CPO Exam Guide With Complete Solutions
Latest Update
Eliminating hazards - ANSWER prevention is the best option
water pollution - ANSWER 1. fecal related (crypto, giardia, shigella, e coli, adenovirus,
hepatitis A)
2. non-fecal (pseudomonas aeruginosa, swimmer's ear, legionella pneumophila,
molluspioxvirus, planter's warts, athlete's foot)
CDC - ANSWER Center for Disease Control Prevention
solid fecal incident - ANSWER remove people, pH between 7.2-7.5, raise chlorine 2.0
ppm, 30 minute break
diarrhea - ANSWER remove people, pH 7.2-7.5, raise chlorine to 20.0 ppm (12.75 hrs),
after backwash filters, raise chlorine to normal, then re-open pool
handling contaminated material - ANSWER wear gloves, remove excess, disinfect all
surfaces, follow guidelines of disposal & wash hands
prevention practices - ANSWER 1. maintain proper disinfectant levels at all times
2. have kids use bathroom before
3. swimmer's shower before swimming
4. prohibit swimming with wounds/sores
5. collaborate with local health department
disinfection - ANSWER aka sanitation=destroying microorganisms; consider chemical
, safety & storage space when considering a disinfectant
oxidation - ANSWER process of changing a chemical structure of contaminants to
remove from water (turn into simple gases); affected by: pH, temperature,
environmental wastes & bather contamination
what is the most common disinfectant used - ANSWER chlorine
Chlorine Compounds - ANSWER 1. organic (trichlor and dichlor); contain cyanuric acid;
stabilized
2. inorganic (calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, chlorine
gas); no cyanuric acid; unstabalized, but can be stabilized with acid; sensitive to light
Cyanuric Acid - ANSWER 30-50 ppm; decreases breakdown of chlorine because UV
radiation (10x as strong)
chemistry of chlorine - ANSWER when a chlorine compound is added to water this forms
a chemical reaction resulting in the forming of either hypochlorous acid-that which kills
microorganisms-or hypochlorite ion-inactive form of chlorine
types of chlorine - ANSWER free-available to disinfect, combined or total
DPD tests - ANSWER test for free chlorine; kits or strip tests; see various shades of reds
acceptable range of free chlorine - ANSWER 1.0-5.0ppm
Combined Chlorine (chloramines) combined free chlorine plus Ammonia, or Nitrogen
containing organic compounds. a chemical bond between the chlorine and nitrogen. No
longer an effective disinfectant. May cause odor etc. Ideal amount should be 0. Allowed
amount = 0.2 ppm in pools or 0.5 ppm in spas Bromine disinfectant in pools/spas- good
algaecidal properties. Not as good of an oxidizer. tablets or sodium bromine
ozone - ANSWER disinfectant in pools/spas; must be used with chlorine or bromine;
can't be transported; leaves no residue in water; produced by ultra violet light or corona
Latest Update
Eliminating hazards - ANSWER prevention is the best option
water pollution - ANSWER 1. fecal related (crypto, giardia, shigella, e coli, adenovirus,
hepatitis A)
2. non-fecal (pseudomonas aeruginosa, swimmer's ear, legionella pneumophila,
molluspioxvirus, planter's warts, athlete's foot)
CDC - ANSWER Center for Disease Control Prevention
solid fecal incident - ANSWER remove people, pH between 7.2-7.5, raise chlorine 2.0
ppm, 30 minute break
diarrhea - ANSWER remove people, pH 7.2-7.5, raise chlorine to 20.0 ppm (12.75 hrs),
after backwash filters, raise chlorine to normal, then re-open pool
handling contaminated material - ANSWER wear gloves, remove excess, disinfect all
surfaces, follow guidelines of disposal & wash hands
prevention practices - ANSWER 1. maintain proper disinfectant levels at all times
2. have kids use bathroom before
3. swimmer's shower before swimming
4. prohibit swimming with wounds/sores
5. collaborate with local health department
disinfection - ANSWER aka sanitation=destroying microorganisms; consider chemical
, safety & storage space when considering a disinfectant
oxidation - ANSWER process of changing a chemical structure of contaminants to
remove from water (turn into simple gases); affected by: pH, temperature,
environmental wastes & bather contamination
what is the most common disinfectant used - ANSWER chlorine
Chlorine Compounds - ANSWER 1. organic (trichlor and dichlor); contain cyanuric acid;
stabilized
2. inorganic (calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, chlorine
gas); no cyanuric acid; unstabalized, but can be stabilized with acid; sensitive to light
Cyanuric Acid - ANSWER 30-50 ppm; decreases breakdown of chlorine because UV
radiation (10x as strong)
chemistry of chlorine - ANSWER when a chlorine compound is added to water this forms
a chemical reaction resulting in the forming of either hypochlorous acid-that which kills
microorganisms-or hypochlorite ion-inactive form of chlorine
types of chlorine - ANSWER free-available to disinfect, combined or total
DPD tests - ANSWER test for free chlorine; kits or strip tests; see various shades of reds
acceptable range of free chlorine - ANSWER 1.0-5.0ppm
Combined Chlorine (chloramines) combined free chlorine plus Ammonia, or Nitrogen
containing organic compounds. a chemical bond between the chlorine and nitrogen. No
longer an effective disinfectant. May cause odor etc. Ideal amount should be 0. Allowed
amount = 0.2 ppm in pools or 0.5 ppm in spas Bromine disinfectant in pools/spas- good
algaecidal properties. Not as good of an oxidizer. tablets or sodium bromine
ozone - ANSWER disinfectant in pools/spas; must be used with chlorine or bromine;
can't be transported; leaves no residue in water; produced by ultra violet light or corona
