Chemicals and Uses
Know your chemicals!
Many serious incidents at swimming pool facilities have been caused by a lack of knowledge of and respect for the different chemicals used to treat pool water.
Any Pool Plant Operator worth their salt knows all the substances used in pool water treatment by their proper chemical name and what they are used for.
Try the exercise below. Refer to the section Pool Water Testing Parameters and Frequencies in Lesson 1 if you need to, but try and get this knowledge embedded before moving on.
On the flash cards it says that Suphuric Acid decreases PH. I thought Sodium bisulphate reduces the PH level?
Both sulphuric acid and sodium bisulphate (also known as dry acid) are used in pool plant operations to reduce (lower) the pH level of pool water.
Here’s how they work:
Sulphuric Acid : This is a strong liquid acid. When added to pool water, it lowers the pH quickly and effectively. It’s commonly used in some commercial pools, but it must be handled with care due to its corrosive nature and the fact that it increases sulphate levels in the water.
Sodium Bisulphate (Dry Acid) : This is a solid, granular acid. It also lowers pH when dissolved in water. It’s often preferred for manual dosing because it’s easier and safer to handle than liquid acids. Like sulphuric acid, it also increases sulphate levels in the pool.
In summary:
Both sulphuric acid and sodium bisulphate are pH reducers. The choice between them depends on the pool’s setup, operator preference, and safety considerations.