Tips for analysing pool water

These are the parameters to keep your pool water well-balanced and well disinfected. In particular, adjusting the pH levels and the amount of disinfectant is essential if we want clean and healthy water. 

For example, pH levels, if these are too high or low, our pool equipment can corrode, our eyes, mucus, and skin can be irritated, and the effect of the disinfectant products can be considerably reduced. By controlling the number of disinfectants used we can see if the water is healthy and free from microorganisms. These two parameters must be analysed at least once a month.

As we have said, to get the perfect water, we need to keep all of our required parameters within the recommended ranges.

To do this, we need to have the right measurement tools:

• Analysis strips. These are the quickest and easiest way to analyse your water on a weekly basis. All you have to do is dip the strip in the water and take it out again. You can get your analysis in a matter of seconds. The results are read based on a colour scale. For the most reliable results, we recommend analysing the water from each end of the pool and after every use in the case of hot tubs. 

There are different types of strips, based on the parameters to be analysed. Take a look at our catalogue (add link to category).

• Analysis kits. There are different types of these based on how the water is to be analysed, be this through liquid reactive agents or tablets. This measures the pH and disinfectant levels, whether chlorine or bromine. To analyse the water, the kits are filled with pool water and the reactive agent starts to dissolve.

If using a liquid reactive agent kit, a practical tip is to always take a OTO test (this measures the disinfectant levels) before the phenol test (this measures the pH levels), as the latter will not work if the disinfectant level is very high and will give incorrect results. It is also important to rinse the test tubes with the pool water before using them. The CTX liquid analysis kits are a great option when doing this kind of analysis. 

If a tablet reactive agent kit is used, a good tip is to be careful not to touch the reactive tablets, as contact with these and your skin can have an effect on the results obtained. 

• Blue Riiot. This is the easiest way to analyse pool water, as it uses the free app  “Pool&Spa assistant” which automatically calculates the chemical recipe required to correct the values after analysing the pool’s main parameters. 

It has two ways of analysing water: with analysis strips, which involves manually analysing the water and entering the results into the app or with the Blue Connect analyser, which automatically sends the results to the app. 

CTX works together with Blue Riiot and the product recipes are based on the CTX product range.

For more information, see: https://www.blueriiot.com/eu-en

• There are other more accurate professional analysis methods such as ph. These can measure different water parameters. We have a range of photometer models available for pools.

The right pool water analysis requires specialist professional advice. If you are looking for advice, here at CTX we are happy to help.