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Glossary Swimming Pool glossary

Acid Demand - A titration test used to determine the amount of acid in a swimming pool to reach correct levels.
Acid wash - A method that uses acid to clean the interior of a swimming pool.
Algae - Aquatic organisms containing chlorophyll that can grow in colonies. Algae have the capability to conduct photosynthesis. The most common algae in swimming pools are green, black, and yellow.
Algaecides - A chemical compound used to kill, control, and prevent algae in pools.
Alkali - A base used in swimming pools to increase the water’s alkalinity level.
Backwash - The process of reversing the flow of water to thoroughly clean dirt in a filter.
Balanced Water - The result of keeping the five basic pool water components such as pH, calcium hardness, alkalinity, stabilizers, and total dissolved solids at the recommended levels.
Chlorinator - Any kind of device that adds chlorine into pool water.
Chlorine - Any type of chlorine compound used to disinfect a pool.
Corrosion - The result when a pool's water is imbalanced. Corrosion may result to erosion, etching, or pitting of pool's surface and equipment.
Efficacy - In swimming pool terminology, efficacy means the chlorine's effectiveness, which is affected by the water balance, sun, and chlorine.
Filter - A device used in pools to remove particles in the water through a porous substance. Common types of filters are cartridge, sand, and diatomaceous earth.
Filter medium - The material used in filters designed to remove suspended particles as water flows through it.
Flowrate - The volume of water that flows past a designated point in a specified time. It is also known as litres per minute or lpm.
Hard Water - The result when water is high in magnesium, calcium, or other salts.
Hypochlorite - Family of chlorine used to disinfect, oxidize and sanitize pool water, such as sodium, calcium, and lithium.
Oxidizer - Any compound that removes organic waste in the water without raising chlorine levels.
Pump - A mechanical device powered by a motor used in pools for hydraulic flow and pressure for filtration.
Reagents - A substance used in pools to test water quality.
Sand Filter - A filter tank that uses sand as the filter medium.
Titration - A method used to test the alkalinity of the water by adding a drop of titrant after another until a color change is observed.
Zeolite - Microporous elements use in sand filters that provide filtration to 3 microns.