Chapter

3
Essential
Calculations

Pages 25–34
 Objectives
• Convert ounces to pounds, and fluid ounces to
gallons
• Convert inches to feet, meters to feet, and yards
to feet
• Calculate surface areas for a rectangular or
circular shaped pool
• Calculate water volume for a rectangular or
circular shaped pool
• Calculate water volume for a multi-dimensional
aquatic facility
• Calculate water volume for a circular spa
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 2
 Useful Conversions

Figure 3-1
in your
Pool & Spa
Operator™
Handbook

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 3

 Amount Conversions

Ounces to Pounds
•Formula:
Ounces ÷ 16 = Pounds

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 4

 Ounces ÷ 16 = Pounds
You determine from your results that you need to
add 36 ounces of soda ash to your pool.
How many pounds is that?

36 ÷ 16 = 2.25 pounds

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 5

 Liquid Conversions

Fluid ounces to gallons

•Formula:
Fl. oz. ÷ 128 = gallons

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 6

 Fluid Ounces ÷ 128 = Gallons
You have determined from your pool water tests that
you need to add 640 fluid ounces of sodium
hypochlorite to breakpoint chlorinate your pool.
How many gallons do you need to add?

640 fluid ounces ÷ 128 =

5 gallons

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 7

 Liquid Conversions cont.

Fluid ounces to cups

•Formula:
Fl. oz. ÷ 8 = cups

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 8

 Liquid Conversions cont.
You determine from your water tests that you
need to add 32 fluid ounces of muriatic acid.
How many cups is that?

32 fluid ounces ÷ 8 = 4 cups

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 9

 Distance Conversions

Yards to Feet
•Formula:
yards x 3 = feet

Meters to Feet
•Formula:
meters x 3.28 = feet

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 10

 Distance Conversions
Your pool measures 25 yards long and 25
meters wide. What are the measurements
in feet?

25 yards x 3 = 75 feet
25 meters x 3.28 = 82 feet

Your pool measures: 75 feet x 82 feet

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 11
 Surface Area Calculation

Surface Area
•Formula:
Length x Width (in feet)

Used for pool surface area

as well as filter surface area

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 12

 Pool Surface Area
Your pool measures 75 feet in length and 82
feet in width. What is the surface area of the
pool?

Length x width = surface area

75 x 82 = 6,150 sq. ft.

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 13

 Filter Surface Area
Your D.E. filter has 8 grids measuring 18 inches
by 18 inches. Each grid filters from both sides.
What is the filter surface area?

• Formula
Square inches to square feet
Sq. in. ÷ 144 sq. in./sq. ft. = sq. ft.
18 in. x 18 in. = 324 sq. in.
324 sq. in. x 2 sides = 648 sq. in./grid
648 sq. in./grid x 8 grids = 5,184 sq. in.
5,184 sq. in. ÷ 144 sq. in./sq. ft. = 36 sq. ft.
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 14
 Surface Area of a Circle

• Formula
Radius x radius x 3.14 = surface area

Radius = ½ of the diameter

3.14 is a constant (pi)

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 15

 Surface Area of a Circle
Your spa measures 10 feet in diameter.
What is the surface area?

Diameter ÷ 2 = radius

10 ÷ 2 = 5 feet

5 feet x 5 feet x 3.14 = 78.5 sq. ft.

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 16
 Calculating Pool Gallons
Important for a Number of Reasons

Operating equipment

Chemical dosing

Patron use

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 17

 Volume Calculation

•  Formula
Surface area x average depth

x 7.5 = volume in gallons

Note: 7.5 represents the

number of gallons in a
cubic foot of water
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 18
 Volume Calculation – Constant Slope
Your pool measures 50 feet long by 24 feet wide.
The deep end is 8.5 feet and the shallow end is 3.5 feet.
What is the volume in gallons?

