Pool Ops Test UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Balanced water - CORRECT ANSWER - - water that has all the correct levels of pH,
Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness.
- These levels are important because it keeps the pool a safer and cleaner environment for
patrons to use
pH - CORRECT ANSWER - The measure of how acidic or basic a substance is
Acceptable pH range - CORRECT ANSWER - 7.2-7.8.
Ideal pH range - CORRECT ANSWER - - 7.4-7.6 because it results in the least irritation of
the human skin and eye.
- pH of the human eye is 7.5.
Effects of Low pH - CORRECT ANSWER - Dissolves metals, stain surfaces, and can irritates
human eyes & skin.
Effects of High pH - CORRECT ANSWER - Makes free chlorine levels less effective
(Chlorine is ineffective over a pH of 8.0), it irritates human eyes & skin, reduces circulation,
clouds water, and creates white film/crusty deposits.
Chemical to reduce pH - CORRECT ANSWER - i. Muriatic Acid (HCl) and Sodium Bisulfate
("Dry Acid") (NaHSO4).
Chemical to increase pH - CORRECT ANSWER - Soda Ash (Na2CO3)
Total Alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - - sum of alkaline substances in pool water
, - buffer or a chemical system that resists change when an acid or base is added (like muriatic
acid)
- Water has no buffering ability on its own and without a buffer the pH can wander wildly (pH
Bounce), a good total alkalinity level will result in a stabilized pH.
Acceptable Total Alkalinity level - CORRECT ANSWER - 80 ppm-120 ppm
Effects of Low Alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - Dissolves metals, stains surfaces, pH
bounce
Effects of High Alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - pH drifts upwards, clouds water, reduces
circulation, and creates crusty/filmy deposits
Chemical to increase alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - Sodium Bicarbonate
Chemical to decrease alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - Muriatic Acid (HCl)
Calcium Hardness - CORRECT ANSWER - Water without the correct level of calcium or
magnesium in it is soft, it allows soap suds to form easily at the waters surface. Calcium or
Magnesium is added to make pool water harder or to prevent that
- average of regular water is 80 ppm
- If pool water does not contain the correct concentration of calcium or magnesium, the water
will leach minerals from the whitecoat causing it to become weak and crack.
Acceptable Calcium Hardness levels - CORRECT ANSWER - 200 ppm-400 ppm
Effects of Low Calcium Hardness - CORRECT ANSWER - Etches plaster, dissolves grout,
and pits pool decks
and CORRECT Answers
Balanced water - CORRECT ANSWER - - water that has all the correct levels of pH,
Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness.
- These levels are important because it keeps the pool a safer and cleaner environment for
patrons to use
pH - CORRECT ANSWER - The measure of how acidic or basic a substance is
Acceptable pH range - CORRECT ANSWER - 7.2-7.8.
Ideal pH range - CORRECT ANSWER - - 7.4-7.6 because it results in the least irritation of
the human skin and eye.
- pH of the human eye is 7.5.
Effects of Low pH - CORRECT ANSWER - Dissolves metals, stain surfaces, and can irritates
human eyes & skin.
Effects of High pH - CORRECT ANSWER - Makes free chlorine levels less effective
(Chlorine is ineffective over a pH of 8.0), it irritates human eyes & skin, reduces circulation,
clouds water, and creates white film/crusty deposits.
Chemical to reduce pH - CORRECT ANSWER - i. Muriatic Acid (HCl) and Sodium Bisulfate
("Dry Acid") (NaHSO4).
Chemical to increase pH - CORRECT ANSWER - Soda Ash (Na2CO3)
Total Alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - - sum of alkaline substances in pool water
, - buffer or a chemical system that resists change when an acid or base is added (like muriatic
acid)
- Water has no buffering ability on its own and without a buffer the pH can wander wildly (pH
Bounce), a good total alkalinity level will result in a stabilized pH.
Acceptable Total Alkalinity level - CORRECT ANSWER - 80 ppm-120 ppm
Effects of Low Alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - Dissolves metals, stains surfaces, pH
bounce
Effects of High Alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - pH drifts upwards, clouds water, reduces
circulation, and creates crusty/filmy deposits
Chemical to increase alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - Sodium Bicarbonate
Chemical to decrease alkalinity - CORRECT ANSWER - Muriatic Acid (HCl)
Calcium Hardness - CORRECT ANSWER - Water without the correct level of calcium or
magnesium in it is soft, it allows soap suds to form easily at the waters surface. Calcium or
Magnesium is added to make pool water harder or to prevent that
- average of regular water is 80 ppm
- If pool water does not contain the correct concentration of calcium or magnesium, the water
will leach minerals from the whitecoat causing it to become weak and crack.
Acceptable Calcium Hardness levels - CORRECT ANSWER - 200 ppm-400 ppm
Effects of Low Calcium Hardness - CORRECT ANSWER - Etches plaster, dissolves grout,
and pits pool decks
