Water analysis
For clear, safe water all year round
To ensure clear and safe water, pool owners need to analyse their water regularly, taking a number of parameters into account. Pool water analysis is an essential step, and the key to healthy, enjoyable swimming.
Key parameters to monitor
-
The pH
The pH, or hydrogen potential, is the value that indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the pool water. Regulating the pH is the basis of water maintenance.
A good pH is a balanced pH: the ideal pH is between 7.0 and 7.4 for chlorine, salt electrolysis or active oxygen pools and between 7.0 and 7.6 for bromine pools. A good pH is essential to ensure the comfort of bathers and the effectiveness of treatment products.
A pH that is acidic or too low can cause skin and eye irritation and damage pool equipment. Conversely, an alkaline pH or one that is too high makes the water basic, reducing the effectiveness of chlorine and encouraging the appearance of limescale deposits and problems with green or cloudy water.
pH: what you need to know
-
The ideal pH is between 7.0 and 7.4 for chlorine, salt electrolysis or active oxygen pools and between 7.0 and 7.6 for bromine pools.
-
To maintain safe, balanced water, we recommend checking and adjusting the pH and disinfectant levels once or twice a week, and up to 2 or 3 times a week in hot weather or when the pool is heavily used.
-
Measure your pH with Quicktest test strips, the Pooltester pH/Cl or the Electronic Pooltester.
Water alkalinity
-
The TAC
TAC, or Total Alkalimetric Titration, is measured in mg/L (ppm) as CaCO3. It measures the alkalinity of the water, which is the concentration of dissolved bicarbonates in the water. Alkalinity contributes to the balance of pool water. The TAC indicates the water's ‘buffering’ capacity, i.e. its ability to absorb fluctuations in pH.
If the TAC is too low or too low, the pH can become unstable and difficult to regulate. The pH can fluctuate easily, making the water corrosive, which affects surfaces such as the pool lining or equipment. If the TAC is very high, the pH tends to rise very quickly, and the water can become cloudy. Keeping the TAC above 80 mg/L helps to avoid variations and sudden drops in pH.
TAC: what you need to know
-
If necessary, increase the TAC to a value above 80 mg/L.
-
Check the alkalinity of the water at the start of the season, then about once a month, and if the pH becomes acidic.
-
Measure your TAC level with Quicktest test strips or the Electronic Pooltester.
-
To correct low alkalinity and increase your TAC, use Alca-Plus®.
Related Products
Granulated pH regulator for swimming pools. Dissolves quickly, correcting pH instability caused by low alkalinity. Prevents pH fluctuations and reinforces water balance.
Granules for lowering a pH-value above 7.4. Exact dosing through an enclosed dosing cup.
Granulés purs pour baisser les pH supérieurs à 7,4. Dosage facile par sachets pré-dosés.
Granules for increasing a pH-value below 7.0. Exact dosing possible through an enclosed dosing cup.
Liquid concentrate with 14.9 % for lowering a pH-value above 7.4. Ideal for automatic dosing systems.
Liquide pour baisser les pH supérieurs à 7,4 des bassins privés. Anti-calcaire, il évite la formation de tartre.
Chlorine-stable liquid to prevent calcium and metal deposits. Prevents damage to pool surfaces.
Disinfection
-
The level of disinfectant
Disinfection eliminates the micro-organisms, bacteria and germs present in the pool. Without the addition of disinfectant, the water quickly becomes cloudy and unsightly. Hygiene in the pool becomes inadequate, making swimming inadvisable. Effective disinfection is therefore essential to ensure that the water is safe to swim in. Chlorine disinfection is the best-known and most widespread method. Alternative methods exist, such as bromine or active oxygen.
Pool disinfectant: what you need to know
-
The ideal chlorine level is between 0.5 and 2 mg/L. Ideal bromine levels are between 1 and 3 mg/L.
-
To maintain safe pool water, we recommend checking and adjusting the disinfectant level once or twice a week, and up to 2 or 3 times a week in hot weather or when the pool is heavily used. In the event of water problems, heatwaves or bad weather, carry out a shock treatment.
-
Measure your disinfectant levels with Quicktest test strips for chlorine, the Pooltester ph/Cl or the Electronic Pooltester.
