Treating swimming pool water ensures that your pool remains clean, safe, and free from harmful substances or unpleasant odors. The following guide will help you safely treat pool water using pool chemicals at a household scale.
Why Is Pool Water Treatment Necessary?
The primary goal of pool water treatment is to maintain water in a condition that is safe for users. Specifically, it helps to:
- Eliminate harmful bacteria that can pose health risks to swimmers. People, animals, and the environment can introduce microorganisms and bacteria into the pool. Some may cause minor illnesses, while others can be life-threatening.
- Prevent the growth of algae, which can make the water dirty and unsafe.
- Ensure the water is non-toxic and does not cause irritation to swimmers.
- Remove unpleasant odors and tastes from the water.
- Protect pool structures and equipment from corrosion.
- Prevent scale buildup in filters, pool surfaces, and plumbing systems.
Pool Water Treatment Methods
Water should be treated before being pumped into the pool. The appropriate treatment method depends on the source of water being used. Some common water treatment methods include:
- Well Water Treatment: Well water contains heavy metals such as iron and manganese, which must be thoroughly removed before use.
- Surface Water Treatment: Water from rivers, lakes, or streams requires filtration and purification.
- Water Softening: Removing hard water ions ensures the water meets pool hardness standards.
- Alkalinity Control: Balancing alkalinity to maintain optimal water quality.
- Tap Water Treatment: If the water is sourced from the city’s municipal supply, additional treatment may still be needed.
Water Filtration
The main purpose of the filtration process is to remove debris, suspended particles, and impurities from the water.
Common filtration systems include:
- Sand Filters: Used in most pools to trap dirt and debris.
- PP Cartridge Filters: Suitable for small pools, containing pleated filter elements.
- Mineral Filtration: Helps improve water clarity and quality.
A circulating filtration system should be able to filter the entire pool within 6–8 hours. The filtration system should remain operational while the pool is in use and for at least one hour afterward. Additionally, filters must be cleaned regularly to maintain maximum efficiency.
Pool Water Disinfection
Disinfection is crucial for destroying microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, algae, mold, and fungi—all of which naturally exist in large quantities. Among them, bacteria and algae are the most common concerns in pool water treatment.
Millions of bacteria live on the human body. While many are harmless, some can cause illnesses. Swimming pools provide an ideal environment for bacteria to spread from person to person.
