Breakpoint Chlorination
Adding chlorine at 10× the combined chlorine level to destroy all chloramines.
Definition
Breakpoint chlorination is the process of adding enough chlorine to destroy all combined chlorine (chloramines) in pool water. The breakpoint dose is approximately 10 times the current combined chlorine level. Below this threshold, adding chlorine merely adds to combined chlorine; above it, all combined chlorine is oxidized and destroyed. The term "breakpoint" describes the inflection point on the chlorine demand curve where adding more chlorine actually increases free chlorine rather than increasing combined chlorine. Combined chlorine above 0.5 ppm is the trigger for breakpoint chlorination.
Quick Facts
- Ideal Range
- FC must reach 10× CC level
- Units
- ppm FC
- Also Known As
- BPC, breakpoint chlorination, breakpoint
The source below directly states "the breakpoint chlorination value is 10 times the combined chlorine (CC) level," matching the 10x figure above, with full worked calculations built on the same ratio.
Sources
- How To Shock The Pool (Chlorinate To Breakpoint) — Indiana Department of Health, Environmental Public Health Division (Government / public health authority)
Relationships
Outgoing Relationships
- solves → Strong Chlorine Smell
- solves → Eye Irritation
- solves → Skin Irritation
- requires → Free Chlorine
- related to → Combined Chlorine
Incoming Relationships
- related to ← Combined Chlorine
- related to ← Shock Treatment