Certified Pool Operator Study Guide
11 Reasons for Pool Closure ✔️
1. lifeguard on pool deck
2. Main drain is not clearly, visible from the nearest lifeguard chair
3. Free chlorine, total bromine, ph and cyanic acid readings of pool where otherwise
specified under Section 2, B.1
4. Recirculating equipment is not working properly for more than 1 hour
5.Water level is below the skimmers in pools
6. Chemical disinfectant feeder has not been functional for 24 hour period
7. Bathhouse drainage system is blocked sufficiently to render bathhouse unusable
8. Director has been wrongly denied permission to inspect the pool pursuant to
chapter 51
9. A licensed Montgomery county pool operator is not immediate control of the pool
10. Director determines that an immediate hazard exists to the health or safety of the
users of any pool
11. At least one lifeguard currently certified in infant/child/adult CPR is not within the
pool enclosure.
Health regulation for CPO is ✔️
16 years old; approved course; 75% or better
CPO Must be at the facility _______ prior; for what reason ✔️
30 Minutes prior to open; to measure, record and adjust
Chlorine and PH must be tested every _____ hours for a pool; every _____ hour for
a spa ✔️
2 hours for pool; 1 hour for spa
Records of chemical readings must be maintained and available for at least ______
years; and _____ years total ✔️
2 years @ pool; 3 years total
Must close a pool or spa when: ____ ( Hint 7 items) ✔️
1. residual disinfection levels are not within required ranges.
2. Sanitary water quality has coliform bacteria levels within the acceptable ranges
3. Water chemistry levels are not within proper ranges
4. Water clarity is not acceptable according to local standards
5. Recirculation or disinfection system is malfunctioning
6. When protection of the public health, safety, welfare imperatively requires
emergency action.
7. Lifeguard not present
___________ is the best prevention of accidents at swimming pools ✔️
Adult supervision
All public pools must have a _____ and _____ in order for the pool to be open. ✔️
CPO, and lifeguard
Name 5 reasons that cause a facility to have more than one lifeguard: ✔️
1. # of guards on duty
2. # of swimmers in water
3. Skill level of swimmers
4. Shape of facility
5. Temperature
6. Activity
_______________ is a step by step plan that the facility staff will follow in response
to an emergency at the facility. ✔️
Emergency Action Plan
Most rescues and diving accidents occur in _____ water ✔️
Shallow
Pool Operator certification is valid for _____ years ✔️
2 years
Lifeguard certification is valid for ____ years ✔️
2 years
Five factors figure into water balance: ✔️
1. pH
2.Total Alkalinity
3. Calcium hardness
4. Temperature
5. Total Disolved Solids
Define : Corrosive Water ✔️
Seeks to satisfy its hunger by dissolving virtually everything it contacts. Attacking
metals and plaster surfaces.
Define: Scaling Water -
✔️
Too many ingredients seeking to relieve its condition by releasing precipitates either
as scale, cloudiness or residue.
What is neutral pH? ✔️
7
What is pH of human eye? ✔️
7.5
What is acceptable value of pH? Main pool is tested every _____ hours and spa be
tested every ____ ? ✔️
7.2 - 7.8 (Although ideal range is 7.4 - 7.6) Main pool tested every 2 hours and spa
tested every hour
How is pH tested? ✔️
Phenol Red or R-004
If pH is too high what needs to be added? ✔️
Muriatic Acid
If pH is too low what needs to be added? ✔️
Soda Ash ( sodium carbonate)
What is Total Alkalinity represent? ✔️
The amount of carbonates, bicarbonates and hydroxide in a solution.
What does Total Alkalinity information provide? ✔️
The measure of the pH-buffering capacity, or the ability of a solution to resist change
in pH. -- If the alkalinity is too high then it will be difficult to either raise or lower the
ph.
