How much calcium hypochlorite is needed to treat 10,000 gallons of water by 1 ppm?

To understand the necessary amount of calcium hypochlorite required to increase chlorine levels by 1 ppm in 10,000 gallons of water, it’s essential to grasp the chemistry behind pool sanitization.

Calcium hypochlorite typically contains around 65% available chlorine. The general rule of thumb is that to raise the chlorine level by 1 ppm in 10,000 gallons of water, approximately 1 ounce of calcium hypochlorite is needed for each 1 ppm increase in chlorine concentration. However, considering the concentration of available chlorine in calcium hypochlorite, the effective amount needed is approximately 2 ounces to achieve that 1 ppm increase.

Thus, when treating a specific volume of water, the dose must also account for the actual available chlorine in the compound being used. This discussion highlights why 2 ounces is the correct calculation for raising the chlorine level by 1 ppm in a 10,000-gallon pool using calcium hypochlorite. This ensures water quality is maintained for safe swimming conditions.