My pool water is cloudy: explanations and solutions

Poorly balanced water

The most common cause of cloudy pool water is unbalanced water.

This means there is an imbalance in the quantity of chlorine in the pool or in the pH, which may be too acidic or alkaline.

Dirty water

The debris that falls into the pool can leave sand and fine particles in the water. When the pool water is slightly cloudy, it is sometimes simply a sign that it is time to clean the pool or equipment.

Algae

When algae develop in a pool, they can trouble the water. As algae are not only green (they can sometimes even be white), you may not notice them right away, but they will cloud the water.

Milky water may also be caused by dead algae in the pool, especially when it has been necessary to perform a shock treatment. In this case, there is nothing to worry about, the water simply needs to be filtered.

Excessive hardness 

We say pool water is hard when it contains too much calcium. This problem is generally caused by a pH level that is too high.

Calcium in the form of limescale can damage the equipment, and clog the filter sand in particular. As the water is no longer correctly filtered, the dust remains and the pool water turns cloudy.

Bad weather

It is frequent to find your water has turned cloudy after a storm or heavy rain. In fact, rainwater, which contains numerous particles, can pollute the pool and unbalance the pH.

You will then have to clean the pool and rebalance the water. To avoid this type of inconvenience, you can simply cover your pool in case of bad weather.

Flocculant 

To facilitate the filtration of pool water, you can add a flocculant, which is sometimes called a clarifier.

A flocculant coagulates the finest particles in the water, those that are too small to be properly filtered. After coagulating, they can be captured by the filter.

Flocculants come in different forms:

– Liquid clarifier, which is diluted directly in the pool water.

– Cartridge clarifier, which is placed in the filtration system and can be used preventatively, especially if the water in your area is very hard.

– Clarifying tablets, which are placed in the skimmers.

Of course, you must respect the manufacturer's recommended doses and choose a product that is suitable for the other treatments you already use, as well as your filtration system.

If you have had to carry out a shock treatment against algae and there are still some deposits remaining in the pool, a flocculant will help you get rid of all these particles and recover clean water.

Anti-limescale treatment for milky water

If your pool water is white and cloudy, the problem is probably due to limescale. In this case, you should use an anti-limescale treatment and then regularly control the limescale level. Indeed, the water in certain regions is hard, which facilitates the development of limescale.

An anti-limescale treatment can be used to solve a limescale problem, but can also be used as a preventive treatment, especially when you know that your pool is at risk. 

When limescale has already built up, you should remove it by scrubbing with a brush and an anti-limescale product. As this task is quite tiresome, it is best to anticipate the development of limescale with a preventive treatment before it builds up.

Clean the pool

In addition to the treatments that will enable you to get rid of cloudy pool water, make sure you give your pool a good cleaning before you run the filtration system. You will thus remove all the deposits that can increase the cloudiness of the water.

Effective pool cleaning must be done meticulously. Indeed, a pool consists of several elements that must all be regularly cleaned.

Therefore, you should brush the sides of the pool and remove debris from the surface of the water, but also remember to wash the skimmers, filtration system and nozzles.

The importance of filtration

Cleaning is not enough to ensure clean water. Indeed, if the pool water stagnates, it will end up by turning cloudy. This is when filtration comes into action by enabling the water to circulate.

The filtration system consists of several elements: skimmers, nozzles, pump and filter. Each of these elements has its importance, so it is essential to regularly check that they are working correctly and clean them. 

The filter is particularly important because it is what eliminates the impurities that are found in the pool.

A sand filter is the most common type of filtration system. It can clog and must therefore be cleaned from time to time and even replaced when no longer effective.

Water treatment

Well-balanced and disinfected water is one of the key elements to avoid cloudy pool water.

Water is mainly treated by the anti-bacterial action of chlorine. If you do not have a chlorine pool, you will use bromine or active oxygen.

To keep your water healthy, you will have to check the chlorine and pH levels weekly and adjust them when necessary. You can also complete this treatment with other products, such as algaecide or an anti-limescale treatment.

The pool robot

The easiest solution to effectively clean the bottom of your pool is to use a pool robot. The advantage: it takes care of cleaning for you, with no need for surveillance. 

There are different types of pool robots, including electric, hydraulic suction and hydraulic pressure robots, the first of which is generally considered as a safe bet for effective cleaning.

Certain very powerful models can also clean the pool walls or steps.

The manual vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is the manual solution to clean the bottom of a pool.

This type of cleaner is equipped with a telescopic handle and a rectangular head. It connects to the pool filtration system. Thus, you can both brush and vacuum the impurities for filtering.

