Testing the swimming pool, hot tub or swim spa water is the key element to ensure safe bathing conditions and to get the most from your investment, if left or neglected the consequences can be severe and costly to recover with many hours lost trying to restore water quality.

Water testing should be undertaken daily for swimming pool and hot tub water with the key readings such as sanitiser (Chlorine or Bromine) and pH taken and recorded, if any chemical additions are required ALWAYS remember to re-test the water.

The key parameters you are looking for are:

• Free Chlorine 2 – 3 PPM (Parts per Million)
• Or Total Bromine 3 – 4 PPM
• pH 7.2 – 7.5

For more detailed readings to be taken weekly

• Total Alkalinity 80 – 180 PPM
• Calcium Hardness >250 PPM
• Cyanuric Acid <50PPM

Many owners use test strips for water testing, these offer a quick and easy to read measurement for key readings such as Free Chlorine, Total Bromine and pH. Test strips are supplied in a number of options: 3 in 1 test OPC 3 in 1 Test Strips or Palintest 3 in 1 Test Strips or other test strip products offer additional parameters such as Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness: OPC 5 in 1 Test strips.

A more accurate method of testing the water is with tablet reagents, which was the most common method for water testing before the introduction of test strips. The most popular instrument utilising this technology is the “Orange” Pooltester which measures Free Chlorine and pH utilising fast dissolve DPD No 1 and Phenol Red reagents offering an clear and accurate test within seconds.

The most accurate instrument and new to the market for 2019 is the Pool Lab which uses cutting edge technology to provide very accurate water analysis readings. The Pool Lab eliminates the requirement to read colours that the test strips and the Pooltester requires, instead it provides a digital screen with the reading clearly displayed. Water tests are simple and quick to undertake, this instrument is ideal for those who are serious about their water chemistry; they are also ideal for commercial swimming pool users and holiday lodge parks undertaking multiple water tests per day. A unique function of the Pool Lab is it’s Bluetooth capability which can upload readings to the simple to use Pool Lab App.

Always remember, water testing is simple and quick to undertake but often overlooked resulting in frustrating, poor water quality and lengthy investments in time and money to recover from the poor water quality.

*Use biocides safely.  Always read the label and product information before use.