Membership Directory & Resource Guide - 2018 - 44

surfaces as "scale." If the water does not contain enough
calcium, it can actually draw it out (etch) from the plaster
itself. In essence, a certain amount of calcium is necessary
in pool water - too much or too little will likely cause
problems. Imbalances in pH and carbonate alkalinity can
also play a role in these problems. Be extremely careful
when adding chemicals to your pool as some chemicals
can bleach or burn the finish if allowed to settle on the
surface. Scaling or corrosive conditions can be reduced by
monitoring and maintaining proper chemical balance.
Regular Pool Treatment - When you sanitize your pool, you
are primarily treating the organic (living) materials in the
water, and adjusting the pH and carbonate alkalinity
to compensate for any changes the sanitization agent
may have had upon them. Water used to fill your pool
can also affect pool water balance, and may require
treatment. Regular pool treatment does not reduce
the amount of dissolved minerals and other elements
in the water. If your pool water tests high in dissolved
minerals or calcium hardness, you should consider
using stain preventative chemicals. In time you may
need to drain and refill your pool when the level of
dissolved minerals and hardness become excessive.
Local Water Conditions - Local water conditions
will play an important role in your pool and plaster
chemistry, as they differ greatly from area to area
and even from day to day. You may want to consider
having the water analyzed from the tap you use to fill
your pool in order to check its chemical makeup.

may require different care than white plaster pools.
Strategies to deal with colored plaster can include
chelation, sequestering or calcium reduction. Please
consult your builder, plasterer or service professional
for more information.
SERVICE
In choosing a professional pool maintenance company
for regular service, be sure the service professional is
properly trained and licensed as required. A qualified
pool service company will make all the difference when
it comes to helping you care for your investment. But
remember, even the best pool service cannot be at
the poolside all the time. You should brush your pool
regularly, and you may need to occasionally skim debris
or add chemicals. Contact your service professional
if you have any questions about your pool's additional
maintenance needs.
CONCERNS
Contact your builder, plasterer or service
professional immediately if you encounter any
problems with you pool plaster or water chemistry.
For detailed pool start-up information, please refer
to the NPC Swimming Pool Start-Up Procedure
Card and/or poster available for purchase in the
NPC Store at www.npconline.org.

Carbonate Alkalinity Testing - Carbonate alkalinity
is an often neglected aspect of pool care. Proper
control of your water carbonate alkalinity is essential
to stabilize your pH. This will ensure the effectiveness
of your sanitizer and that your pool water does not
go through drastic pH changes. Contact your builder,
plasterer or service professional for suggested levels
based on the sanitizer used and local water conditions.
NOTE: Color Plaster Pools - Naturally occurring
mottling is more evident in colored plaster pools. Since
the scale that forms on plaster is white, colored pools
Pool start-up procedures card & poster - see pg. 19 for details

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