THE SECRET OF PERFECT WATER

Before applying Bluewater Chlorine, it is important to make sure that your water is perfectly balanced. Water balance is the interaction of pH, pH buffer (total alkalinity) and water hardness. The simplest way of checking the balance is to use the Taylor Watergram (refer to the Bluewater Poolcare Manual or your local stockist for advice). Luckily, the consistent quality of New Zealand’s water makes it relatively easy to achieve water balance. However, sanitizers will not work properly in incorrectly balanced water and corrosion or scale – formation may occur on pool fittings, piping, etc. pH, pH buffer, and water hardness levels must be in balance if the pool water is to look right, feel right and be free of problems.

pH
This is a measure of acidity or alkalinity of water. It is measured on a scale ranging from 1 to 14.

A pH of 7.0 is neutral.
Above pH 7 the water is alkaline.
Below pH 7 the water is acidic.
Pool pH should be maintained slightly alkaline, between 7.2 and 7.8.
Water with high pH can cause cloudy water, scale formation, eye irritation and poor sanitizer efficiency.
Water with low pH can cause eye and skin irritation, corrosion, etching of plaster and excessive use of sanitizer.

THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY INCORRECT PH

pH is also affected by frequent pool use, heavy rain and the use of most pool sanitizers and chemicals. The pH level should be checked weekly and at the beginning and end of the pool season. Use your Bluewater Pool Test Kit for this routine check.

pH BUFFER
pH buffer refers to the amount of carbonates, bicarbonates and hydroxides dissolved in pool water. It is measured in parts per million (ppm). The ideal range for Bluewater chlorine is between 120 and 150ppm (Bluewater Stabilised Chlorine Tablets require 150-200ppm). pH buffer reduces the reaction of your pool water to factors that affect water pH, ie heavy rainfall, wind and dust.

If the pH buffer level is too low the pH of the pool is subject to rapid change. A high level of pH buffer will mean that pH adjustment requires more chemicals.

pH buffer level should be checked on a monthly basis and at the beginning and end of each pool season.

Use your Bluewater Pool Test Kit or ask your local stockist for advice.

WATER HARDNESS
Hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium salts in the pool water.

New Zealand water is usually low in calcium. It needs adjusting because low calcium hardness can cause etching of plaster and corrosion.

Water hardness should be checked at the beginning and end of each pool season.
Your Bluewater stockist can do this for you.

KNOWING YOUR POOL

POOL SHAPES AND SIZES
Before you begin treating your pool, it is essential to know how much water your pool holds. It is not uncommon for pool owners to underestimate the amount of water in a pool, continuously underdose, and then wonder why they have problems.

RECTANGULAR OR SQUARE POOLS
Multiply length (metres) x width (metres) x average depth (meters) x 1000 = size in litres

CIRCULAR POOLS
Multiply the diametre (meters) x diametre (metres) x depth (metres) x 0.79 x 1000 = size in litres

OVAL POOLS
Multiply the long diametre (metres) x short diametre (metres) x depth (metres) x 0.79 x 1000 = size in litres

KIDNEY AND OTHER UNUSUAL SHAPED POOLS
Unusual pools can often be broken down in to basic shapes for purposes of calculation. For example, a kidney shaped pool is roughly two circles joined together. Calculate the volume of the circles and add on about 10% to cover the area not included in the calculation. It is better to overestimate a pool volume than underestimate it.

NOTE: Average depth is calculated by measuring depth at the deep end and at the shallow end, adding the figures together and dividing by two.

POOL FILTRATION

One of the most important factors in spa and pool hygiene is the filter. A good, well-maintained filter will remove much of the dust, dirt, skin flakes and other nitrogenous pollutants that encourage the multiplication of micro organisms.

Make sure the filter fitted to the pool is adequate for the bather load and the size of the pool. For spa pools used regularly throughout the day, continuous filtration is advised. It is false economy to think that money is saved by limiting filtration time.

For outdoor private pools, the pump and filter capacity should be large enough to turn over twice each day the complete volume of water.

As a rule of thumb, for a pool in regular use during the summer, the filtration system should operate at least 1 hour per day per 4000 litres.

Filters should be cleaned once a week or whenever the pressure gauge shows that pressure is rising. Sand filters should be backwashed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cartridge filters must be removed and cleaned by hosing down or by cleaning with a proprietary cleaner to remove fats and oils.

PRODUCT SAFETY
Bluewater Poolcare is committed to your safety in and around the pool.

We recommend that you follow these guidelines to keep you and your family safe. If you have any questions about how to handle pool chemical products please call our experts on 0800 2583 928.

