Vi. Water Quality And Maintenance; General Information; Methods For Testing The Spa Water - HotSpring LANDMARK Owner's Manual

VI. WATER QUALITY AND MAINTENANCE

I t's important to have clean water. Water maintenance is one of the least understood, yet an important area of spa
ownership. Your dealer can guide you through the process of achieving and maintaining perfect water in your spa, given
your local conditions; here is our suggested step-by-step program.
Your program will depend on your water's mineral content, how often you use your spa, and how many people use it.
Watkins has developed the EverFresh
based system. This system uses silver ions, ozone and an active sanitizer (monopersulfate) to sanitize the spa. It includes the
™
FreshStart Pre-filter, the FreshWater
10,000

GENERAL INFORMATION

THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL AREAS OF WATER MAINTENANCE:
• Water Filtration
• Water Sanitation
• Chemical Balance/pH Control
Although your spa's filter system is working 24 hours a day to remove particles from your water, it does not remove bacteria
or viruses.
Water Sanitation is the responsibility of the spa owner, achieved through the regular and periodic (daily, if necessary) addition
of an approved sanitizer. The sanitizer will chemically control the bacteria and viruses present in the fill water or introduced
during use of the spa. Bacteria and viruses can grow quickly in undersanitized spa water.
The water's chemical balance and pH control are also the responsibility of the spa owner. You'll have to add chemicals to
maintain proper levels of Total Alkalinity (TA), Calcium Hardness (CH) and pH. Proper water balance and pH control will
minimize scale buildup and corrosion of metals, extend the life of the spa, and allow the sanitizer to work at maximum
efficiency.

METHODS FOR TESTING THE SPA WATER

Accurate water testing and analysis are an important part of effectively managing your spa water. To follow the Hot Spring
Spa recommended program, you must have the ability to test for:
• Total Alkalinity (TA)
• Calcium Hardness (CH)
• pH
• Sanitizer
®
NOTE: When the EverFresh System with MPS is used, it is not possible to test for MPS.
Two types of testing methods are recognized and recommended by Watkins:
The Reagent Test Kit is the preferred method and provides the highest level of accuracy. The reagents come in either liquid
or tablet form.
Test Strips are a convenient testing method used by many spa owners. Keep in mind that test strips are susceptible to heat
and moisture contamination, which will result in inaccurate readings.
IMPORTANT: Always read and carefully follow the directions included with the Test Kit or Test Strips to ensure the accuracy
of the test results.
HINTS FOR SUCCESSFUL WATER TESTING
When using the reagent test kit:
• Always take water samples 12"- 18" below the water surface.
• Rinse the test cells before and after each use.
• Do not dispose of test samples into the spa water.
• When adding drops of chemicals from the kit (the reagents) into the test block, hold the bottle vertically and add the
drops slowly to be sure the correct quantity is used.
• The reagents should be replaced on a yearly basis to maintain the accuracy of the test results.
When using either a calibrated test block or test strips, test comparisons should be made in natural light.
®
Water Care System for its spas, which is an alternative to using an entirely chlorine-
®
II High Output Ozone System, and the FreshWater
Page 35
Silver Ion Purifier.
Ag + ™
Water Quality and Maintenance
®