How is water hardness measured?
The hardness of water is measured with the TH (Hydrotimetric Title), which corresponds to the concentration of calcium and magnesium mineral salts. It must be between 10°f and 20°f French (100 to 200 mg/l or ppm).
Below 10°f : the water is too soft, which can lead to problems with corrosion of metal parts and cements. To identify water that is too soft, do this simple test: take a sample of water from your pond and put it in a bowl. Try lathering it up with soap. The more foam, the softer the water and the less foam, the harder your water.
How do you know if the water in your area is hard or soft?
Consult the official water quality data on the Ministry of Health .Go to the town hall, which should display this data. Look at your water bill, the ARS of your region makes a synthesis of the water quality of your region annually and indicates it on this bill.
Which solutions to analyze the TH?
- To measure TH, you can use suitable colorimetric strips available on specialized pool or spa stores.
Some of the latest generation devices, such as ICO analyses the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), thanks to its conductivity probe which measures all minerals (calcium, bicarbonates) and trace elements (chlorine, bromine ....). The TDS is between 250 and 2000 ppm for pools treated with chlorine or bromine, and between 3000 and 5000 for pools treated with salt.
How treating water hardness
with water that is too hard (above 20°f French)
First, monitor the temperature of your pool water. A high temperature promotes the formation of scale. Secondly, regulate the pH of your pool (between 7.2 and 7.4 for a pool treated with chlorine). Finally, you can add a lime sequestering product to slow down the formation of lime.
with water that is too soft (below 10°f French)
Use a product to increase the TH to 15°F French then adjust the pH of your pool (TH+ if the TH is very low, otherwise calcium hypochlorite)