LSI Archives

Langelier vs. Carrier vs. Wojtowicz: Strengths, Shortfalls, and Accuracy in Swimming Pool Water

Post author:Rudy
Post published:December 10, 2025
Post category:Water Chemistry
Post comments:0 Comments

The Langelier Saturation Index, or LSI, was developed by Wilfred Langelier in 1936 to predict the stability of calcium carbonate in water systems. His original method calculated a saturation pH…

Wilfred Langelier’s formula

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 22, 2023
Post category:Education Pool News

Wilfred Langelier's formula for predicting calcium carbonate precipitation potential (CCPP) is a widely-used method for assessing the scaling potential of water. Langelier's formula, also known as pHs, measures the tendency…

Bad Chemistry

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 18, 2023
Post category:Pool News

There have been some ridiculous practices in swimming pool water chemistry over the past couple of years,, and one of the worst offenders is in the pseudoscience of allowing pH…

Langelier Saturation Index Inaccuracies

Post author:Rudy
Post published:August 19, 2021
Post category:Pool News Water Chemistry

The Langelier Saturation Index is the basis of swimming pool water chemistry. A simple mathematical formula determines whether the water is in balance (neither corrosive nor scale forming). Realistically, not…

Simon Says No To CyA!

Post author:Contributor
Post published:September 12, 2020
Post category:Pool News

Subject: A Topic Idea for Pool Operator Talk News The following represents the thoughts of a dedicated Pool Operator Talk News reader and do not necessarily reflect the opinions…

Why Test my Pool for Calcium Hardness ❔

Post author:Contributor
Post published:November 3, 2019
Post category:Water Chemistry

By Eric Knight The Benefits of Calcium Hardness in Cold Water ? Calcium is often treated like a four-letter-word by pool service professionals. This negative opinion of calcium comes from…

Pool Management Apps

Post author:Contributor
Post published:September 4, 2018
Post category:Sponsors

The Dirty Swimming Pool Water Epidemic Includes Your Pool - Yes, Yours! It’s the week before Memorial Day 2018 and the Center For Disease Control releases its latest findings on…

Raising pH with Air

Post author:Rudy
Post published:August 21, 2018
Post category:Science Fair Project Water Chemistry

Spas, Splash pads, and Waterpark rides... Ever wonder why the pH tends to run high in certain bodies of water no matter what you do? Always adding acid? Spas, Splash…

One Pound of Anything Dissolved in 10,000 gallons Will Increase Total Dissolved Solids by 12 ppm

Post author:Rudy
Post published:December 24, 2017
Post category:Water Chemistry

[responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Male" buttontext="Listen to Post"] ?Total Dissolved Solids TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS Anything you add to a pool will increase something, and everything will increase TDS. For example, a…

Talking Pools Podcast

Forget chasing chlorine headaches and battling algae wars alone. The Talking Pools Podcast is your weekly escape from pool purgatory, where 250+ years of combined pro wisdom explodes into actionable hacks, mind-blowing tips, and secrets so ancient they make Poseidon jealous.

Think of it as your weekly poolside braintrust, fueled by eight seasoned pros, each a rockstar in their own aquatic lane. Got a filtration fiasco? Chemical conundrum? Equipment enigma? No problem. We’ve got a host for that:

The Tech Titan: Unravels the mysteries of pumps, filters, and gizmos that make pools tick (without the electrical shocks).

The Chem Crusader: Your personal alchemist, whipping up potion-perfect water balance with a dash of science and a sprinkle of magic.

The Maintenance Maverick: From tile tricks to algae assassins, he’s got the lowdown on keeping your pool looking like a liquid emerald palace.

The Customer Calmer: Smooths ruffled feathers faster than a pool noodle bouquet, turning hangry homeowners into poolside pals.

But Talking Pools isn’t just about technical wizardry. It’s about camaraderie, the shared language of pool pros who’ve seen it all, from exploding filters to synchronized swimming squirrels (no, really, we had an episode!).

Every week, you’ll:

Steal game-changing secrets: Learn pro-grade hacks to make you the “Pool Whisperer” in your market

Laugh until you spit out your piña colada: These guys are as witty as they are wise, turning pool problems into poolside punchlines.

Get ahead of the curve: Stay on top of industry trends and tech before your competitors even smell the chlorine.

Feel the love (and the sunshine): Remember why you got into this business in the first place – the joy of creating backyard oases where memories are made.

So, ditch the Drano, grab your headphones, and dive into the Talking Pools Podcast. It’s your weekly dose of poolside wisdom, laughter, and community. We’ll see you on the flip side!

P.S. Subscribe now and you might just win a case of pool party essentials (floaties not included, sorry squirrels).

P.P.S. Tell your pool-loving friends – sharing knowledge is like sharing sunscreen, it protects everyone!

Pool Pros text questions here

On this Talking Pools episode, host Natalie Hood, Director of Education and Network Development for The Grit Game, sits down with Jodi O’Grady, Director of Commercial Sales for API Water and long-time industry chemist, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in pool care: specialty chemicals.

Chlorine gets all the attention, but oxidizers, enzymes, and flocculants quietly decide whether your water is comfortable, clear, and compliant—or a cloudy, smelly headache full of disinfection byproducts and complaints. Jodi draws on decades with Taylor Water Technologies and her work on PHTA’s Technical Advisory Council to bust myths, explain the science in plain language, and show how specialty products can support (not replace) chlorine to keep pools safer and easier to manage.

If you’ve ever wondered whether non-chlorine shock actually does anything, if enzymes are all “basically the same,” or what Flock It Friday is really about, this episode connects the dots.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Chlorine’s job vs. specialty chemicals’ job

Why chlorine (or bromine/PHMB) is irreplaceable as a sanitizer and must be EPA-registered to be counted as such.
The difference between sanitizing (killing pathogens like Pseudomonas and brain-eating amoeba in properly chlorinated water) and oxidizing (burning off non-living contaminants).
Why “chlorine can be replaced by specialty chemicals” is a myth—and how crypto is a different beast entirely.

Non-chlorine oxidizers: the quiet workhorse

Real-world impact of high chlorine levels

Enzymes: not “all the same”

Myth-busting with real stories

Flock It Friday and how flocculants actually work

Clarity as a safety standard, not a luxury

The payoff for pros and operators

Guest Info – Jodi O’Grady, API Water

Director of Commercial Sales, API Water
Nearly 30 years in the pool industry, starting with Taylor Water Technologies (a Fluidra brand)
Chemistry degree and long-time volunteer with PHTA, currently Vice Chair of the Technical Advisory Council, with prior work on the Recreational Water and Air Quality Committee.

Jodi is available for follow-up questions and industry conversations via LinkedIn and direct contact (details provided in the episode outro).

Host Info – Natalie Hood

Director of Education and Network Development, The Grit Game, and regular host on the Talking Pools Podcast, focused on education, professional development, and giving pool pros real-world tools they can use on deck tomorrow.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com