How to Log Pool Water Tests in Poolean

A lifeguard enters the readings and takes a photo of the test from their phone. Supervisors then review any flagged results next to the original record and photo. Early alerts can also warn when a reading, like chlorine, is expected to go out of range in the next few hours, with a suggested fix.

How often do you need to log a test?

CDC's Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC, 2024) sets these testing times in section 5.7.5; your state's adopted code may add to them:

Test	MAHC 2024 schedule
Free chlorine, combined chlorine (or total bromine) and pH	Before opening each day (5.7.5.1)
Free chlorine (or bromine) and pH, hand-fed system	Also every 2 hours while open (5.7.5.2)
Free chlorine (or bromine) and pH, automatic controller	Also every 4 hours while open (5.7.5.3)
Total alkalinity	Weekly
Calcium hardness	Monthly
Cyanuric acid (if used)	Monthly; weekly if stabilized chlorine is the main disinfectant

CDC's public pool operating guidance says to test pH and disinfectant at least twice a day, hourly when the pool is busy, and to keep accurate records of those tests and of maintenance.

What should you check before recording a test?

Know which pool you are testing, which tests are due, and who to call if a result looks wrong. For the fields to record, see our water test log template.

If you cannot tell what a result means, ask the trained operator for that pool. Never enter a guessed number to fill a gap. A missing test marked as missing is more honest and more useful than a made-up one.

How do readings and photos work together?

The reading is what goes in the log. The photo lets a supervisor see the test strip or sample later.

Before moving on, check that the photo clearly shows the test. Keep people and private information out of the frame. Follow your site's photo rules.

Use the test names and units your kit uses. Our water test log guide explains why clear test names matter later.

What should a supervisor do with a flagged result?

A flag points to a reading that needs a look. It does not explain the cause. Supervisors review flagged readings and guard photos together with the original records.

Ask these questions during the review:

1. Which test is flagged, and what is your site's limit for it?
2. Does the photo match the number entered?
3. Is this a recording mistake or a real water problem?
4. Has the trained operator been told?
5. What does your written procedure say to do next, and by when?

If it may be a recording mistake, retest the water using your procedure and record the new result as a new entry. Do not overwrite the first one.

How are early alerts different from test results?

A test is a measurement. An alert is an estimate of what may happen next. Poolean's water model uses each pool's size, sun, temperature and swimmer count. It estimates how fast chlorine burns off and how much water the pool loses each day. Out-of-range alerts warn before a reading goes out of range, for example chlorine expected to drop below your minimum in the next few hours, along with a suggested fix.

An alert is not a new water sample and does not replace the testing schedule your code requires. Have the trained operator check any suggested fix against a real test, the chemical label and your health department's rules. This guide does not give chemical doses. Our guide to what to do when chlorine is dropping covers the response to an alert.

What should happen when a result needs action?

In this order:

1. If anyone is hurt or there is a chemical spill or breathing problem, follow the emergency plan and call emergency services.
2. If the result is outside your site's limit, tell the trained operator and follow your closing procedure if it applies.
3. Record what you found, who you told, and what was done.
4. Record later retests as separate, later entries.

A later good result should never hide the earlier problem. Closures and the reopening steps your team records are kept with the water records.

What if the phone has no signal?

Notes, readings and photos entered without a signal stay on the phone with their original entry times. They upload automatically when the connection returns, and pending uploads are clearly marked.

A record waiting on your phone will not get you help fast. For an urgent problem, call or radio the responsible person using your site's procedure. Our guide to working without a signal covers this handoff.

Pre-shift checklist

• Which tests are due today, and at what times?
• Who reviews flagged results this shift?
• Who is the trained operator on call, and how do you reach them?
• Is the test kit in date and stocked?
• Are any pending uploads from the last shift still waiting?

MAHC section 6.4.1.2.1 says facility records should be kept at least 3 years and shown to the health department on request. To see Poolean's water testing records, book a 30-minute call.

The short version

• The MAHC 2024 schedule is a solid baseline for which tests are due and when.
• Record the measured number and a clear photo of the test.
• Review flags against the original record, and retest as a new entry.
• Alerts are estimates; keep doing the required tests.
• Never fill a gap with a guessed number.