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THIS WILL BE AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM

LET’S SEE A SHOW OF HANDS, WHO’S INSPECTING?

IF YOU ARE NOT INSPECTING, WHO IS?

ARE THERE ANY CERTIFIED POOL OPERATORS?
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WHAT TRAINING DID YOU RECEIVE?

LET’S DO THE ANALOGY OF A POOL TO A
HUMAN BODY
◦ GATE & FENCE =
 CELL MEMBRANE OR MAYBE SKIN
 GATE OPENS OUT, SELF-CLOSING & SELF-LATCHING
◦ PUMP =
 HEART
◦ FILTER =
 KIDNEYS
◦ FLOW LINES =
 VEINS & ARTERIES
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HOW OFTEN SHOULD THE PUMP RUN?
◦ CONTINUOUSLY…HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU LIKE
YOUR HEART TO PUMP?

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A TURNOVER RATE?
◦ IT’S THE TIME IT TAKES FOR AN ENTIRE POOL
VOLUME (OR SPA VOLUME) TO GET PUMPED
THROUGH THE FILTER

HOW MANY TURNOVERS ARE REQUIRED?
◦ FOR A POST -1999 POOL 4/DAY (DEPTH
DEPENDANT)
◦ FOR A PRE-1999 POOL 3/DAY
◦ FOR A SPA 48/DAY

WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN WATER IS
PUMPED?
◦ DIRTY WATER IS GETTING FILTERED
◦ DISINFECTANT IS BEING ADDED
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

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CHLORINE IS # 1 DISINFECTANT
ANY CHLORINE PRODUCT ADDED TO WATER
YIELDS HYPOCHLOROUS ACID (HOCL) +
HYPOCHLORITE ION (OCL-) + IMPURITIES
HOCL DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING – PATHOGEN
DESTROYING & OXYDATION
OCL- IS 60-100 TIMES WEAKER
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
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
RATIO OF HOCL TO OCL- IS pH DEPENDENT
LOWER pH RESULTS IN HIGHER HOCL
CONVERSLY HIGHER pH YIELDS LOWER HOCL
WHAT IS TEXAS’ ALLOWABLE pH RANGE?
◦ 7.0 – 7.8



AT 7.0 pH CONVERSION IS ~75%
AT 7.8 pH CONVERSION IS ~33%
KEEP pH LOWER AND KILL PATHOGENS
FASTER



TOTAL CH = FREE CL + COMBINED CL
FREE CL = HOCL + OCLWHAT IS TEXAS’ ALLOWABLE CL RANGE?
◦ 1 – 8 PPM POOLS
◦ 2 – 8 PPM SPAS

IF READING 1 PPM CL AT 7.8 pH WHAT IS THE
ACTUAL PATHOGEN DESTROYING LEVEL CH
(HOCL)?
◦ 0.3 PPM CL – NOT MUCH DESTROYING GOING ON


STABILIZED CH – CYANURIC ACID (CyA)
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
◦ BOTH TRICHLOR & DICHLOR ARE STABILIZED CH

WHAT DOES CyA DO?
◦ REDUCES THE UV LIGHT DEGREDATION OF CH, SO A
LITTLE IS A GOOD THING

CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH?
◦ DEFINITELY – TEXAS LIMIT 100 PPM
◦ CyA KEEPS CH FROM DETROYING PATHOGENS

HOW CAN YOU REDUCE CyA?
◦ DUMP WATER & ADD NEW (DILUTION)

1. TRAINED POOL OPERATOR
 NOT HAVING ONE

2. FENCE & GATE
 DAMAGED, NOT SELF CLOSING, NOT SELF LATCHING

3. WATER CLARITY
 CAN’T SEE THE BOTTOM
 WHY IMPORTANT?
 ANY MOTIONLESS BODIES NEED RESCUING?

4. OPERABLE 911 DEVICE
 NOT PRESENT, WITHIN 200 FEET, OR WORKING

5. DRAIN COVERS
 IN PLACE, UNDAMAGED

6. IF A SINGLE MAIN DRAIN
 SAFETY VACUUM RELEASE SYSTEM DEVICE INSTALLED,
OPERATING
 ELECTRONIC (STINGL SWITCH) - COMMON
 MECHANICAL (VAC-ALERT) – MOST COMMON
 ATMOSPHERIC VENT
 WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO AVOID? ENTRAPMENT!
 WHAT ARE FORMS OF ENTRAPMENT?
 HAIR, LIMB, BODY, EVICERATION/DISEMBOWELMENT,
MECHANICAL

7. THE PUMP – REMEMBER YOUR HEART
 NEEDS TO BE WORKING, FILTERING & DISINFECTING

8. DISINFECTANT RESIDUALS
 FREE CHLORINE BETWEEN 1 – 8 PPM POOL
 2 – 8 PPM FOR A SPA

9. pH LEVEL
 7.0 – 7.8, LOWER IS BETTER

10. CYANURIC ACID LEVEL
 LESS THAN 100 PPM

MEET WITH OWNER/ MANAGER
◦ TRAINED OPERATOR, CHECK CERTIFICATION

CHECK LOGS IF IN OFFICE
◦ ARE THEY COMPLETING THEM (TWICE DAILY FOR
SEMI-PUBLIC)

WALK OUT TO THE POOL
◦ ENCLOSURE IN GOOD CONDITION?
◦ GATE OPENS OUT, SELF CLOSING & LATCHING
◦ LATCH 60-INCHES OFF GROUND OR INSIDE AND
PROTECTED FROM REACH-IN

WALK OUT TO THE POOL – CONTD
◦ SAFETY DEVICES IN PLACE AND GOOD CONDITION
 REACHING POLE & THROWING BUOY
◦ PROPER WALL SIGNAGE
 NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY
 CHILDREN SHOULD NOT USE POOL WITHOUT ADULT
SUPERVISION
 NO DIVING
 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL 911

WALK OUT TO THE POOL – CONTD
◦ POOL DECK AND SIDEWALL SIGNAGE
 DEPTH MARKERS
 EVERY 2 FEET OF DEPTH CHANGE AND NO MORE THAN 25
FEET APART
 WITHIN 24-INCHES OF EDGE, FACING OUTWARD
 NO DIVING & INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL
 NO MORE THAN 25 FEET APART
 AT LEAST 1 PER SIDE
 WHEN DEPTH IS < 6 FEET
 DEPTH STRIPE PRESENT
 SEPARATES WATER <5 FEET FROM WATER >5 FEET
TDSHS SWIMMING POOL INSPECTION FORM
TDSHS SWIMMING POOL INSPECTION FORM
Pool Safety Basics
Safety Vacuum Release System Device

Designed to sense a blockage (such as a human
body) and shut off suction within milliseconds.
Vac-Alert (mechanical)
Stingl Switch (electrical)