CERTIFIED POOL OPERATOR FINAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026/2027
To be a pool operator you must - ANSWER-Complete a pool operator training course
To prevent spinal injury - ANSWER-All of the above
The strong suction in the pool (ENTRAPMENT) is the - ANSWER-Main Drain
Electrical systems in the pool must have - ANSWER-GFIs (Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupters?)
The skimmer _____ prevents floating debris from re-entering the pool - ANSWER-WEIR
What is filtration? - ANSWER-Physical process of water moving through the system
What is the turnover rate in most jurisdictions? - ANSWER-6 hours
The turnover rate is? - ANSWER-Time it takes for all the water to go through the filter
system
Algae forms because of ? - ANSWER-Poor circulation
To remove stains from the pool bottom and walls you need to? - ANSWER-Drain and
acid wash the pool
What does adding chlorine to the pool do? - ANSWER-Raises Ph level
The formula for AREA - ANSWER-length x width
What is the surface area of a pool 50 ft wide and 100 feet long - ANSWER-5000 square
feet
Formula for pool volume - ANSWER-length x width x depth x 7.48
The volume of water in a rectangular pool that is 12 feet wide, 34 feet long and constant
depth of 3 feet - ANSWER-9155 gallons
Circular pool area is? - ANSWER-r x 3.14
For a 15000 gallon pool with an an 8 hour turnover rate the _____ is 31.25 - ANSWER-
Flow Rate
, CDC states that the number accidents related to swimming - ANSWER-140000/year
The minimum number of ladders in a pool - ANSWER-2 ladders
Stairs in a pool must have these - ANSWER-Handrails
When a pool has a deep end of more than 5 feet, it must have these two things: -
ANSWER-safety line and a slope line mark
Pools should have both horizontal and vertical depth markers no more than - ANSWER-
25 feet apart
The algae that causes the most damage to a pool is - ANSWER-Black Algae
Low chlorine levels will cause ___ in the pool - ANSWER-Green Algae
The person responsible for keeping records at the pool is - ANSWER-pool operator
If the pool is cloudy and you cannot see the main drain, what do you do? - ANSWER-
Close the pool to swimmers
PH should be between ___ and ___ - ANSWER-7.2 and 7.8
To raise pH you add... - ANSWER-Soda Ash
To lower pH you add - ANSWER-Muriatic acid
Chlorine levels should be between ____ and ____ - ANSWER-1.0 and 5.0
Liquid chlorine is named - ANSWER-Sodium Hypochlorite
Powder chlorine is named - ANSWER-Calcium Hypochlorite
Chlorine comes in these forms - ANSWER-Liquid, gas, and powder
Chlorine is added to the pool to - ANSWER-Oxidize organic matter
When you add chlorine to the water it forms - ANSWER-Hydrochlorous acid
Total Alkalinity of a pool should be between ? - ANSWER-80 and 120 ppm
Low alkalinity results in ? - ANSWER-Loss of pH control (pH bounce)
To raise total alkalinity you should add - ANSWER-Sodium Bicarbonate
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026/2027
To be a pool operator you must - ANSWER-Complete a pool operator training course
To prevent spinal injury - ANSWER-All of the above
The strong suction in the pool (ENTRAPMENT) is the - ANSWER-Main Drain
Electrical systems in the pool must have - ANSWER-GFIs (Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupters?)
The skimmer _____ prevents floating debris from re-entering the pool - ANSWER-WEIR
What is filtration? - ANSWER-Physical process of water moving through the system
What is the turnover rate in most jurisdictions? - ANSWER-6 hours
The turnover rate is? - ANSWER-Time it takes for all the water to go through the filter
system
Algae forms because of ? - ANSWER-Poor circulation
To remove stains from the pool bottom and walls you need to? - ANSWER-Drain and
acid wash the pool
What does adding chlorine to the pool do? - ANSWER-Raises Ph level
The formula for AREA - ANSWER-length x width
What is the surface area of a pool 50 ft wide and 100 feet long - ANSWER-5000 square
feet
Formula for pool volume - ANSWER-length x width x depth x 7.48
The volume of water in a rectangular pool that is 12 feet wide, 34 feet long and constant
depth of 3 feet - ANSWER-9155 gallons
Circular pool area is? - ANSWER-r x 3.14
For a 15000 gallon pool with an an 8 hour turnover rate the _____ is 31.25 - ANSWER-
Flow Rate
, CDC states that the number accidents related to swimming - ANSWER-140000/year
The minimum number of ladders in a pool - ANSWER-2 ladders
Stairs in a pool must have these - ANSWER-Handrails
When a pool has a deep end of more than 5 feet, it must have these two things: -
ANSWER-safety line and a slope line mark
Pools should have both horizontal and vertical depth markers no more than - ANSWER-
25 feet apart
The algae that causes the most damage to a pool is - ANSWER-Black Algae
Low chlorine levels will cause ___ in the pool - ANSWER-Green Algae
The person responsible for keeping records at the pool is - ANSWER-pool operator
If the pool is cloudy and you cannot see the main drain, what do you do? - ANSWER-
Close the pool to swimmers
PH should be between ___ and ___ - ANSWER-7.2 and 7.8
To raise pH you add... - ANSWER-Soda Ash
To lower pH you add - ANSWER-Muriatic acid
Chlorine levels should be between ____ and ____ - ANSWER-1.0 and 5.0
Liquid chlorine is named - ANSWER-Sodium Hypochlorite
Powder chlorine is named - ANSWER-Calcium Hypochlorite
Chlorine comes in these forms - ANSWER-Liquid, gas, and powder
Chlorine is added to the pool to - ANSWER-Oxidize organic matter
When you add chlorine to the water it forms - ANSWER-Hydrochlorous acid
Total Alkalinity of a pool should be between ? - ANSWER-80 and 120 ppm
Low alkalinity results in ? - ANSWER-Loss of pH control (pH bounce)
To raise total alkalinity you should add - ANSWER-Sodium Bicarbonate
