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SAND This
usually refers to the filter medium used by a sand filter. The grade most often
specified by filter manufacturers is grade No. 20 with a particle size of 45 to
55 mm (millimeters).
SAND FILTER A filter using
sand or sand and gravel as the filter medium.
SANITIZE
(chemical related)
To render sanitary: to kill all living things, including bacteria and algae.
Similar to sterilize.
SCALE
(chemical related)
The precipitate that forms on surfaces in contact with water when the calcium
hardness, pH or total alkalinity levels are too high. Results from chemically
unbalanced pool and spa water. Scale may appear as gray, white or dark streaks
on the plaster, fiberglass or vinyl. It may also appear as a hard crust around
the tile.
SCUM
(chemical related)
The extraneous or foreign matter which rises to the surface of the water and
forms a layer or a film there. It can also be a residue deposited on the tile or
walls of the pool or spa. Sources of scum are soap, oil, deodorant, hair spray,
suntan lotions and others.
SEDIMENT
(chemical related)
The solid material settled out from the water.
SEPTUM That portion of the
filter element consisting of cloth, wire screen or other porous material on
which the filter medium or filter aid is deposited. The nylon grid on a D.E.
filter is the septum.
SEQUESTERING AGENT
(chemical related)
Also called chelating agent - A chemical that will combine with dissolved metals
in the water to prevent the metals from coming out of solution (precipitating or
causing stains). May also be a chemical that removes dissolved metals from
water.
SHOCK TREAT
(chemical related)
The practice of adding significant amounts of an oxidizing chemical - (usually
non- chlorine oxidizers, such as sodium persulfate or potassium
peroxymonosulfate) - to the water to destroy ammonia and nitrogen com- pounds or
swimmer waste.
SHOTCRETE A mixture of
sand and cement sprayed onto contoured and supported surfaces to build a pool or
spa. Plaster is applied over the shotcrete. Shotcrete is premixed and pumped wet
to the construction site.
SILT
(chemical related)
Soil particles having diameters between 0.004 and 0.062 mm (millimeters).
Sometimes they may be too small to be trapped by the circulation system. In
those cases, a clarifier or an alum product may be needed.
SIMAZINE
(chemical related)
A chemical substance used in swimming pools and spas as an herbicide or
algaecide. Mainly used for killing black algae.
SKIMMER A device installed
through the wall of a pool or spa that is connected to the suction line of the
pump that draws water and floating debris in the water flow from the surface
without causing much flow restriction.
SKIMMER BASKET A
removable, slotted basket or strainer placed in the skimmer on the suction side
of the pump, which is designed to trap floating debris in the water flow from
the surface without causing much flow restriction.
SKIMMER WEIR Part of a
skimmer that adjusts automatically to small changes in water level to assure a
continuous flow of water to the skimmer. The small floating "door" on the side
of the skimmer that faces the water over which water flows on its way to the
skimmer. The weir also prevents debris from floating back into the pool when the
pump shuts off.
SLURRY Water or a liquid
containing a high concentration of suspended solids. Diatomaceous earth (D.E.)
is usually added to the filter as a slurry by mixing a small amount of D.E. in a
bucket of water and then pouring the slurry into the skimmer with the filter on.
SODA ASH
(chemical related)
(Sodium Carbonate) - A chemical used to raise total alkalinity in pool and spa
water with only a slight affect on the pH.
SODIUM BICARBONATE
(chemical related)
(Baking Soda or Bicarb) - A chemical used to raise total alkalinity in pool and
spa water with only a slight affect on the pH.
SODIUM BISULFATE
(chemical related)
(dry acid) - A chemical used to lower the pH and total alkalinity. 2 1/2 lbs. of
dry acid are equal to 1 quart of muriatic acid.
SODIUM BROMIDE
(chemical related)
A salt of bromine. It is used to establish a bromide "bank" in pool and spa
water prior to beginning the use of bromine tablets.
SODIUM CARBONATE
(chemical related)
(soda ash) - A chemical used to raise the pH and total alkalinity in pool and
spa water.
SODIUM DICHLOR
(chemical related)
A fast-dissolving, granular, stabilized organic chlorine compound providing
either 56% or 63% available chlorine. Used for regular as well as super
chlorination. Contains an ingredient (cyanuric acid or stabilizer) that prevents
the chlorine from being destroyed by the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.
Recommended for use in vinyl- liner, painted or fiberglass pools and acrylic or
fiberglass spas.
SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE
(chemical related)
Liquid chlorine. Usually provides 10% to 12% available chlorine; has a pH of 13
and re- quires that small amounts of acid be added to the pool to neutralize the
high pH. Good for regular chlorination and super chlorination. Not recommended
for spas. Does not contain conditioner or stabilizer to protect it from
sunlight, but it is protected if stabilizer or conditioner is already in the
water.
