromine is used because it is

stable at higher temperatures

to become a certified pool operator, a person must

successfully complete training course in pool operations approved by local jurisdictions

which conditions contribute to accelerated growth of algae?

sunlight, hot weather and high bather load

which of the following conditions contribute to accelerated growth of algae in pools

sunlight, hot weather, and high bather load

a filter backwash cycle for a sand filter is complete when

the backwash water appears clear in the sight glass

to remove stains from the interior pool surface

the pool must be drained and acid washed

filtration is

the process of removing suspended particles from the water

the amount of time that it takes for the local volume of pool water to pass through the circulation system is called

turnover rate

the time it takes for all the water to go through the filter system is the

turnover rate

The skimmer

weir prevents floating material from re-entering the pool

if you are using gas chlorine at a swimming pool the filter room must be

well ventilated

adding liquid or dry chlorine to the pool water has the following effect on pH:

will raise the pH

the recommended level of free chlorine in the swimming pool water is

1 to 5 parts per million (ppm)

ideal bromine level in a pool is

1.5 to 6.0

Pressure differential should never exceed more than

10 P.S.I.

the pressure differential between gauges on a pressure filter should not exceed

10 psi

to have breakpoint level of chlorine at a pool you must have

10 times the level of chloramines

Cyanuric Acid level cannot exceed

100 ppm

the maximum temperature in a spa is

104 degrees Fahrenheit

CDC states that the number of accidents related to swimming is:

140,000

according to recents statistics from the CDC, approximately how many water-related injuries are annually associated with swimming activities

140,000

High Rate Sand Filters are able to filter how much water per minute per square foot?

15-25 gpm.

if a pool has a volume of 75,000 gallons and the turnover rate is 8 hours, the minimum required flow rate is

156.25 gallons per minute

a shepherd's hook must be on a

16 foot fixed pole; not telescopic!!!!

a shepherd's hook must be attached to a

16 foot one piece pole

the volume in a rectangular pool that's 15 ft wide, 50 ft long and has a constant depth of 3 ft is:

16, 830 gallons

minimum number of ladders required in a pool is

2

the surface area of the regular swimming pool 30 ft wide and 75 ft long is

2,250 sq. ft

calcium Hardness of a pool should be between

200 and 400

Hardness is a measure of certain dissolved minerals in the water and is recommended to be maintained at

200-400 parts per million (ppm)

pool water must be tested every

24 hours

if there is no diving well/board "NO DIVING" should be posted every

25 feet

the maximum level of chlorine in a pool is

3

ideal bromine level in a spa is

3.0 to 10.0

you go to the pool in the morning and notice the chlorine is at zero. You hand-feed chlorine, how long do you have to wait to allow people to go into the pool.

30 minutes

the surface area of a circular wading pool with a diameter of 20 ft is

314 sq. ft

there must be a minimum of ___ feet of deck around the entire pool perimeter

4

physical barriers around a pool (fence) must be __ inches in height

42

the maximum level of chlorine in a spa is

5

In most jurisdictions the turnover rate is ____ for a pool

6 HOURS

pH levels should be between

7.2 and 7.8

the recommended range to maintain pH is

7.2-7.8

total Alkalinity of a pool should be between

80 and 140

Alkalinity of swimming pool water is recommended to be maintained at

80-140 parts per million (ppm)

cyanuric acid is commonly called

A stabilizer