Pool chemicals can be harmful to both people and the environment if not handled correctly. Improper use could cause fire, explosion or the release of toxic gases. Read and follow all labels correctly.

ALWAYS:
Wear safety equipment when handling chemicals including gloves, goggles, long sleeves and pants.
Store your chemicals in a cool, dry, well-ventilated places.
Keep your chemicals tightly covered when not in use.
Store liquids upright.
Read product labels and follow directions when adding chemicals to your pool. Add pool chemicals directly to your pool.
Isolate spilled chemicals, and read and follow directions for cleanup and disposal.
Completely use up the product before disposing of the container.
Thoroughly clean and dry product containers prior to disposal.
Wash your hands thoroughly after handling chemicals.

NEVER:
Allow pool chemicals to come into contact with your skin, eyes or mouth. Inhale or ingest pool chemicals.
Store chemicals in a place where they can be accessed by children or pets.
Store chemicals in a place where they can be contaminated by any other material.
They can react with other materials, including other pool chemicals, to cause a fire, explosion, or release or toxic gases.
Add water to pool chemicals or expose them to small amounts of water. They can react violently to product heat and toxic gases.
Mix different chemicals to allow pool chemicals to move into contact with other pool chemicals or any other materials.
Pre-mix or pre-dissolve pool chemicals before adding them to your pool.
Smoke, grill or allow any open flame near stored chemicals.
Put spilled product back into container, doing so will contaminate the rest of the product.

Dispose of product container without reading product label for directions.
Dispose of spilled product by pouring into trash or drain.

SWIMMING POOL SANITATION

These directions should be followed as the start-up procedure for each of the Bluewater chlorine systems.

1. SUPERCHLORINATION
Superchlorinate the pool by adding either of the following:

Bluewater Granular Pool Chlorine – 400g per 10,000 litres of pool Water OR

Bluewater Liquid Pool Chlorine – 2 litres per 10,000 litres of pool water

When using Bluewater Granular Pool Chlorine, it is recommended to dissolve the chlorine in a bucket of warm water. Premix by adding Bluewater Granular Pool Chlorine to the bucket of warm water – not the reverse. Stir well and allow any calcium residue to settle in the bottom of the bucket before adding the clear solution to the pool. Apply the solution to the surface of the pool around the edge. Circulate through the filter and wait 12-24 hours until the chlorine level drops to around 2ppm.

2. WATER BALANCE
Add Bluewater Buffer to achieve a level between 120-150ppm (Bluewater Stabilised Chlorine Tablets require 150-200ppm). Adjust the pH to between 7.2-7.8 using Bluewater pH Increase or Bluewater pH Decrease. Adjust water hardness to a level between 100-300ppm where required.

3. STABILISATION
Add Bluewater Pool Stabiliser direct to the pool at the rate of 250g per 10,000 litres.

This should raise the stabiliser level to approximately 30ppm (Ideal level is 30-70ppm). Allow 12 hours for pool stabiliser to dissolve before adding your chosen Bluewater chlorine sanitizer.

DAILY TREATMENT
The Normal Routine for Swimming Pools

SYSTEM ONE:Bluewater Granular Pool Chlorine and
SYSTEM TWO:Bluewater Liquid Pool Chlorine

1. See table below for recommended addition levels.
2. Every three months, check to ensure stabiliser level is between 30-70ppm.
3. Always use your chlorine test kit daily, and when required, vary the dosage level to maintain a free chlorine level of around 2ppm.
4. Check the pH level weekly and adjust as required.

Shock Dosing: During the swimming season shock dose the pool once a week at twice the normal daily dose rate.

SYSTEM THREE: Bluewater Stabilised Pool Chlorine

1. Broadcast Bluewater Stabilised Pool Chlorine direct into the pool water at the rate of 15g per 10,000 litres. Avoid contact with pool liners.
2. Always use your chlorine test kit, and when required vary the dosage to maintain a free available chlorine concentration of 2ppm, i.e. after the first week, the dosage may be able to be dropped back to every second day, depending on the FAC test result.
3. Check the pH level weekly and adjust as required.

Shock Dosing: Weekly or fortnightly shockdosing with Bluewater Granular Pool Chlorine, will only be necessary should the condition of your pool water deteriorate.

SYSTEM FOUR:Bluewater Stabilised Pool Chlorine Tablets

1. Add one Bluewater Stabilised Pool Chlorine tablet to either a floater, the skimmer basket or feeder. Ensure tablet is completely covered with water.
2. More than one tablet may be necessary to maintain a free available chlorine level of 2ppm, but as a general guide, one tablet will be sufficient for 1 week in a 36,000 litre pool. Do not break tablets.
3. Always use your test kit to monitor pH levels and free available chlorine concentrations. i.e. after the first week or so, when the exact chlorine requirements of your pool have been determined, you may be able to carry out the FAC test weekly instead of daily. Continue to check pH levels weekly.
4. Keep tablets away from pool liners.

