Introducti; Water Chemistry - IPS Controllers M720 Owner's Manual

M720 pH/ORP Controller Owner's Manual
I. Introduction
A. Water Chemistry
Water chemistry is a complex science that contains many variables.
These variables not only affect the water environment itself, but
they can have adverse effects on your equipment as well as your
health. These are only some of the factors which we follow closely
to ensure the most healthy water interactions:
pH is the measurement of the acidity or basicity in an aqueous
solution. A measurement below 7 is considered acid, while a
measurement above 7 is base or alkaline. It is a significant factor
in determining the water quality as it affects sanitizer levels, water
color, and human reaction to the water.
ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) is the measurement of the
oxidizing capacity present in water. ORP cannot be fooled by the
effects of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), stabilizers, and non-
chlorine oxidizers. A typical ORP sensor measures Hypochlorous
Acid (HOCI), which is the more effective component of free
chlorine. A higher ORP reading equates to the sanitizer working
more effectively.
Water balance is comprised of pH, calcium hardness, total
alkalinity, temperature, and TDS. When water is balanced, the
Langelier saturation index is 0. Values above +0.3 lead to scaling
and cloudy water, while values below -0.3 can cause corrosion of
pool equipment and surfaces. If the water balance is not fixed in
a timely manner, secondary effects can lead to rapidly declining
water conditions that can affect the health of the water occupants.
pH and ORP work conversely to one another, and are affected by
other factors such as temperature and TDS' that can increase the
negative impacts of unbalanced water.
2