What is pH bounce? ✔️
If the alkalinity is too low, wide fluctuations in the pH reading will occur. In these
situations, the pH level will become so unpredictable that it may change as
frequently as hour to hour
What is acceptable Alkalinity values: _____ to _____? How often should it be tested
for main pool ____?
How often should it be tested for spa _____? -
✔️
60-180 ppm ( ideal range is 80-120 ppm with goal around 100)
Main pool: 1x a week
Spa: Daily
If Total Alkalinity is too High what needs to be added? ✔️
Muriatic Acid
If Total Alkalinity is too Low what needs to be added? ✔️
Baking Soda ( Sodium bicarbonate)
What is the difference between hard water and soft water? ✔️
Hard water will produce scaling resulting in mineral deposits on wall or in pipes.
Soft water is too low in hardness and readily foams and will cause corrosion.
What is acceptable Calcium hardness values ____ to ___?
How often should it be tested for main pool _____?
How often should it be tested in spas _____? ✔️
150-400 ppm
Main pool: 1x a week
Spa: Daily
If Calcium Hardness is too high what needs to be added? ✔️
Drain and re-fill pool
If Calcium Hardness is too low what needs to be added? ✔️
Calcium chloride
What is TDS? ✔️
Sum of all organic and inorganic materials dissolved in water: minerals, salts, sweat,
urine, etc.
If TDS levels are too high what 7 thing can it cause? ✔️
1. Enhance algae growth
2.Increase natural galvanic corrosion with a high salt content.
3. Accelerate staining and scaling of pool and spa surface
4. Cloudy and dull looking water
5. Foaming
6. Water balance is hard to maintain
7. Reduce sanitizer efficiency by 50%
What is acceptable TDS values: _______?
How often should it be tested? ✔️
<1500 ppm
Daily
What is MAXIMUM pool temperatures:
Main Pool
Therapy Pool
Spa ✔️
Main or swimming pool: 88 degrees
Therapy Pool: 96 degrees
Spa: 104 degrees
Five primary factors that affect water balance and are incorporated into the
saturation index formula? ✔️
1. pH
2. Total Alkalinity
3. Calcium Hardness
4. TDS
5. Temperature
What is the Langelier Saturation Index: ✔️
pH + CF + AF + TF - 12.1
If saturation index is at 0 ? _______
If saturation index is at negative value: _____
If saturation index is at positive value: ______ ✔️
Balanced
Corrosive tendencies
Scale forming tendencies or calcification
What is acceptable value for saturation index: ___ to ___
Main Pool tested: _____
Spa tested: _____ ✔️
-0.5 to 0.5
Once a week
Daily
Most common pathogens are _____ and _______ ✔️
Viruses and Bacteria
________ are bacteria that thrives in warm waters ✔️
pseudomonas
Four ways for a pathogen to enter the body: ✔️
1. Direct contact
2. Indirect contact
3. Airborne
4. Vector-borne
Recommended ratio of bleach or chlorine to water for disinfecting a contaminated
area: ✔️
1/4 cup of bleach or chlorine per 1 gallon of water
Define: Disinfection ✔️
The process of destroying living microorganisms and bacteria in sufficient numbers
to prevent the transmission of disease.
Define: Disinfectant ✔️
The chemical or device that kills or inactivates the microorganisms present in
pool/spa. ( Chlorine or bromine)
_______ is the best disinfectant in the Halogen family because it is the best ______.
✔️
Chlorine, oxidizer
______ Used to stabilize chlorine against ultra violet rays of sun. ✔️
Cyanic Acid ( stabilizer)
What is the acceptable value for Cyanuric Acid?
How often should it be tested? ✔️
30 -100
Weekly
If Cyanuric acid is too Low? ✔️
Add Cyanuric Acid
If Cyanuric Acid is too high? ✔️
Drain and re fill pool
At what point does Cyanuric acid stop being effective? ✔️
100 ppm
Most commonly used chlorine: _______? ✔️
Sodium hypochlorite
If using Gas chlorine what are the 5 requirements? ✔️
1. vent fan by floor of pool
2. chain tanks to wall
3. Spray bottle of ammonia to check for leak
4. Gas mask or PPE
Gas chlorine has an extremely low pH; what is needed on a daily basis to keep pH in
proper range? ✔️
Soda ash ( sodium carbonate)
Trichloroisocyanuric acid and Sodium Dichloroisocyanuric acid are considered
_______ because they have ______? ✔️
Pre-stabilized; because they already contain cyanic acid.
Chlorine breaks down into two species: ______ and ______ and combined create
_______? ✔️
FAC; Free available chlorine
CAC; Combined available chlorine
TAC; Total available chlorine
What is acceptable FAC: Free Available chlorine levels ___ to ____?
Main pool
Wading Pool
Spa
How often do you check in:
Main pool
Wading pool
Spa ✔️
1.5 to 10 ppm for main pool
3-10 for wading pool
4-10 for spa
Main pool: every two hours
Wading/spa: 1 hour
What are chloramines? ✔️
Chlorine/ ammonia compounds. More stable than free chlorine but not as effective
as a disinfectant.
What is acceptable value for Combined Available Chlorine _____ ? ✔️
> 0.2 ppm
What is break point? How is it found ✔️
Breakpoint is left over chlorine after CAC is calculated.
FAC = 3.0
TAC = 3.7
TAC - FAC = CAC
3.7 - 3.0 = 0.7 ( is that equal to >0.2 )
FAC + (CAC * 10) =
3.0 + (0.7*10) =
3 + 7 = 10
Left over chlorine is 3.0 ppm.
Six reasons why a pool should be shocked? ✔️
1. After a thunderstorm
2. Beginning or end of season
3. After fecal, blood or vomit spill
4. after period of heavy usage
5. When the CAC level is too high
6. The water is cloudy
__________ is used to reduced sanitizer levels ✔️
Sodium Thiosulfate; used to reduce Free chlorine levels
__________ is an acceptable disinfectant used in swimming pools/spa. ✔️
Bromine
What is the acceptable TAB (total available bromine)
Main pool ____ to ____?
Spa _____ to _____ ?
How often should it be tested in main pool: _____ ?
How often should it be tested in spas: _____ ? ✔️
Main pool: 2-8; tested every 2 hours
Spa: 3-8; tested every hour
Fill in chart:
Chlorine levels: _____ to ______
Chlorine Raise: ________
Chlorine Lower: _______ ✔️
Chlorine Levels: 1.5 to 10
Chlorine raise: Chlorine
Chlorine lower: Sodium thiosulfate
Fill in chart:
pH level: ____ to _____
pH raise: _________
pH lower: ________ ✔️
pH levels: 7.2 -- 7.8
pH raise: Soda Ash
pH lower: Muriatic Acid
Fill in chart:
Total Alkalinity levels: ____ to _____
Total alkalinity raise: _________
Total alkalinity lower: _________ ✔️
Total alkalinity levels: 60 -- 180 ppm
Total alkalinity raise: Sodium bicarbonate
Total alkalinity lower: Muriatic acid
Fill in chart:
Calcium hardness level: ____ to _____
Calcium hardness raise: ___________
Calcium hardness lower: ___________ ✔️
Calcium hardness level: 150- 400ppm
Calcium hardness raise: Calcium chloride
Calcium hardness lower: Drain and refill
Fill in chart:
Cyanic acid level: _____ to ______
Cyanic acid raise: ___________
Cyanic acid lower: ___________ ✔️
Cyanic acid level: 30 -- 100ppm
Cyanic acid raise: cyanic acid
Cyanic acid lower: Drain and refill
Fill in chart:
Total Disolved Solids level: _____ to ______
TDS Raise: ________
TDS Lower: _______ ✔️
TDS level: N/A to <1500
TDS raise: N/A
TDS lower: Drain and refill