Glossary
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Glossary of Pool Terms
There are 67 entries in this glossary.C
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Calcium Carbonate |
Scale that forms from calcium compounds when pool water is too alkaline, calcium hardness is too high or total alkalinity is too high. These hard deposits accumulate on pool surfaces and equipment. |
| Calcium Chloride |
A soluble salt added to pool water to raise the calcium hardness level. |
| Calcium Hardness |
The amount of dissolved calcium in water. Low levels of calcium hardness will promote deterioration in the pool surfaces and equipment. High levels will promote scale formation. |
| Calcium Hypochlorite |
A chlorine compound using calcium as the carrying salt for application. |
| Cartridge |
A porous, replaceable element in some filters. Particulates are removed when they penetrate into the medium. Surface type cartridges have a medium of less than ¾ inch thick. Particulates are retained on the surface of the cartridge for removal. Loose debris can be hosed off; oils must be chemically removed by soaking the cartridge in a solution of water and filter cleaner. |
| Chelant |
A chemical compound that ties-up iron, copper, or calcium to prevent staining and scaling. Also called a sequestering agent. |
| Chloramines |
Substances formed when chlorine combines with swimmer wastes (nitrogen or ammonia), causing chlorine odor and irritation to skin and eyes. This compound has little sanitizing value compared to active chlorine. |
| Chlorine |
One of the five members of the Halogen family of chemical elements. It is the most widely used bacteria-killing agent for recreational water treatment. Two forms of chlorine are: (1) Organic chlorine- less vulnerable to the UV rays of the sun and therefore longer lasting (2) Inorganic chlorine- susceptible to degradation by the UV rays of the sun and therefore less convenient for pool use. Also see Hypochlorite. |
| Chlorine Demand |
The amount of chlorine needed to establish a stable, residual for effective sanitation. |
| Chlorine Generator |
On-site equipment that generates its own supply of chlorine, hypochlorous acid of hypochlorite for water treatment. The chlorine is typically generated from Sodium Chloride by exposing it to a low voltage of electrical current. |
| Chlorine Neutralizer |
Sodium Thiosulfate or other similar compound used to neutralize excessive chlorine in a water sample in order to permit more accurate testing of the water balance factors. Sodium Sulfite is typically used in the pools and spas to neutralize high levels of Chlorine or Bromine. |
| Chlorine Residual |
The amount of chlorine that is readily available to sanitize pool water. |
| Coagulant |
A polymeric chemical compound added to water to gather suspended particles together for filtration. |
| Combined Chlorine |
Chlorine which is bonded to other compounds; a chloramine. See Chloramines. |
| Contaminated |
An impure condition indicating the presence of undesirable matter in pool water. |
| Corrosion |
Etching, pitting and other destructive erosion of the spa surfaces and equipment due to low pH or other chemical imbalance. |
| Cyanuric Acid (Triazinetrione) |
A chemical compound added to pool water to reduce the degradation of chlorine by the UV rays of the sun. Chlorinated Isocyanurates are the group of chlorine compounds that combine Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid into a form for pool and spa sanitizing. |
| Diatomaceous Earth (DE) |
A powdery filtering agent composed of the skeletal remains of a form of plankton (diatoms). Use in Diatomaceous Earth filters. |
| DPD #1 |
A test reagent (typically a table) used to measure the amount of Free Available Chlorine or Total Bromine in the water. |
| Dry Acid |
A Bisulfate compound used to lower the pH and Total Alkalinity. Safer to handle than Muriatic Acid. |