Top 5 Common Issues For a Green Pool

Pool water turns green because of algae in the water. Algae can grow rapidly, particularly in hot weather, which is why it can surprise you overnight during the warmer months. This generally comes down to an imbalance or lack of chlorine in the water. Chlorine is an effective sanitiser; however, letting chlorine levels drop for even a day can start an algae outbreak. So, it’s important to check your chlorine levels frequently to save you any nasty surprises.

The pool will have varying degrees of cloudiness, which is the dead algae. When the pool is clear, it is advisable to test for phosphates and treat them with the appropriate dosage of Phosphate Remover to prevent algae from re-occurring. You should keep your pool clean by keeping an eye on these potential issues:

1. Little or no chlorine in the pool - Chlorine kills bacteria and algae. If there’s not enough chlorine, your pool can turn green.

Solution: Test your water (or have it tested) and balance your chemicals (or have your pool pro bring water chemistry to within proper levels).  

2. Chlorine bound by chloramines - chloramines are the chemical byproducts that build up in the water when it's improperly treated with too little chlorine.

Solution: Test your water and do a chlorine shock treatment. See your local pool pro for more information (the amount of chlorine you add will depend on the size of your pool and other factors).  

3. pH Value too high. - pH is a measure of how acidic or basic the water is. A number of different factors can contribute to a high pH level in a swimming pool. Everything from weather to oils, dirt, and cosmetics affects your pool water balance - in short, anything that comes in contact with your pool water. When the pH level of the pool is too high, it causes the chlorine to become ineffective.

Solution: Test your water and balance your chemicals to adjust pH values.

4. Not enough cyanuric acid (CYA) - CYA is a water conditioner often referred to as “sunscreen for chlorine” that prevents chlorine evaporation by the sun.

Solution: Test your water and balance your chemicals.  

5. Not enough circulation/filtration time - Circulation of the pool water keeps it filtered and clean. It also helps to spread the chemicals you add to the water. Think of a cup of coffee after adding cream and sugar. It needs to be stirred. Same with the chlorine and CYA that go into your pool. But for how long? The typical time is one hour for every ten degrees of air temp as a starting point. If it’s 100 degrees out, the pool pump needs to be running at least ten hours a day.

Solution: Adjust circulation time based on weather patterns and pool usage.

A good habit to get into is keeping a calendar for routine water testing and maintenance so that you can ensure you have the right water balance!