IPSSA-NPIRC Salt Water Pool Study Conclusions Questioned
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Service Industry Veteran Questions Validity of IPSSA-NPIRC Salt Pool Study Conclusions
San Diego, Calif. February 9, 2011
The recently released study funded by the Independent Pool & Spa Service Association (IPSSA) and conducted by the National Pool Industry Research Center (NPIRC) concluded that salt pools can not be maintained properly with once a week service. This conclusion conveniently fits with the bias frequently heard among many service techs and plasterers. However a closer examination of the data and test parameters reveals that this study in no way “proves” the conclusions reached, says Bill Peck of Wm. Peck Pool Services, San Diego Calif. A 25 year veteran of the Service Industry, he says this is contrary to his own experience and that of many other service techs who ARE able to maintain salt pools on once a week service.
Peck says the first problem is the test parameters, which were not within the range recommended by IPSSA’s own Water Chemistry text book (IPSSA Basic Training Manual, Part 1: Chemicals, by Robert Lowry, Pub. 2006). IPPSA recommends that the total alkalinity in a pool using an alkaline sanitizer (such as a chlorine generator) be maintained in the range of 80 to 100 ppm (pg. 41). The study used a range of 80 to 120 ppm with most measurements being over 100. The next problem is that during the 7 weeks of the actual test period (Stage 2) the total toalkalinity was well above the 120 ppm limit over 1/3 of the time. One can not draw valid conclusions from data which is outside the protocol limits, and from a protocol that is contrary to recommended practice.
Most water chemistry classes teach “Alkalinity First” and the IPPSA water chemistry text teaches this also (pg. 39). However during Stage 1 of the study, when the pool was supposed to be prepared for Stage 2 by bringing all of the parameters into the desired range, the test pool was brought just barely into the upper range of the incorrect total alkalinity limit of 120 ppm. Unfortunately the testers overlooked some “hidden” alkalinity which skewed the results. This “hidden” alkalinity was suddenly released 16 days into the Stage 2 test period resulting in a dramatic 60% increase in total alkalinity, well above the protocol limit, and it did not drop to the upper limit for another 16 days (over 1/3 of the test period). Because the “hidden” alkalinity was not taken into account during Stage 1 it is Peck’s opinion that the pool was never properly prepared by bringing the total alkalinity into the protocol range in the first place, a range which he says was excessively high.
The IPSSA water chemistry book highlights, on page 39, this statement: “If the total alkalinity of the pool water is high you add acid to lower the pH. In a matter of hours the pH will rise. This happens because high total alkalinity will neutralize the acid. Therefore, high total alkalinity will create an almost constant acid demand. It is therefore necessary to adjust total alkalinity FIRST” (emphasis added). Peck says this study does a nice job of proving this statement. It does not prove that once a week service is inadequate.
Peck says the challenge often found in a salt pool (and other pools using alkaline sanitizers) is to get the total alkalinity under control in the first place. This will require frequent acid additions for a period of time to bring the total alkalinity into the recommended range of 80 to 100 ppm. In this case the frequent additions of acid must be done more than once a week to be successful. A pool on once a week service will need additional visits, home owner assistance, or acid feed equipment to achieve this. And this is where the problem lies, because many service techs do not want to do the additional work or ask the homeowner for help at this stage. So they go for years complaining that chlorine generators create an “unmanageable pH problem”. In fact during Stage 3 of the protocol an acid feeder was connected for 4 days and started to prove the value of frequent acid additions. Unfortunately it was terminated before the total alkalinity was brought under control.
Peck concludes the IPSSA salt pool test only proves that high total alkalinity makes it impossible to maintain the pH within the recommended range. It in no way proves that a salt pool can not be properly maintained with once a week service.
Bill Peck is owner of Wm. Peck Pool Services in San Diego County, Calif. with 25 years experience providing commercial and residential pool service and repair. He is a 22 year member of the San Diego Chapter of IPSSA.
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Contact info:
Bill Peck, owner
Wm. Peck Pool Services
PO Box 270168, San Diego, CA 92198-2168
Office: 858-673-8556
E-mail: info4@peckpool.com