First you must calculate

the average depth

• Formula
(deep end + shallow end) ÷ 2 = average depth
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 (8.5 + 3.5) ÷ 2 = 6 feet 19
 Volume Calculation – Constant Slope (cont.)

• Formula
Length x width x average depth x 7.5 = volume (gallons)

50 feet x 24 feet x 6 feet x 7.5 = 54,000 gallons

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 20
 Volume Calculation – Two sections
Your pool measures 25 yards long by 30 feet wide.
The deep end is a constant 12 feet in depth and the
shallow end slopes from 4 feet to 8 feet. What is the
volume in gallons?

shallow
First you must divide the
pool into two sections,
shallow and deep.
deep

Next, convert yards to feet.

Deep end length in feet = 10 yards x 3 = 30 feet
Shallow end length in feet = 15 yards x 3 = 45 feet
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 21
 Volume Calculation – Two Sections
Shallow area volume = Length x Width x Avg. Depth x 7.5
(deep end + shallow end) ÷ 2 = average depth (8 + 4) ÷ 2 = 6 feet
Shallow area volume = 45 x 30 x 6 x 7.5 = 60,750 gallons

Deep area volume = Length x Width x Depth x 7.5

Deep area volume = 30 x 30 x 12 x 7.5 = 81,000 gallons

Shallow end volume +

Deep end volume =
Total volume
60,750 gallons + 81,000 gallons = 141,750 gallons
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 22
 Volume Calculation – Multi-depth Pool

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 23

 Volume Calculation – Multi-depth Pool
Length = 30 feet

Width = 25 feet

3.5 to 5 feet deep

Gallons = area x avg. depth x 7.5

Avg. depth = (shallow end + deep end) ÷ 2

Avg. depth = (3.5 + 5) ÷ 2 = 4.25 feet

Gallons = 30 x 25 x 4.25 x 7.5

GallonsA = 23,906
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 24
 Volume Calculation – Multi-depth Pool
Length = 10 feet

Width = 25 feet

5 to 10 feet deep
Gallons = area x avg. depth x 7.5

Avg. depth = (shallow end + deep end) ÷ 2

Avg. depth = (5 + 10) ÷ 2 = 7.5 feet

Gallons = 10 x 25 x 7.5 x 7.5

GallonsB = 14,063
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 25
 Volume Calculation – Multi-depth Pool
Length = 10 feet

Width = 25 feet

8.5 to 10 feet deep

Gallons = area x avg. depth x 7.5

Avg. depth = (shallow end + deep end) ÷ 2

Avg. depth = (8.5 + 10) ÷ 2 = 9.25 feet

Gallons = 10 x 25 x 9.25 x 7.5

GallonsC = 17,344
© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 26
 Volume Calculation – Multi-depth Pool

GallonsA = 23,906

GallonsB = 14,063

GallonsC = 17,344

Total Gallons = A + B + C = 55,313

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 27
 Volume Calculation – Spa
Your spa measures 12 feet is diameter and has a
constant depth of 3 feet. What is the volume of
this spa?

First calculate the radius

Diameter ÷ 2 = radius
12 feet ÷ 2 = 6 feet

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 28

 Volume Calculation – Spa (cont)

Radius x radius x 3.14 x depth x 7.5 = volume (gallons)

6 feet x 6 feet x 3.14 x 3 x 7.5 = 2,543.4 gallons

Round up to
2,544 gallons

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 29

 Water Replacement Calculation
Using the 50 feet x 25 feet pool for this example. You return
to the pool on a Monday and find that the auto-fill failed to
operate. Your pool water level is 3 inches too low.
How many gallons must be added?

Gallons = area x avg. depth x 7.5

Avg. depth for 1 inch
1 inch = 1 foot ÷ 12 = 0.0833 feet
Gallons = 50 x 25 x 0.0833 x 7.5

Gallons1 inch = 781 Gallons3 inches = 2,343

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 30
 ti on s ?
q ues
Any

© National Swimming Pool Foundation 2017 31