Adding swimming pool chemicals to your pool is just one of the ways you can keep swimming pool water clean; keeping pool water safe and crystal clear requires a careful balance of chlorine and other chemicals.

Owning a swimming pool entails some responsibility, as water needs to be routinely treated and cleaned to ensure swimmers are protected against bacteria. So before you kick back and enjoy a swim this summer, make sure you are wading in the healthiest pool water by using the right blend of chemicals.

All pools, whether saltwater or fresh, will require some form of swimming pool chlorine as a sanitising agent. Paul Jacobson, on behalf of SPASA Victoria, explains how it works: "All pools need a continuous sanitiser," he says. "Saltwater pool chlorinators generate their own chlorine but for the others, there are five or six methods to choose from."

For freshwater pools, adding chlorine to the pool manually is recommended. "Some chemicals are safer than others; some have less impact on pH and water balance and some last longer in the pool," says Paul. To determine the right product and amount for your pool, have a pool professional test your water and discuss the options. Many pool stores offer this as a free service, so make the most of it.

Depending on how much sun hits the water, you may want to consider stabilised pool chlorine. "UV intensity from the sun can take out unstabilised chlorine almost as fast as it’s being put in," explains Paul. "Stabilised chlorine comes with a cyanuric acid molecule that actually helps prevent sunlight from sucking the chlorine out."

Too much chlorine in the pool, however, is never a good thing and can cause irritation to skin and ultimately unhealthy water. If you’re concerned about the chlorine levels in your pool, or have a sensitivity to pool chemicals, an added oxidiser can help break down larger organic materials so that you’re relying less on chlorine to do all the cleaning.

Paul is a firm believer that prevention is better than cure, and to this end recommends a good balance of pool chemicals. He suggests regularly adding an algaecide to help protect the water against germs and algae, rather than relying too heavily on chlorine.

These days we are all thinking greener, and pools, with their excessive use of water and chemicals, can sometimes struggle to be environmentally friendly. However, Paul advises that chemical companies are working towards a solution. "Currently, they are working on greener options that will be better for water that gets backwashed onto the lawn," he says. Swimming pool chemicals are also being produced with safety in mind. "Liquid chlorine and calcium hypochlorite are now being manufactured without the need for the ‘dangerous goods’ warning, making them much safer for storing," he says.

To discuss the right mix of chemicals for your pool, find a swimming pool care and maintenance expert online: