My question involves the regulations and the short-term health effects of swimming in water that contains too much chlorine. The other night, our pool (indoors) measured as follows:
pH: 6.8 - 7.0
Chlorine: 10 ppm
My understanding is that the pH should be in the 7.2 - 7.8 range, and the chlorine should be in the range of 1 ppm - 3 ppm.
My questions are:
1. Is there a safe upper limit for chlorine in a pool?
2. If the pool tests above that limit, should it be closed?
3. What are the short-term health effects of swimming in water
chlorinated to 10 ppm?
Some brief research on my part so far has only shown that our county has an acceptable mininum level (1 ppm), but no guidelines on a maximum level.
Anna Lea,
I've been a Certified Pool Operator Instructor for the past 22 years.
Your problem was not the chlorine. Although higher than normally desirable, it shouldn't cause the discomfort. It was the pH that was way out of line. Ideally, it should be between 7.4 and 7.6 for human comfort and appropriate water balance. However, you certainly didn't have to worry about any pathogens in the water. Chlorine is is more than 3 times more effective as a sanitzer at a pH of 7.0 than at 8.0. Also, chlorine is effectively removed from the water by adding a chemical called sodium thiosulfate.
Rich
