By Emily Johnson
Cloudy water plagues both pool owners and veteran pool operators. It can dampen the excitement felt at spring openings or disappoint a pool owner who has just returned home from an extended period away. It can appear just before algae blooms or appear a few days after a pool party or major storm. Not only is cloudy water uninviting, but it may also be a symptom of important issues that warrant investigation. Cloudy water can interfere with visibility. Swimmers using a pool in which key features, lane dividers, or drains are obscured by clouding can also be physically harmful.
For the healthiest swimming conditions, being on top of the water balance, sanitizer, routine cleaning, and oxidizing schedule will help pool owners prevent costly and frustrating remediations. With the 2023 season drawing near, the following are a few strategies to consider for preventing and treating cloudy water.
Defining cloudy water
The pool industry uses the term turbidity to quantify cloudiness by analyzing the presence of suspended particles in water, in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance’s (PHTA’s) Pool & Spa Operator Handbook advises pool water turbidity to be kept below one NTU during peak pool season, and
for interventions to be able to reduce it below 0.5 NTU in eight hours. For pool operators or owners without instruments to test turbidity, simply inspect the pool and its surfaces while standing on the pool deck. The pool’s steps, deep end, and main drain should be clearly visible. Being unable to see these structures can be hazardous to the safety of users.
Understanding the cause
Diagnosing the cause will solve the problem easier and normal operations can return. Any visible debris should be removed from the water and skimmers to allow for better circulation patterns. This will also prevent organic stains from appearing and remove unnecessary distractions from the sanitizer. Testing the water can point toward any problems with chemical imbalance, low sanitizer residuals, or oxidizer demands. Even if the issue is related to one of these problems, understanding the health and functionality of the circulation and filtration system is crucial.
Adequate water circulation and filtration
In a pool, keeping the water moving is important for the distribution of chemicals and removal of contaminants. The bulk of windborne debris, algae spores, and swimmer waste accumulate along the surface where the disinfectant residual is often at its lowest. This water passes through the skimmer to the filter where undissolved particles are removed. The water may then pass through any chemical or sanitizer feeders where the sanitizer is added before being reintroduced to the pool.
