Commercial Pool Water Test Log Template: What to Include

Every row should answer five things: which pool, when, who tested, the readings your code requires, and what was done about anything out of range. If your health department has its own form, use it. If not, the CDC's 2024 Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) gives a good list of daily items to build from.

Which rules should shape the template?

The MAHC only becomes law where a state or local government adopts it, so ask your health department which tests, how often, what format, and how long to keep records.

Under the 2024 MAHC, records should be kept at least 3 years and shown to the health department on request (section 6.4.1.2.1). CDC's pool operator guidance says to keep accurate records of disinfectant and pH readings and maintenance.

How often does the log need an entry?

The 2024 MAHC (section 5.7.5) sets this schedule:

Test	How often under the 2024 MAHC
Free chlorine and pH, manual feed	Before opening, then every 2 hours while open
Free chlorine and pH, automated controller	Before opening, then every 4 hours while open
Combined chlorine	Before opening each day
Total alkalinity	Weekly
Calcium hardness	Monthly
Cyanuric acid, if used	Monthly, and 24 hours after adding it
Water temperature, heated pools	Each time chlorine and pH are tested

Our guide to how often to test commercial pool water explains more.

What does the template look like?

One row per test round. Add or drop columns to match your local code. Poolean records the same readings with test photos from a phone.

Field	Example	Notes
Pool or water area	Main pool	Name each pool and spa separately
Date	6/14
Test time	9:00 a.m.	When the test was done
Entry time	9:20 a.m.	Only if entered later
Tester	Initials or staff ID
Free chlorine (ppm)	2.4	From the kit
Total chlorine (ppm)	2.7	From the kit
Combined chlorine (ppm)	0.3 (calculated)	Total minus free
pH	7.4
Water temperature	82°F	Heated pools
Filter pressure or flow rate	From the gauge
Reagent expiration checked	Yes, expires 3/27	See below
Within limits?	Yes / No	Compare with your sheet
Action and who was told		Only if "No"
Retest time and result		New row, linked to this one

These are example numbers, not targets. Our guide to free chlorine vs total chlorine covers the combined chlorine math.

The MAHC asks for a reagent check: test kit chemicals should be checked for expiration at every use, and the date recorded (section 5.7.3.6.1.1).

What else goes in the daily record?

The 2024 MAHC (section 6.4.1.6) lists more items for daily records. You can add them as a separate daily section instead of a column on every row:

• Cyanuric acid, if used.
• Filter backwash or cleaning times.
• Equipment calibration, problems and repairs.
• Any power cut or failure that stops filtering or disinfection for more than 1 hour.
• Daily attendance (a guest sign-in book counts where attendance is not normally kept).

Where should the sample come from?

The 2024 MAHC (section 5.7.4.3) says samples taken from the pool itself should come from at least 18 inches below the surface, in 3 to 4 feet of water when there is such a spot, and between inlets. Spots should rotate around the shallow end, with a deep end sample once a week. A "sample spot" column helps show this.

How should you handle blanks and corrections?

Agree on three labels: "missed", "could not read", and "not needed". A blank box should never mean the reading was fine.

For corrections, follow your health department's method. Either way, keep the first entry visible and add who changed it, when and why. A later retest goes in a new row with its own time. Replacing the first number hides what happened.

If a reading breaks one of your closing limits, act first and log second. Follow your training, the product label and your health department. For a chemical release or injury, call 911. Our chlorine range guide shows how to write those limits.

How do you get the log ready for review?

Check that a supervisor can find one day, one pool and its follow-up quickly. Our guide to pool inspection records covers the rest.

Poolean records water readings and test photos and builds daily or monthly logs you can print, save as a PDF, or download as a CSV. See the water testing tools or book a 30-minute call.

The short version

• Log pool, date, test time, tester, each reading and any action.
• Under the 2024 MAHC, test before opening, then every 2 or 4 hours.
• Keep records at least 3 years under the MAHC, or longer if your local rule says so.
• Label blanks and keep first entries visible when correcting.