Pool Operators Test Questions & Answers
What is the lifeguard to swimmer ratio? - ANS ✔ - 50-1
Certified Pool Operator must be how far in order for the pool to open? - ANS ✔ - 15 minutes
How often should readings for pH and chlorine take place - ANS ✔ - every 1 hour
How long do records need to be held? - ANS ✔ - 2 years at the pool and 3 years total
What is the key to a safe facility? - ANS ✔ - Prevention
Most drownings of victims happen when? - ANS ✔ - under 4 feet of water
Under 4 feet tall
Under 7 years old
What does water balance consist of? (5) - ANS ✔ - pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness,
Temperature, and Total Dissolved solids
(Chlorine only disinfects water, it does not maintain sanitary qualities)
When does corrosive water happen? - ANS ✔ - -when the water balance is too low
-satisfies its hunger by dissolving it comes in contact with
-attacks metals and iron
When does scaling water happen? - ANS ✔ - - when water balance is too high
-relieve its overfed condition by releasing precipitates as scale, cloudiness, and residue
, What is pH? - ANS ✔ - how basic or how acidic a solution is
Explain the pH scale. - ANS ✔ - 0-6: acidic
7: neutral
8-14: basic
What is the pH of the human eye? - ANS ✔ - 7.5 --> so a pool should try to maintain 7.5 also
Health Department regulation for pH and how often it should be checked - ANS ✔ - 7.2-7.8 and
every 1 hour for pool and spa
What is phenol red? - ANS ✔ - -what the pH value is tested with
If the pH of the water is too high what should you do? - ANS ✔ - 1. Muriatic Acid (12 oz per 10,000
gallons to decrease pH by 0.2 units)
2. Sodium Bisulfate/ Dry Acid (1 lb per 10,000 gallons)
3. Carbon Dioxide
If the pH of the water is too low what should you do? - ANS ✔ - Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) - 6 oz
per 10,000 gallons to increase pH by 0.2
What is Total Alkalinity - ANS ✔ - - represents the amount of carbonates, bicarbonates, and
hydroxides in a solution
- The ability if a solution to resist change in pH
PH Bounce - ANS ✔ - when the total alkalinity is too low there will be wide fluctuations of pH (can
be so unpredictable it can change hour to hour)
Health Department regulation for total alkalinity? - ANS ✔ - 60-180
Must be tested every week for the pool and every day for a spa
What is the lifeguard to swimmer ratio? - ANS ✔ - 50-1
Certified Pool Operator must be how far in order for the pool to open? - ANS ✔ - 15 minutes
How often should readings for pH and chlorine take place - ANS ✔ - every 1 hour
How long do records need to be held? - ANS ✔ - 2 years at the pool and 3 years total
What is the key to a safe facility? - ANS ✔ - Prevention
Most drownings of victims happen when? - ANS ✔ - under 4 feet of water
Under 4 feet tall
Under 7 years old
What does water balance consist of? (5) - ANS ✔ - pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness,
Temperature, and Total Dissolved solids
(Chlorine only disinfects water, it does not maintain sanitary qualities)
When does corrosive water happen? - ANS ✔ - -when the water balance is too low
-satisfies its hunger by dissolving it comes in contact with
-attacks metals and iron
When does scaling water happen? - ANS ✔ - - when water balance is too high
-relieve its overfed condition by releasing precipitates as scale, cloudiness, and residue
, What is pH? - ANS ✔ - how basic or how acidic a solution is
Explain the pH scale. - ANS ✔ - 0-6: acidic
7: neutral
8-14: basic
What is the pH of the human eye? - ANS ✔ - 7.5 --> so a pool should try to maintain 7.5 also
Health Department regulation for pH and how often it should be checked - ANS ✔ - 7.2-7.8 and
every 1 hour for pool and spa
What is phenol red? - ANS ✔ - -what the pH value is tested with
If the pH of the water is too high what should you do? - ANS ✔ - 1. Muriatic Acid (12 oz per 10,000
gallons to decrease pH by 0.2 units)
2. Sodium Bisulfate/ Dry Acid (1 lb per 10,000 gallons)
3. Carbon Dioxide
If the pH of the water is too low what should you do? - ANS ✔ - Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) - 6 oz
per 10,000 gallons to increase pH by 0.2
What is Total Alkalinity - ANS ✔ - - represents the amount of carbonates, bicarbonates, and
hydroxides in a solution
- The ability if a solution to resist change in pH
PH Bounce - ANS ✔ - when the total alkalinity is too low there will be wide fluctuations of pH (can
be so unpredictable it can change hour to hour)
Health Department regulation for total alkalinity? - ANS ✔ - 60-180
Must be tested every week for the pool and every day for a spa