The use of a manual vacuum is more demanding than a robot because it requires some physical effort and time. Nevertheless, it remains useful to clean the places that a robot may find difficult to access, such as corners (in which case a triangular head will be useful).

It is worth keeping one among your maintenance equipment for exceptional cleaning or in case your robot breaks down.

Cleaning a very dirty pool liner

The magic eraser that you may use for the regular maintenance of your liner will also be useful if it is particularly dirty... with a little more elbow grease!

You can also use a product to facilitate cleaning. Liner cleaners are available, but white vinegar can also do the trick. Apply the product to a sponge and rub with a circular movement to absorb dirt without damaging the liner.

If your liner is really dirty, try to determine whether it is a problem of limescale or algae to be sure to apply the correct treatment.

Mud or sand at the bottom of the pool

You may find sand, or even mud, at the bottom of your pool, after winterising, for example. In this case, can you use your regular equipment to clean the pool? 

If you have a little sand at the bottom of your pool, the pool robot will do the job. But if there is a significant quantity or if there is mud, you will have to start with the manual vacuum cleaner to remove the largest part of the dirt, before finishing with your robot.

Removing debris and fatty residue from the pool

Cloudy water may be due to fatty residue that clings to the walls of the pool or floats at the surface. These oily deposits are generally caused by the suncare products or makeup of pool users, as well as the pool environment. 

You can use an absorbent micro-fibre cloth to get rid of these deposits. Place it in the surface skimmer so that it retains all the oily particles that arrive in the filtration system. Remember to replace this cloth when it becomes too dirty to be effective.

Another tip to get rid of oil in your pool is to use tennis balls: place five to ten balls in the water overnight to allow them to absorb the oil. You can then remove them and wash them in the washing machine before using them again when necessary.

Why is there foam in your pool?

Several reasons may explain why there is foam in your pool water:

– The use of an algaecide. Algaecide and fungicide treatments can create foam. So, there is nothing to worry about if you see foam after using them.

– The presence of algae. When they develop on pool walls, algae can create an impression of foaminess. 

– The presence of soap. Bathers may carry soap or other organic waste into the pool with them.

– The nature of the water. Soft water will foam more easily. Depending on the region, it may be more common to see foam in pool water.

The solutions to combat foamy pool water

If you regularly observe foam in your pool, start by making sure that it is not caused by algae.

Then check the pH and rebalance it if necessary.

Also, run the filtration system to remove any debris that may be caused by the surrounding environment or bathing. 

Finally, you can also use a pool anti-foaming agent. This will help you to prevent foam from forming too quickly, especially if your water is rather soft and subject to this problem, or if your algaecide creates foam.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure that you use the product correctly.

How do algae develop in a pool?

Pool water is a favourable environment for the development of algae. Thus, any imbalance in this environment may easily cause their appearance:

– The pH is too high (above 7.6);

– The water is too warm, especially in summer or if you wait too long to recommission your pool after winterising;

– Poor water filtration that does not recover all the debris;

– Careless pool maintenance;

– An incorrect quantity of chlorine in the water, because chlorine has an algacidal and anti-bacterial action.

If algae cause cloudy water in your pool, the first thing to do is to understand the cause. You will then be able to solve the problem by cleaning and treating the pool to get rid of algae.

How do you get rid of algae?

Meticulous pool cleaning and suitable water treatment are the two actions to undertake to solve the problem of pool algae. You should thus begin by scraping and removing as much algae from the pool as possible.

Vigorously brush the pool walls, launch the pool robot and use a skimmer net to remove surface algae. Then continue with the cleaning of any equipment (skimmer, filter, nozzles, etc.) that may also be invaded.

Once you have completed this cleaning, you will have to treat your water to kill the algae. You will have to perform a chlorine shock treatment to disinfect the pool and complete this treatment with an algaecide that corresponds to the type of algae in your pool. 

Finally, filtration will enable you to finish the job and recover clear water. Allow it to run until the water becomes clear. This process may take up to 24 or 48 hours.

If your pool is still cloudy despite this shock treatment, check the water balance and adjust it if necessary before recommencing the treatment. 

How do you use an anti-algae agent?

An algaecide is a product that combats pool algae. It can be used in two different ways:

– Preventive treatment, in which you add a little algaecide to your pool from time to time in order to complete the action of the disinfectant;

– To treat algae once they have appeared in the pool. 

There are several types of algaecide, some of which are specifically designed for the most stubborn algae, such as black or mustard algae. Be careful to choose a product that is compatible with the other treatments you use.

Respect the dosing information indicated on the packaging.

Finally, it is important to know that anti-algae agents sometimes contain copper and may thus create rust in the pool. In this case, the solution is to associate their use with that of a metal sequestering agent.