POOL OPERATORS PRACTICE TEST
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
In addition to the training class and test, the operator must... - Answer-have knowledge
of the swimming pool ordinance for the AHJ, make sure all certifications are kept
updated, ensure that all employees are properly trained and in-services are held, be
trained on the physical plant of swimming pool facility that they intend to operate,
familiarize themselves with the specifics of the swimming pool facility
conventional swimming pool - Answer-basic type of swimming pool, "flat water"
skimming pools where the water line is static with the exception of movement made by
the bathers, often include a shallow and deep end, sections split by a safety rope
wading pool - Answer-a body of water with a maximum depth of two feet or less,
generally restricted to children under the age of six
spa pool - Answer-usually a small, hot body of water with a high maximum flow rate and
a maximum operating temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit
indoor pool - Answer-a climate controlled swimming pool with an exterior building or
shell which provides protection from the elements
activity pool - Answer-a water attraction designed for play activity including constructed
features like flotation devices
diving pool - Answer-a pool primarily for diving
interactive water play aquatic venue - Answer-any indoor or outdoor pool that includes
sprayed, jetted, or other water sources contacting bathers
skimmer pool - Answer-a pool using a skimmer system
surf pool - Answer-generates waves dedicated to the activity of surfing
therapy pool - Answer-a pool exclusively for aquatic therapy
wave pool - Answer-a pool designed to simulate breaking or cyclic waves for the
purposes of general play
increased risk aquatic venues - Answer-pool which have "intrinsic characteristics and
intended users have a greater likelihood of affecting the health of the bathers of that
venue by being at increase risk for microbial contamination". examples are spray pads,
wading pools, and other aquatic venues designed for children less than five years old
,the CDC and the MAHC specify the use of what as a supplement to standard systems
in venues identified as increased risk aquatic venues - Answer-secondary disinfection
systems
surface area of a rectangular pool - Answer-the horizontal area (or surface) of a
swimming pool, found by multiplying the length times width
surface area of a multisided pool - Answer-found by dividing the horizontal surface of
the swimming pool into sections
surface of a circular pool - Answer-πr2
maximum facility load - Answer-determined by diving the surface of the pool and diving
that number by 27, includes all the people at the facility, not just in the swimming pool
pool volume - Answer-the total amount of water, in gallons, contained in the interior of a
swimming pool
turnover - Answer-the amount of time required for all of the pool's volume to pass
through the filtration system
minimum flow rate - Answer-the minimum amount of water that must pass through the
filtration system (flow rate) in order to achieve the required turnover
maximum flow rate - Answer-the maximum amount of water which can pass through the
filter system
filtration system - Answer-piping (includes manifold & valves), pump (includes hair & lint
strainer), and the filter
the filtration system is used to remove.... - Answer-suspended particulate matter
filter (mechanical) room - Answer-houses the physical plant of the swimming pool
filter room requirements - Answer-- chemicals are clearly labeled and original containers
are placed in another one- all equipment is labeled clearly- filter room is dry, properly
ventilated, and has good lighting- filter room doors say "authorized personnel only"
permanent filter specification placard - Answer-(or filter date sheet) with the volume of
the pool, minimum and maximum flow rate, turnover time in hours, the perimeter of the
pool, the surface area of the pool, maximum pool load, date of construction, and
address of the facility
high rate sand filters - Answer-most commonly used in commercial pools, the media is
sand and pea gravel and operates at a flow rate of 15-20 gpm, pipes have large enough
, holes to allow the filtered water to pass through but also small enough to prevent the
filter media from getting through to the pool, uses the top 6-12 inches of the filter bed
glass filter media filter - Answer-glasses (crushed glass) or recycled glass is more
efficient than sand, it filters at 15-20 gpm, no issues with calcification and channeling,
glass filter uses entire filter beds
conventional sand filter - Answer-an old filter that has a mixed media (sand, pea gravel,
gravel, rock, and stone) that is layered in the filter tank, the majority of filtration occurs at
the top of the filter, and, because of the low filter rate, they require much more space
than a high rate sand filter
diatomaceous earth (DE) filter - Answer-primarily used in spas, provides superior
filtration qualities, the filter media is DE, filters through a process called precoating,
whereby the DE is recirculated through the filter until it has attached to the elements,
must be replaced after each backwash, operates at a flow rate of 2gpm
two types of DE filters - Answer-pressure (sealed tanks) and vacuum (open tanks)
slurry feeding - Answer-a process where small amounts of DE are added into the filter
system to extend the filter run (amount of time between backwash cycles)
regenerative media filters - Answer-designed to save media and water costs, media
used is perlite (a lightweight alternative to DE), flow rate is 2gpm, "bump" on a daily
basis, bumping is where the filters mechanically cause the perlite to fall off the filter
grids, the media is regenerated and new perlite is introduced
cartridge filters - Answer-maximum flow rate of .3 gpm, requires more effort from a pool
operator, to clean the filters the pump must be turned off, filter opened, and manually
remove the cartridges to be cleaned
all filters must be clearly identified with a manufacturer identification plate with
information... - Answer-name, address and phone number of the filter manufacturer,
type of filter media, surface area of the filter, minimum and maximum flow rate of the
filter
how many hours a day a commercial swimming pool filter must operate in order to
achieve maximum water quality - Answer-24 hours a day
when does the effectiveness of the filtration cycle increase - Answer-during the hours
that the pool is closed, due to decreased demand on the filters
proper filtration will provide you with... - Answer-proper water chemistry and a high
