Paradise Spas and Leisure - Water Terminology

Water Terminology

Bromamines: Compounds formed when bromine combines with nitrogen from body oils, perspiration, etc. Unlike chloramines, bromamines have no pungent odour and are effective sanitizers.

Bromine: A halogen sanitizer (in the same chemical family as chlorine). Bromine is commonly used in stick, tablet or granular form.

Calcium Hardness: The amount of dissolved calcium in the spa water. This should be approximately 150-220 ppm. High levels of calcium can cause cloudy water and scaling. Low levels can cause harm to the spa equipment.

Chloramines: Compounds formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. Chloramines can cause eye irritation as well as having a strong odour. Unlike bromamines, chloramines are weaker, slower sanitizers.

Chlorine: An efficient sanitizing chemical for spas.

Chlorine (or Bromine) Residual: The amount of chlorine or bromine remaining after chlorine or bromine demand has been satisfied. The residual is therefore the amount of sanitizer which is chemically available to kill bacteria, viruses and algae.

Corrosion: The gradual wearing away of metal spa parts, usually caused by chemical action. Generally, corrosion is caused by low pH or by water with levels of TA, CH, pH or sanitizer which are outside the recommended ranges.

DPD: The preferred reagent used in test kits to measure the Free Available Chlorine.

Halogen: Any one of these five elements: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine.

MPS: Monopersulphate is the non-chlorine oxidizer used with the purification system.

Nitric Acid: The formulation of nitric acid, a highly corrosive chemical, is a by-product of the ozone generating process. Nitric acid is produced in very small quantities and is readily dissolved in the water stream with ozone.

Oxidizer: The use of an oxidizing chemical is to prevent the build up of contaminants, maximize sanitizer efficiency, minimize combined chlorine and improve water clarity.

Ozone: Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent which is produced in nature and artificially by man. Ozone forms no by-products of chloramines (ozone actually oxidizes chloramines) and will not alter the water's pH.

Pathogen: A micro organism such as bacterium that cause disease.

pH: The measure of the spa waters acidity and alkalinity. The recommended pH for the spa water is 7.4 to 7.6. Below 7.0 (considered neutral) the spa water is too acidic and can damage the heating system. Above 7.8, the water is too alkaline and can result in cloudy water and scale formation on the shell and heater.

Reagent: A chemical material in liquid, powder or tablet form for use in chemical testing. Sanitizer: Sanitizers are added and maintained at recommended residuals to protect bathers against pathogenic organisms - which can cause disease and infection - in spa water.

Scale: Rough calcium-bearing deposits that can coat spa surfaces, heaters, plumbing lines and clog filters. Generally, scaling is caused by mineral content combined with high pH. Additionally, scale forms more readily at higher water temperatures.