Understanding Pool Water Chemistry in Cyprus: A Simple Guide

The 5 Numbers You Need to Know

You don't need a chemistry degree to manage your pool water. You just need to understand 5 key parameters and their ideal ranges for Cyprus conditions.

1. pH (Target: 7.2–7.6)

pH measures how acidic or alkaline your water is. It's the most important parameter because it affects everything else.

• Too high (>7.8): Chlorine becomes ineffective. Scaling occurs. Water feels 'slimy'.
• Too low (<7.0): Irritates eyes and skin. Corrodes equipment. Etches plaster.

In Cyprus, pH naturally drifts upward due to hard water. Muriatic acid (pH Down) is your most-used chemical.

2. Free Chlorine (Target: 1–3 ppm)

Chlorine kills bacteria and algae. Keep it consistently above 1 ppm — never let it drop to zero in summer.

3. Total Alkalinity (Target: 80–120 ppm)

Alkalinity acts as a pH buffer, preventing wild pH swings. In Cyprus's hard water, this is often naturally high — sodium bisulfate (dry acid) corrects it.

4. Calcium Hardness (Target: 200–400 ppm)

Cyprus tap water is naturally hard (high calcium). This is mostly good for plaster pools, but above 500 ppm you'll get visible scaling on tiles and fittings.

5. Cyanuric Acid (Target: 30–50 ppm)

Stabiliser protects chlorine from UV degradation. In Paphos's intense sunshine, without stabiliser you'd burn through chlorine 5x faster. Don't exceed 80 ppm — it starts inhibiting chlorine effectiveness.

Simple Weekly Routine

1. Test pH and chlorine (5 minutes with a test kit)
2. Adjust pH if needed
3. Add chlorine if below 1 ppm
4. Full test every 2 weeks including alkalinity and calcium

Pool Pro offers free water testing at our Paphos base. Call +357 99 689 919.