degree of water clarity
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
In addition to the training class and test, the operator must... - Answer-have knowledge
of the swimming pool ordinance for the AHJ, make sure all certifications are kept
updated, ensure that all employees are properly trained and in-services are held, be
trained on the physical plant of swimming pool facility that they intend to operate,
familiarize themselves with the specifics of the swimming pool facility
conventional swimming pool - Answer-basic type of swimming pool, "flat water"
skimming pools where the water line is static with the exception of movement made by
the bathers, often include a shallow and deep end, sections split by a safety rope
wading pool - Answer-a body of water with a maximum depth of two feet or less,
generally restricted to children under the age of six
spa pool - Answer-usually a small, hot body of water with a high maximum flow rate and
a maximum operating temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit
indoor pool - Answer-a climate controlled swimming pool with an exterior building or
shell which provides protection from the elements
activity pool - Answer-a water attraction designed for play activity including constructed
features like flotation devices
diving pool - Answer-a pool primarily for diving
interactive water play aquatic venue - Answer-any indoor or outdoor pool that includes
sprayed, jetted, or other water sources contacting bathers
skimmer pool - Answer-a pool using a skimmer system
surf pool - Answer-generates waves dedicated to the activity of surfing
therapy pool - Answer-a pool exclusively for aquatic therapy
wave pool - Answer-a pool designed to simulate breaking or cyclic waves for the
purposes of general play
increased risk aquatic venues - Answer-pool which have "intrinsic characteristics and
intended users have a greater likelihood of affecting the health of the bathers of that
venue by being at increase risk for microbial contamination". examples are spray pads,
wading pools, and other aquatic venues designed for children less than five years old
,the CDC and the MAHC specify the use of what as a supplement to standard systems
in venues identified as increased risk aquatic venues - Answer-secondary disinfection
systems
surface area of a rectangular pool - Answer-the horizontal area (or surface) of a
swimming pool, found by multiplying the length times width
surface area of a multisided pool - Answer-found by dividing the horizontal surface of
the swimming pool into sections
surface of a circular pool - Answer-πr2
maximum facility load - Answer-determined by diving the surface of the pool and diving
that number by 27, includes all the people at the facility, not just in the swimming pool
pool volume - Answer-the total amount of water, in gallons, contained in the interior of a
swimming pool
turnover - Answer-the amount of time required for all of the pool's volume to pass
through the filtration system
minimum flow rate - Answer-the minimum amount of water that must pass through the
filtration system (flow rate) in order to achieve the required turnover
maximum flow rate - Answer-the maximum amount of water which can pass through the
filter system
filtration system - Answer-piping (includes manifold & valves), pump (includes hair & lint
strainer), and the filter
the filtration system is used to remove.... - Answer-suspended particulate matter
filter (mechanical) room - Answer-houses the physical plant of the swimming pool
filter room requirements - Answer-- chemicals are clearly labeled and original containers
are placed in another one- all equipment is labeled clearly- filter room is dry, properly
ventilated, and has good lighting- filter room doors say "authorized personnel only"
permanent filter specification placard - Answer-(or filter date sheet) with the volume of
the pool, minimum and maximum flow rate, turnover time in hours, the perimeter of the
pool, the surface area of the pool, maximum pool load, date of construction, and
address of the facility
high rate sand filters - Answer-most commonly used in commercial pools, the media is
sand and pea gravel and operates at a flow rate of 15-20 gpm, pipes have large enough
, holes to allow the filtered water to pass through but also small enough to prevent the
filter media from getting through to the pool, uses the top 6-12 inches of the filter bed
glass filter media filter - Answer-glasses (crushed glass) or recycled glass is more
efficient than sand, it filters at 15-20 gpm, no issues with calcification and channeling,
glass filter uses entire filter beds
conventional sand filter - Answer-an old filter that has a mixed media (sand, pea gravel,
gravel, rock, and stone) that is layered in the filter tank, the majority of filtration occurs at
the top of the filter, and, because of the low filter rate, they require much more space
than a high rate sand filter
diatomaceous earth (DE) filter - Answer-primarily used in spas, provides superior
filtration qualities, the filter media is DE, filters through a process called precoating,
whereby the DE is recirculated through the filter until it has attached to the elements,
must be replaced after each backwash, operates at a flow rate of 2gpm
two types of DE filters - Answer-pressure (sealed tanks) and vacuum (open tanks)
slurry feeding - Answer-a process where small amounts of DE are added into the filter
system to extend the filter run (amount of time between backwash cycles)
regenerative media filters - Answer-designed to save media and water costs, media
used is perlite (a lightweight alternative to DE), flow rate is 2gpm, "bump" on a daily
basis, bumping is where the filters mechanically cause the perlite to fall off the filter
grids, the media is regenerated and new perlite is introduced
cartridge filters - Answer-maximum flow rate of .3 gpm, requires more effort from a pool
operator, to clean the filters the pump must be turned off, filter opened, and manually
remove the cartridges to be cleaned
all filters must be clearly identified with a manufacturer identification plate with
information... - Answer-name, address and phone number of the filter manufacturer,
type of filter media, surface area of the filter, minimum and maximum flow rate of the
filter
how many hours a day a commercial swimming pool filter must operate in order to
achieve maximum water quality - Answer-24 hours a day
when does the effectiveness of the filtration cycle increase - Answer-during the hours
that the pool is closed, due to decreased demand on the filters
proper filtration will provide you with... - Answer-proper water chemistry and a high
degree of water clarity
