Operation and Maintenance Flashcards
7 cards from real CPO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Operation and Maintenance flashcards as text
An erosion (tablet) chemical feeder introduces disinfectant into pool water by which mechanism?
Answer: Passing water over or through solid chemical tablets that dissolve gradually
An erosion feeder dissolves solid tablets (such as trichlor) by routing a bypass stream of water through a canister containing the tablets.
A pool test shows total alkalinity at 220 ppm. Which chemical should be added to bring it into the recommended 80–120 ppm range?
Answer: Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) or sodium bisulfate
Muriatic acid or dry acid (sodium bisulfate) lowers total alkalinity; adding it in small doses with the pump running prevents localized pH crashes.
Which maintenance task is required on a DAILY basis at a public swimming pool under most health codes?
Answer: Test and record water chemistry including pH and disinfectant levels
Health codes universally require water chemistry testing and log entries at least once daily (and often more frequently during operating hours) for public pools.
What is the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) used to determine about pool water?
Answer: Whether water is scale-forming, corrosive, or balanced based on multiple chemical factors
The LSI combines pH, calcium hardness, total alkalinity, temperature, and TDS to predict whether water will deposit calcium scale or corrode pool surfaces.
A combined chlorine reading comes back at 0.6 ppm. What does this indicate and what action is required?
Answer: Chloramines have formed; shock treatment (breakpoint chlorination) is needed
Combined chlorine above 0.4 ppm signals chloramine buildup, which causes eye/skin irritation and reduces sanitizing effectiveness — shocking destroys the chloramines.
When should a cartridge filter element be replaced rather than simply cleaned?
Answer: When cleaning no longer restores adequate flow, or when pleats are torn or deformed
Cartridge elements should be replaced when acid or detergent cleaning can no longer restore normal flow rates, or when physical damage is visible on the pleats.
Why is it important to brush pool walls and floor regularly as part of a maintenance routine?
Answer: Brushing dislodges biofilm and early-stage algae before they can anchor and spread
Regular brushing prevents algae and biofilm from establishing on surfaces, reducing chemical demand and keeping the pool visually clear.