The chemical quality of a pool is generally measured by which 2 tests?

The chemical quality of a pool is primarily assessed by testing the pH and chlorine residual levels.

pH measures how acidic or basic the water is, and maintaining the proper pH level (typically between 7.2 and 7.8) is crucial for both comfort and effectiveness of chlorine disinfection. If the pH is too low, the water can become corrosive; if it is too high, chlorine becomes less effective at killing pathogens.

Chlorine residual indicates the amount of chlorine available in the water to sanitize it and keep it safe for swimmers. Maintaining an appropriate level of chlorine (usually around 1-3 ppm) is essential to ensure that the water is effectively disinfected and free of harmful bacteria and viruses.

While alkalinity is an important measure related to the stability of pH, and total dissolved solids (TDS) can indicate overall water quality, the combination of pH and chlorine residual directly reflects the key aspects of pool sanitation and user safety.