You can tell a lot about your swimming pool by your pool’s water color, and there are many factors that can contribute to its color and clearness. The color of your pool can be informative for owners, indicating any issues or treatments needed. While often-times, these situations are benign and still perfectly safe for swimming, the color or cloudiness of your pool water can be off-putting and, in some instances, detrimental to your health. If you live in the Sunbelt Region, reach out to the pool professionals at Pool Troopers for assistance and information related to crystal-clear water.
So, why does your pool turn different colors?
There are numerous factors that influence your swimming pool water, including these:
- The dye used in pool finishes and surfacing can also leak into the water, causing discoloration. Talk to your pool contractor or supplier for product suggestions to resolve this issue.
- Trees, foliage, and other environmental influences around your pool can also cause the water to change color. Some organic matter may react to the chlorine, causing cloudiness or discoloration if not promptly removed.
- The amount of sun exposure can also cause the water to change color.
- The depth of your swimming pool can impact the color. The shallow areas will be lighter in color than the deeper areas.
- If your pool has algae growing on the sides or surface, the water may turn color and become more green than usual. Prevent this with regular cleaning and chlorination to curb algae growth.
- The most common reason for water to turn color is due to the metal content of the water. Hard metals in the water can change the color of the water when they come into contact with chlorine.
What Color is Your Pool’s Water?
Green Water
Green water is most likely a sign that copper is present in the water. When copper is oxidized in the chlorinated water of your pool, it will turn the water a light, bright green. Try to determine the source of the copper in your swimming pool water.
Brown Water
Brown water usually means that the water contains iron. Iron tends to rust, which is an orangish-brown color when combined with the water in your pool.
Black Water
Black water often means that silver is present. Think of how silver jewelry will tarnish and turn black; this is kind of the same thing when the silver is oxidized by the chlorinated water of your pool.
Purple Water
When magnesium or manganese are present in your pool’s water, you will notice a purple hue when chlorine is added.
Cloudy Water
If you notice that your water is cloudy, there is likely any issue with your filtration. To get your water crystal clear, try cleaning your filter. If that is not something you are comfortable doing or if you are still having issues after cleaning your filter, reach out to Pool Troopers or another pool service company if you are not in the Sunbelt Region.
The Solution to Discolored Water in your Pool
Naturally, you don’t want to swim or lounge in discolored water. While none of these issues seem particularly dangerous or hazardous to your health, the pool should be treated to resolve the issue and reduce the oxidation occurring in the pool. If the discoloration is a result of algae, pollutants, or other materials in the water, your pool could be a health hazard. Do not permit anyone to swim until the problem has been resolved.
So, what can you do about it? Regardless of how the water became discolored or what the underlying cause is, the solution is fairly simple and straightforward. Resolving the issue comes down to a few distinct things that you can do to resolve the colored water problem:
Shock Treatment
Shocking a pool involves adding chlorine to kill any germs or bacteria that could be lurking. There are many situations and scenarios that make shocking the pool necessary. Since chlorine has the propensity of oxidizing metals, the metals settle and turn a rusty-brown color, making the metal easy to remove from the pool. Use your pool vac to remove this rust from the floor of your swimming pool before swimming.
An Ounce of Prevention
If you are confident that your water source is the underlying reason for discolored water, and if filling your pool without metals in the water is not feasible, there is another approach. Routinely add a sequestering or chelating agent to the water. These types of products target metals, holding them in a state of limbo and inactivity which prevents them from reacting to the chlorine in the pool and discoloring.
Enlist Some Support
If your swimming pool water is discolored, you also have the option of calling in supports. Talk to a pool service professional to assess and resolve the situation for you. They can test and treat the water, make recommendations, and provide regular maintenance service to prevent discoloration and allow you to optimally enjoy your swimming pool whenever you wish. With experience in the factors that cause pool cloudiness or discoloration, pool service professionals will be able to pinpoint the root cause and address it quickly.
Are you noticing changes in the color of your pool or having trouble keeping it clear? Call the team at Pool Troopers, a swimming pool service company that services pools throughout the Sunbelt. Pool Troopers brings industry expertise to your pool, providing a full range of chemical, cleaning, and repair pool services.
