Certified Pool Operator Exam Questions with correct Answers

Primary job of pool operator - ANSWER-Ensure compliance with local code and laws Provide safe ad clean environment for guests Make sure equipment is properly working RWI stands for - ANSWER-Recreational Water illness How are recreational water illnesses spread - ANSWER-Swallowing water Breathing in mists Coming in contact with contaminated water Recreational Water Illness - ANSWER-illness caused by microorganisms and chloramines in water common illness caused by chloramines - ANSWER-Breathing disorder called swimmers asthma examples of microorganisms that can make you sick in pools - ANSWER-Pseudomonas aeruginosa E.coli Staph Crypto interior walls of pool - ANSWER-pool plaster or white coat what do pool pumps do? - ANSWER-They poll water form the pool main drains and skimmers pool main drain - ANSWER-point of strongest suction in the pool Reasons to close pool immediately - ANSWER-Main drain cover is broken or missing Main drain is not visible due to cloudy water pool telephone not working Skimmers - ANSWER-water from surface passes through skimmers and debris get trapped in skimmer basket Skimmer Weir - ANSWER-prevents floating debris from reentering the pool where does water go after going through the pump? - ANSWER-filter where does water go after the filter? - ANSWER-heater where does water go after heater? - ANSWER-flow meter where does water go after going through flow meter? - ANSWER-back to the pool through the return lines Flow of pool water steps - ANSWER- drains and skimmers/skimmer basket and strainer basket 3. pump r r meter 7. back to pool through return lines what does it mean if bubbles are coming from return line? - ANSWER-Air is coming form somewhere. Check the skimmer strainer basket lid and gasket Flow meter - ANSWER-measures the amount of water passing through pipes Flow meter measurement unit - ANSWER-Gallons per minutes GPM what does it mean if flow meter is showing lower flow than is should? - ANSWER-Usually means the filter needs to be cleaned or there is too much debris in the strainer basket or skimmer basket 3 Types of Filters - ANSWER-1. Sand Filter 2. Cartridge Filter 3. D.E. Filter Filtration - ANSWER-the physical process of removing suspended particles form pool water how to clean cartridge filter - ANSWER-soak cartridge in degreaser and hose off how to clean a sand filter - ANSWER-backwash Backwash - ANSWER-the process of reverse flow of water through the sand filter to remove accumulated particles when to backwash - ANSWER-when sand filter pressure gauge is higher than usual (spa 8-10 or higher) when can you stop backwashing - ANSWER-when water in sight glass appears to be clear how often should in a sand filter be replaced - ANSWER-every 3-5 years Channeling - ANSWER-a damaging condition that occurs over time in sand filters. When sand becomes hard, water goes around sand and unfiltered water returns to the pool most efficient type of filter and why - ANSWER-D.E. filter because it can trap particles up to 3-5 microns what happens when dirt accumulates in a filter? - ANSWER-the amount of water that can pass through the filter decreases Labels and Postings - ANSWER-Valves and pumps in the pump room must be labeled and operating instructions must be posted. Pool turnover rate - ANSWER-the amount of time that it takes all of the water in the pool to pass though the filter 3 Types of Pool Algae - ANSWER-Green, Black, Mustard Reasons algae forms in pools - ANSWER-bad water circulation low chlorine level high pH level poor maintenance Black Algae - ANSWER-can penetrate and damage pool plaster Green Algae - ANSWER-primary type of algae found in poorly maintained pools Algecide - ANSWER-they are designed to be used when your pool is clean and algae-free and will stop algae spores from developing into full blooms what is Chlorine used for? - ANSWER-sanitizing the water (killing germs) oxidizing organic matter Types of chlorine - ANSWER-1.Liquid 2. Powder (granular and tablets) 3. gas Scientific name for Liquid Chlorine - ANSWER-Sodium Hypochlorite Erosion Chlorinator - ANSWER-used for chlorine or bromine tablets Hypochlorinator - ANSWER-used for liquid chlorine Total Chlorine in pool idea levels - ANSWER-1-3 ppm Total Chlorine