SODIUM PERSULFATE
(chemical related)
Active ingredient and chemical name of a non-chlorine shock treatment or
non-chlorine oxidizer. Does not kill bacteria or algae but it will oxidize or
destroy ammonia, nitrogen and swimmer waster. Does not increase chlorine or
bromine levels the way that super chlorination does, so water may be entered in
15 minutes after addition. It will not reactivate bromine.
SODIUM SESQUICARBONATE
(chemical related) A chemical mixture of
equal parts of soda ash and sodium bicarbonate used to increase pH and total
alkalinity in pool and spa water. It has a pH of 10.1.
SODIUM SULFITE
(chemical related)
A chemical used to neutralize or de-chlorinate pool and spa water.
SODIUM THIOSULFATE
(chemical related)
A chemical used to neutralize or de-chlorinate pool and spa water.
SOFT WATER
(chemical related)
Water that has a very low calcium and magnesium content (water hardness) -
usually means less than 100 ppm or 6 grains. Also water that has gone through a
water softener. Pools and spas should never be filled with soft water from a
softener. Water with less than 100 ppm of hardness should be increased to a
minimum of 150 to 200 ppm using calcium chloride.
SOLAR COVER A cover that,
when placed on the water's surface of a pool, spa or hot tub, increases the
water temperature by absorption and transmission of solar radiation; reduces
evaporation and prevents wind-borne debris from entering the water.
SOLAR HEATING SYS. Solar
Heating System - It is usually panels or coils of plastic or metal through which
water passes to increase the temperature from the sun's radiant heat.
SOURCE WATER
(chemical related)
Also called "tap" water - It is the water used to fill or refill the pool or
spa.
SPRING BOARD Also called
"diving" board - A recreational mechanism for entering a swimming pool
consisting of a semi-rigid board that derives its spring from a fulcrum mounted
below the board and attached to the deck.
STABILIZED CHLORINE
(chemical related)
A family of chlorine pool sanitizers that contain conditioner (cyanuric acid or
iso- cyanuric acid) to protect the chlorine from the degrading UV rays in
sunlight. Most common types are sodium dichlor and trichlor. The granular form
is dichlor which is fact- dissolving and can be used for regular chlorination or
super chlorination by broad- casting into the pool or spa. Tablet or stick form
is trichlor (which is usually used in a chlorine feeder - either the floating
type or in-line erosion type) used for regular chlorination only.
STABILIZER
(chemical related)
Stabilizer, or cyanuric acid,
reduces degradation of chlorine by sunlight.
STAIN
(chemical related)
A discoloration or a colored deposit on the walls or bottom of a swimming pool
or spa. Most often, stains are metals, such as iron, copper & manganese. They
may appear as green, gray, brown or black. They may even discolor the water.
Sometimes a sequestering agent or chelating agent will remove them. If not,
usually an acid wash is necessary to remove them from the walls & bottom. The
metals get in the water because the pH was too low or someone has added a low-pH
chemical directly into the circulation system. The low-pH chemical dissolves a
small amount of metal from the equipment. The metals begin to come out of
solutions & deposit or stain the walls & bottom. Stains are sometimes confused
with scale.
STAIN INHIBITOR
(chemical related)
Also called sequestering or chelating agent- A chemical that will combine with
dissolved metals in the water to prevent the metals from coming out of solution
(precipitating or causing stains). May also be a chemical that removes dissolved
metals from water.
SUPER CHLORINATION
(chemical related)
The practice of adding an extra large dose (5 to 10 ppm) of chlorine to the
water to destroy ammonia, nitrogen and swimmer waste, which can build up in the
water. This level of chlorine is required to destroy all of the combined
chlorine in the water, which is called breakpoint chlorination.
SUCTION OUTLET A fitting or fixture
that conducts water to the circulation pump.( previous referred to as "drain or
main drain" ) SURFACTANT
(chemical related)
A soluble chemical compound that reduces the surface tension between two
liquids. It is used in many detergents and soapy cleaning compounds.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
(chemical related)
Insoluble solid particles that either float on the surface of or are in
suspension in the water, causing turbidity. They may be held in suspension by
agitation or flow. They may be removed by filtration, but if the particles are
too small, they may not be trapped by the filter. In these cases, a clarifier or
alum may be needed to remove them.
SVRS
(safety related)
Safety Vacuum Release System -- a system or device
capable of providing vacuum release at a suction outlet caused by a high vacuum
occurrence due to a suction outlet flow blockage.
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