It’s a fact that swimming pools are a great way to cool down during the summer. But that’s only half of the story. It also requires a large amount of chemicals to properly make pool water safe again for swimmers. Untreated pool water will rapidly accumulate harmful microorganisms and pathogens like Cryptosporidium and Salmonella bacteria. So the basic disinfection methods used to kill these pathogens are only necessary for killing pathogenic organisms, but they also react with other organic matter in the pool water… like the natural proteins and carbohydrates in the pool’s water. That means that any organic material left in the pool (like leaves, twigs, dirt, food, and more) can also potentially be contaminated by the pool’s chemicals.
One common question that comes up when using swimming pools and the presence of chemicals is whether or not the colored decorations (such as swimming pool liners) in the pool are safe. The answer isn’t simple. While some chemicals do react with some natural materials, the reality is that even if a particular chemical doesn’t “break-up” into its constituent parts and cause an appreciable change in how they cling to said material, it can still change the way they look. And if a particular chemical has the potential to change the color or consistency of a colored area in the pool, then it’s likely that it will also change that same area in any subsequent water test.
Another problem faced by pool operators is the issue of air around the pool. Because the pool is basically a sealed box surrounded by an acrylic or fiberglass shell, air must naturally circulate within it. Unfortunately, though, that same air cannot escape from the pool, so air tends to build up against the sides, bottoms, and other exposed parts of the pool, creating problems and issues for operators. This means that both pool paints and pool treatments (such as anti-scratch coatings and chemical treatments) can affect the reaction of the chemicals within the water to produce an undesirable outcome (i.e. cloudy water).
While most people realize that the most effective way to keep swimming pools clean is with a filter, not many realize that certain types of filters can cause problems with some types of swimming pools. Some filtration systems work by circulating water through a filter that removes impurities. Some filtration systems work by filtering the pool itself through sand and other abrasive particles. A third type of filter relies on physical barriers such as a solid or semi-solid barrier and a solid or semi-solid material to prevent debris from entering the pool.
Any filtering system will work as long as chemicals aren’t introduced into the system. It is possible that the chemicals can be added accidentally, however the most likely way is that some type of pump circulates the chemicals throughout the filter system. If the pump is the source of the chemicals going into the system, it is important that this pump be properly maintained to ensure no leaks are present. Leaks can often lead to pool chemicals getting into the pool water and making it cloudy or even harmful to swimmers. To prevent this from happening, check the suction port and other places where the pump attaches to the system. These should be kept in clean and properly oiled, to ensure the proper functioning of the pump.
One of the main causes for pools having issues is that algae forms on the walls and floors of the pool. An algae growing on the walls can cause the pool to have a greenish tint, which is unsightly. This algae can also block the main drain and cause for it to clog. Algae can form on the floor as well, which can cause the water to become murky and may also cause the water to become hot. Regular maintenance and routine care to ensure that algae is removed from the pool without incident. This prevents pools from becoming unhealthy and causes for it to remain a healthy environment for swimmers.