in spa idea levels - ANSWER-3-5ppm PPM - ANSWER-parts per million- describes the concentration of something in water or soil Shocking - ANSWER-aka super chlorination it is the process of raising free chlorine three to five times higher than the normal amount level. (10 times the amount of the level of chloramines in the water) breakpoint chlorination - ANSWER-the process of separating combined chlorines by increasing chlorine amount. Combined chlorines produce chloramines which create poor air quality. This breakpoint chlorination improves air quality. if the chlorine level is too high what do you add? - ANSWER-sodium thiosulfate (Dechlor) advantage of bromine - ANSWER-more stable at higher temperatures than chlorine bromine disadvantage - ANSWER-more expensive, harder to find in stores, not as stable in the sun Salt Chlorine Generator - ANSWER-used in pools that use salt as the sanitizer turns salt into hypochlorous acid When chorine is added to water what does it become? - ANSWER-hypochlorous acid and hydrogen ideal pH for pool - ANSWER-7.2-7.8 ppm ideal total Alkalinity for pool - ANSWER-80-120 ppm ideal calcium hardness for a pool - ANSWER-200-400 ppm ideal calcium hardness for a spa - ANSWER-150-250 ppm idea cyanuric acid for pool - ANSWER-no more than 50 ppm how to get a pool water sample - ANSWER-Take a test sample of pool water with a comparator block. Test away from return lines and at elbow depth how to test chlorine level in pool water sample - ANSWER-in the smaller comparator tube put 5 drops of reagent 0001 and 5 drops of reagent 0002. Then compare and match colors on the scale how to test pH level in pool water sample - ANSWER-in the bigger comparator tube put 5 drops of reagent 0004. then compare and match colors on the scale what is the pH of a human eye? - ANSWER-7.4 how often must you check pH and chlorine? - ANSWER-every 2 hours ? and record in daily pool log what does pH stand for? - ANSWER-power of hydrogen what does pH measure? - ANSWER-the acidity or basicity of a solution Soda Ash - ANSWER-increases pH (makes it more basic) Muriatic Acid - ANSWER-decreases pH (makes less basic) Scientific name for Soda Ash - ANSWER-Sodium Carbonate Symptoms of low pH - ANSWER-corrosive water etching of pool/spa surface corrosion of metals staining of surface walls chlorine loss wrinkles in vinyl lines eye/skin irritation Symptoms of high pH - ANSWER-scaling water clogged filters clogged heater elements reduced circulation cloudy water chlorine inefficiency eye/skin irritation Adding liquid chlorine will do what to pH - ANSWER-Adding liquid chlorine will raise pH symptoms of low total Alkalinity - ANSWER-pH Bounce Etching of pool/spa surface staining of surface walls heater failure symptoms of high total alkalinity - ANSWER-pH Lock Cloudy water Rough pool/spa surfaces Clogged filters clogged heater elements reduced circulation what do you add to raise Alkalinity - ANSWER-Sodium Bicarbonate symptoms of low calcium hardness - ANSWER-corrosive water etching of pool/spa surface staining of surface walls heater failure symptoms of high calcium hardness - ANSWER-Scaling water rough pool/spa surfaces clogged filters cloudy water clogged heater elements Reduced circulation skin/eye irritation how to raise calcium hardness - ANSWER-add calcium chloride how to you lower calcium hardness - ANSWER-change the water in the pool what do you wear when handling chemicals - ANSWER-gloves, apron, goggles, boots Sequestering Agent - ANSWER-keeps dissolved metals and minerals in clear solution Flocculent - ANSWER-chemical that helps in removing small particles from the pool. it settles floating debris and material that the filter can't get, such as Microparticles and dead algae to the bottom of the pool what does TDS stand for - ANSWER-total dissolved solids Total Dissolved solids - ANSWER-measurement of everything that has dissolved in the pool water what to do if TDS level is 1500 ppm or above? - ANSWER-drain some or all water and refill with fresh water Saturation index formula - ANSWER-pH+ temperature +calcium+Alkalinity - TDS Balanced water total saturation result - ANSWER--0.3 -- +0.3 how many drowning deaths in US every year - ANSWER-3,868 half of all drownings occur in how much water? - ANSWER-4-6 feet of water