-
For continuous disinfection throughout the season, if you have a sand & glass filter, use Chlorilong ULTIMATE7, 7-function chlorine tablets for complete and regular disinfection of the pool and filter.
Chlorilong ULTIMATE7 tablets are two-phase tablets for 2-phase disinfection. A fast-dissolving blue layer for shock treatment of the sand filter and water and a slow-dissolving white layer for permanent disinfection, anti-algae, clarifying, anti-limescale and chlorine stabilising effects.
In the event of water problems, heatwaves or bad weather, apply a shock treatment.
Related Products
Slow dissolving 5-function chlorine tablets for permanent disinfection. Ensures pure, crystal clear water and prevent damage to the pool surface.
Slow dissolving 250 g chlorine tablets for permanent disinfection. Ensure clean and disinfected water.
Sticks de chlore non stabilisé de 300g filmés à dissolution lente pour une désinfection permanente de la piscine.
Pure, inorganic chlorine granules without stabilizer, for shock treatment in case of green or cloudy waters. Quickly and effectively increases the active chlorine content. Immediate effect.
High-quality chlorine granules for shock treatment in case of water problems. Quickly and effectively increases the active chlorine content. Less dust due to the special granular form.
Chlorine effervescent tablets for shock treatment in case of water problems. Fast dissolving and easy to dose.
Liquid concentrate based on inorganic chlorine for continuous disinfection. Ideal for automatic dosing systems.
Granulés désinfectants à base de chlore et d’anti-algues pour traitement hebdomadaire complet et facile, en sachets prédosés.
Chlorine tablet 200g for the dual disinfection of sand filters.
Slow-dissolving 20 g bromine tablets for the permanent pool disinfection. Also very efficient at high pH-values and/or high water temperatures.
Granulés purs pour un traitement choc des piscines traitées au brome. Idéal en cas de problème d'eau.
Granular blend based on active oxygen for disinfection, algae prevention and clarifying effect.
Liquide multifonction à base d‘oxygène actif oxydant. Traitement complet et facile pour une eau plus douce et sans odeur.
Multifunctional active-oxygen-based liquid for disinfection, algae prevention and elimination of turbidity for use with automatic dosing systems.
Stabilizer
-
The level of stabiliser
The stabiliser (cyanuric acid) protects the chlorine from the destructive effects of the sun's UV rays. Without stabiliser, chlorine decomposes rapidly under the effect of the sun, making outdoor pool water treatment less effective. The role of the stabiliser is to protect the chlorine and maintain its effectiveness - but caution is needed — excessively high levels can actually diminish chlorine’s effectiveness.
For manual treatment with a chlorine tablet, the level of stabiliser should ideally be < 100 ppm (or mg/l). When using an automatic dosing system (with liquid chlorine or salt electrolysis), we recommend a cyanuric acid level of between 30 and 50 mg/l.
Stabilizer, what you need to know
-
For manual chlorine treatment, the stabiliser level should ideally be < 100 ppm (or mg/l). When using an automatic dosing system (with liquid chlorine or salt electrolysis), we recommend a cyanuric acid content of between 30 and 50 mg/l.
-
For outdoor pools, test the stabiliser level at the start of the season and afterwards whenever necessary.
-
Measure your stabiliser levels with the Electronic Pooltester. Or have your pool water analysed by a professional BAYROL dealer, bringing your pool water sample with you.
-
The stabiliser in the water does not degrade, so the only way to reduce the cyanuric acid content is to renew some of the water (by renewing enough water each year and/or by washing the filter regularly).
Water hardness (TH)
-
The TH
The TH, or Hydrotimetric Titer, measures the hardness of the water, i.e. its calcium and magnesium content. Water that is too hard, with a high calcium content, can lead to limescale deposits that are harmful to pool equipment and uncomfortable for bathers.
Conversely, water that is too soft can be corrosive. The ideal TH for a pool is between 100 mg/L (ppm) and 200 mg/L (ppm) measured as CaCO3. When the water is heavily loaded with limescale, its TH exceeds 200 mg/L and the pH is above 7.6, there is a risk of limescale deposits.
The limescale builds up on the walls, creating a rough water line and scaling the filter and pipes. To limit these risks and protect the pool and its equipment, you need to use a limescale sequestrant such as Calcinex.
TH - Water hardness, what you need to know
-
The ideal TH for a pool is between 100 mg/L (ppm) and 200 mg/L (ppm).
-
Analyse your TH levels at least once at the start of the season.
-
Have your pool water analysed by a professional BAYROL dealer by taking a pool water sample with you.
-
Use Calcinex® to prevent the formation of limescale and to avoid the appearance of metal stains in the pool. The limescale remains in suspension and does not settle on the walls and bottom of the pool. It prevents the formation of rough surfaces. Calcinex® remains stable in the presence of chlorine, bromine or active oxygen.
Measuring water parameters
How to do it
Quicktest test strips: the simplest method
Simply dip the strip into the water directly in the pool and determine the value by comparing the colour of the strip with the colorimetric scale. Because the strip has fewer coloured fields than the Pooltester, the measured value is not as accurate.
Simple and quick, this method nevertheless gives sufficient results for weekly monitoring and compliance with water parameters. We have the right test strips for analysing your pool water:
Quicktest for chlorine-treated pools
The manual Pooltester: a fast, reliable solution
Chosen according to the treatment method, the Pooltester analysis kit measures the pH and disinfectant - chlorine, active oxygen or bromine - in your pool water.
Measurement is carried out by dissolving the tablets in a small container filled with pool water. The result can be read with the naked eye on a colour scale.
Pooltester pH/Cl for chlorine-treated pools
The Electronic Pooltester: the most accurate solution
If you have problems with the quality of your pool water, or if you want an accurate analysis of your water, use an electronic tester such as the Electronic Pooltester. Accurate analysis allows you to optimise the dosage of treatment products.
The Electronic Pooltester measures pH, free chlorine, bromine, alkalinity and chlorine stabiliser values. These values are available quickly and displayed in digital format to one decimal place.
Reliable, accurate measurements based on the principle of photometry.
Related Products
Test strips for the analysis of free chlorine, pH-value, total-alkalinity and algaecide.
Analysis kit to measure pH-value and free chlorine. Contains 20 tablets of Phenol Red and 20 tablets of DPD 1.
Waterproof device for automatic measurement of water parameters: pH, chlorine, total chlorine, bromine, stabiliser and alkalinity.
Bandelettes d'analyse spéciales piscine au sel. Mesure le taux de sel dans l’eau.
Bandelettes de test pour la détermination de la concentration de phosphates. Simple et rapide d‘utilisation.
Trousse d'analyse pour mesurer le pH et la teneur en oxygène actif dans l'eau de la piscine.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
-
Testing your pool water ensures that the levels of the main parameters (pH, TAC and disinfectant) are correct, guaranteeing better water quality, greater swimming comfort and longer-lasting equipment.
-
TAC can be measured using test strips or the Electronic Pooltester.
-
Maintain a regular routine of analysing your water, clean the pool frequently, make sure the filtration system is working properly and follow the 4 care steps from BAYROL.
-
To help us give you the most accurate advice, take a sample of the water in your pool to your nearest BAYROL dealer.
Download the My Pool Expert app for an immediate, free diagnosis.
-
There are several solutions available to you: test strips, Pooltester, Electronic pooltester.
-
pH, TAC and disinfectant levels.
Why to analyse swimming pool water?
-
Identifying problems
As soon as they appear
This may seem a daunting task at first, but don't neglect it: this step will make it easier to treat your pool water, while saving you time and money in the long term, because by identifying problems as soon as they appear, you'll avoid the intensive and costly treatments needed to recover your water.
-
Good water quality
For the swimmers' health
Unbalanced water can cause irritation and red eyes, and encourage the growth of bacteria and algae in the pool. That's why it's vital to check the quality, water balance and disinfection of your pool regularly, both when you re-open at the start of the season and throughout the swimming season.
-
Optimising the dosage
‘The right product, in the right dosage, at the right time.’
Checking and maintaining the main parameters of your water will make water maintenance easier and will allow you to optimise the dosage of the treatment products you use so that you consume only the right amount.