Shock Dosing: Weekly or fortnightly shock dosing with Bluewater Granular Pool Chlorine will only be necessary should the condition of your pool water deteriorate.

SPA POOL SANITATION

Spa pool water quickly becomes contaminated in two ways: from those who use the pool and from external sources.

Bathers introduce dirt, skin flakes, sweat, micro-organisms, body fats, oils from lotions or creams, mucus and nasal exudate. In a single session, a person may shed something like 3 million bacteria and 0.5 grams of organic dirt. External contamination comes from spillage of food and drink, wind-blown dirt, leaves and grass clippings if the pool is outside, or leaves and soil from pot plants around an indoor pool.

Micro-organisms introduced to the pool from any one of these sources are likely to multiply rapidly because of the warmth, movement and aeration of spa pool water. In addition to this, the closeness of bathers and the high ratio of bathers to water volume places heavy demands on spa pool cleaning systems. In a spa pool of 2000 litres, four bathers each have 500 litres of water. To achieve the same concentration in a home swimming pool of 36000 litres, there would need to be just over 70 swimmers.

Attention to hygiene and daily use of an efficient sanitiser are therefore essential if the spa pool is to be a sparkling, clean, healthy and relaxing place to be in.

BLUEWATER CHLORINE

For Newly Filled Spa Pools

1. Start filter pump.
2. Superchlorinate using Bluewater Stabilised Pool and Spa Chlorine at the rate of 50g per 2000 litres. Broadcast the granules directly into the spa pool.
3. Check and adjust Bluewater pH Buffer to 150ppm.
4. Check water hardness and adjust to 100ppm.
5. Check and adjust pH to about 7.6 (range 7.2-7.8).
6. After 1 hour, check pH again and adjust if necessary.
7. Leave filter running. Check chlorine level after 1 hour. When chlorine level has dropped to 3ppm the pool is ready to use.

DAILY TREATMENT

The Normal Routine for Spa Pools

1. Test chlorine level.
2. Turn on filter 2 hours before use.
3. About 1 hour before use, add Bluewater Stabilised Pool and Spa Chlorine at the rate of 10g per 2000 litres to maintain a level of 3ppm. Broadcast directly into the spa pool.
4. Immediately after use, add a similar dose of Bluewater Stabilised Pool and Spa Chlorine.
5. Leave filter running for several hours after use.

WEEKLY TREATMENT

1. Check pH and adjust if necessary.
2. Shock dose by adding 30g of Bluewater Pool and Spa Chlorine per 2000 litres of water. Broadcast directly into the pool.
3. Check chlorine level and when it has dropped to 3ppm, the spa pool is ready for use.

SPA POOL CLEANING
To keep the spa pool healthy and to ensure the sanitiser works effectively, the pool must be kept physically clean.

Daily attention must be given to keeping the pool surrounds clean and to removing leaves, hair and other obvious contaminants from the spa pool and the skimmer.

CHANGING WATER
Water in spa pools should be changed regularly. Depending on the amount of use, this will be necessary every 1-3 months. When changing water, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

EMERGENCY RESOURCES

If there is an emergency requiring immediate medical attention, call 111 immediately

CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
If you are exposed to pool chemicals, contact a physician immediately and follow the appropriate steps as listed below:

In the event of skin or eye contact with chlorine products, flush the area with water for at least 15 minutes.
If chemicals are accidentally ingested, sip on water, but do not induce vomiting. Never give anything to drink to an unconscious person.

If fumes have been inhaled, move the affected person to fresh air as quickly as possible.

CHEMICAL DISPOSAL AND SPILLAGE
If you have an incident involving Bluewater Poolcare Chemicals, call the Hazardous Substance Emergency Line on 0800 CHEMCALL (0800 243 622) immediately. Your call will be answered by trained professionals who will assist you in an emergency.

For instructions on chemical disposal, call 0800 CHEMCALL or your local council. Do not throw chemicals in the trash.
If any of your pool or spa chemicals spill, call 0800 CHEMCALL for special handling instructions.
Do not backwash into a stream or river.
Do not throw spilled material into trash.
A spill requires emergency handling. If there is any sign of chemical activity such as a bulging container, bubbling, hissing, gassing, smoking, or fire call 0800 CHEMCALL immediately for assistance.