Cyanuric acid is a miracle worker when it comes to the servicing of outdoor swimming pools. It is looked upon as one of the best measures for ensuring the cleanliness and sanitation of chlorinated pools.
What is Cyanuric Acid?
Cyanuric acid as the name suggests is an acid which is available in the form of a white crystalline powder. It is water soluble and has a very mild overall impact on the pH factor of the pool. It is often termed as a chlorine conditioner or a stabilizer as it develops a transitory bond with chlorine present in the pool waters. This implies that it chemically clasps against the free chlorine present in the pool water and keeps it protected from the UV rays of the sun till the chlorine is utilized for the purpose it is meant for. The purpose in this case is disinfecting the necessary material in the pool.
Major Benefit of Cyanuric Acid in Swimming Pools
Presence of the acid, a chlorine stabiliser, in the swimming pools enables chlorine to perform its function of protecting and maintaining the pool waters clean. This is because the inclusion of cyanuric acid in a chlorinated pool ensures that the pool remains chlorinated even under the direct rays of the sun. A swimming pool without the presence of cyanuric acid will lead to the dissipation of free chlorine within a matter of few hours leaving the pool unprotected.
Cyanuric acid has definitely made the pool service professionals’ task much easier as they are better equipped to tackle the water chemistry of the pool. Weekly water maintenance is sufficient enough to guarantee the protection of the pool and therefore, the service companies are able to deliver service to a larger number of clients without much hassle. However, one important aspect that has to be borne in mind is the inclusion of the right quantities of cyanuric acid and nothing more.
What Happens if Cyanuric Acid Levels Increase?
It is essential to understand the importance of including only the required levels of cyanuric acid into the pool waters. If cyanuric acid rises to high levels within the pool waters, the effectiveness of chlorine in destroying the extremely dangerous microorganism in the water, namely Cryptosporidium parvum diminishes. ‘Crypto’ as this microorganism is commonly termed is the cause of gastrointestinal illness and reproduces in the human gut. It also survives in environment external to the human body and is widely spread through swimming pool waters and is resistant to broad levels of chlorine concentrations.
Importance of Awareness
The need for education and proper training is of paramount importance here so as to eliminate the misuse of cyanuric acid. Poolside kits that test the levels of cyanuric acid in waters can be helpful here. Though the awareness about the need for just the required levels is growing it is still not given so much importance as other water constituents when it comes to measurement of their levels in the water. The only option available to you in situations of cyanuric acid levels running high is their removal through the process of Reverse osmosis.
