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Cloudy Pool Water – What Does It Mean and What Can I Do About It? 

13,Jun 2022
Having cloudy water is not only unsightly, but it is also a safety hazard and a health concern. It’s crucial to find the root of the problem, and luckily, it’s easy to resolve the problem!

The Dangers of a Cloudy Pool

While you may not think murky water is a big deal, it can cause issues such as:
  • Making you sick
  • Making it hard to see swimmers
  • Limited visibility can result in injury when diving or jumping
If your water is not clear and you can’t see the bottom, be sure to close the pool and treat the water. Don’t allow anyone to swim in the pool until it clears up.

How Does Cloudy Water Make You Sick?

While murky pool water doesn’t mean it’s unsanitary, it could mean there is an issue with the water filtration or the water chemistry. With suspended particles in the water, it can make it harder for chlorine and other sanitizers to reach all the areas of the pool. Excessive particles can also clog the pool filter, leading to ineffective filtration.
With low chlorine or poor filtration, bacteria can grow in the pool water, producing Recreational Water Illness or stomach bugs in swimmers. With these conditions, swimmers can easily become infected with e-Coli, giardia, or cryptosporidium when the water is absorbed through the nose, eyes, or mouth.

Why is Cloudy Water Dangerous for Swimming?

In cloudy water, it is hard to see the swimmers. If one of them were to be in trouble while swimming, it could be difficult to notice. Many drownings have occurred due to cloudy water, so it is safer for the water to be clear when swimming.
Also, since your visibility is limited, it can be easy to misjudge the depth of the pool, which can cause injury when diving or jumping in.

What Causes Cloudy Pool Water?

Poor Circulation and Filtration
Be sure to check that your pool filter and pump are operating properly. You could have issues such as old filter media, a valve that is bypassing water and avoiding the filter, a clogged pump, or a dirty filter, all of which can cause cloudy water.
Issues with the Water Chemistry
It is crucial to regularly test and balance your pool water. Without the right levels of Free Available Chlorine, Total alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid, and Calcium Hardness, you can end up with cloudy pool water.
Also, elevated minerals, metals, or Total Dissolved Solids can contribute to the cloudiness of your pool water. If your water has been balanced but is still cloudy, we recommend a clarifier or shock treatment to help clear up the cloudiness.
Increased Use of the Pool and Weather
The environment can have a major impact on your pool water. Pollen in pools or heavy rainstorms can introduce contaminants to your pool water. Events like forest fires, pollution, and dust storms can also cause problems.
As the temperature rises and you use the pool more often, it can lead to an increase in demand for water balance, pool filtration, and sanitizer levels. We recommend you raise the supply of these three as you increase the use of your pool.

How Can I Fix My Cloudy Pool Water?

Before you can treat the problem, you need to determine what is causing the cloudy water. We recommend that you start with a water test. This will help you identify any water imbalances. Once you’ve identified the water balance issue, balance the water and then shock the pool as needed.
We then recommend that you clean out the skimmer baskets and the pump. You also want to check that the pool filter media is clean. Take the time to remove any debris from the pool water as it could be bogging down the filter and using up the sanitizer.
If you still notice any issues, we recommend that you use a clarifier and then run the pump until the water clears up.

Need Pool Chemicals to Solve Your Cloudy Water Problem? Swimming Pool Discounters Can Help!

At Swimming Pool Discounters, we offer a wide range of pool chemicals to solve all of your cloudy water problems. Contact us today to learn more!

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