Here is what appears in Volume 1 Number 2 of the Journal of the Swimming Pool and Spa Industry:

General:

An Introduction to the Journal

The Submission Criterion

Articles:

John Wojtowicz

Chemcon

Swimming Pool Water Balance – Part 2: Factors Affecting the Calcium Carbonate Saturation Index

Swimming pool water chemistry must be balanced in order to prevent corrosion, etching, and scaling and maintain water clarity. This is accomplished by means of the calcium carbonate Saturation Index (SI) which allows calculation of a measure of the degree of calcium carbonate saturation of pool water based on the temperature, pH, carbonate alkalinity, and calcium hardness (Langelier 1936, Larson 1942, Van Waters 1964). It is desirable to maintain the SI in an ideal operating range so that the water is neither corrosive/aggressive nor prone to precipitate calcium carbonate for a maximum percent of the time. However, the SI varies with time primarily because pH and alkalinity change due to addition of sanitizers and loss of carbon dioxide, necessitating periodic adjustments. Since acid addition for pH reduction consumes alkalinity, this needs to be taken into account when adjustments are made. Also, if the water contains other alkaline substances (e.g., cyanurate ion), the total alkalinity must be corrected to obtain the actual carbonate alkalinity (Snoeyink 1980, Stumm 1981) so that the correct SI is obtained, otherwise serious corrosion and etching problems can arise. A previous article (Wojtowicz 1995) showed how to correct total alkalinity for the effect of cyanuric acid.

Kim Skinner and J. Que Hales

Pool Chlor

The Addition of Muriatic Acid – Results and Implications of Using Varied Methods of Muriatic Acid Application in Swimming Pool Water

The lowering of Total Alkalinity (TA) and/or pH in swimming pools utilizing muriatic acid has been an accepted procedure in the pool industry for many decades. The reactions involved have been documented and published in widely available texts. Recently, however, a myth has been seeping into the literature and into chemistry seminars provided to service personnel. This particular myth is that different methods of acid application have the effect of producing different amounts of alkalinity and pH reduction in the pool. This paper demonstrates the fallacy of this myth.

Robert W. Lowry

Lowry Consulting

Calculations for Spa Volumes

A common difficulty in the treatment of spas lies in calculating the volume of water contained in the vessel. The correct figure is available, of course, on the manufacturer’s specification sheets, but they are frequently not available. Two of the most common causes of incorrect calculations are addressed, with methods for avoiding these errors.

Ben Powell

WaterCare, Inc.

“Interesting Questions” (opinion paper)

Many items which are accepted as fact in the swimming pool and spa industry are, in actuality, either working hypotheses presented as fact or are downright myth. Fortunately, this is not the case for most of the information we rely on, but every once in a while we trip over something that is not correct. Many purported facts are presented without experimental, or even anecdotal evidence for their support. Often, when researching a bibliographic citation that apparently supports a statement of fact, one finds that the citation leads only to a prior statement of the supposed fact, presented without evidentiary foundation. This article, along with others to follow, as readers have occasion to point out similar items, is not intended for those satisfied with dogmatic recitations of unsupported fact in industry publications. Rather, it intended to invite thoughtful, documentable response to some puzzling contradictions or oversights in the industry. This initial offering is presented for your enjoyment by Ben Powell, and responses will be accepted in the form of letters to the editor, short technical notes, or, if appropriate, research papers.

Doug Latta

Aqua Clear

Interference in Melamine–based Determination of Cyanuric Acid Concentration

Testing for cyanuric acid levels in swimming pools and spas is typically accomplished using a melamine–based turbidity test. Evidence based on experience and experiments shows that there can be a masking, or interference in the melamine–based test, which can cause errors of up to 70%. A method of correcting the error while testing has been determined, and is described. Possible directions to pursue in defining the exact nature of the interference are also discussed.