Every pool owner wants to keep their pool water clean and not get mixed by any harsh chemicals. Again, if you want to keep your pool out of any algae bloom, you need to keep the water free from contamination of phosphates. But, can you actually remove the phosphates for good? There are some facts and truths you better need to know.
Let’s know the truth about your pool water phosphate contamination today. Surely, it’ll keep your pool healthy and sound.
Related Article: How to Treat Hard Pool Water
What is phosphate?
Phosphate is an organic compound that is derived from phosphoric acid. Phosphate is a very common biological molecule present in almost all living organisms and in other known biological bodies present on Earth. This chemical helps in maintaining the growth rate of plants and other organisms. Phosphates are frequently used for agricultural purposes like fertilizer synthesis and also to carry out industrial activities.
Sources of phosphates of your pool water
The amount of phosphates is so abundant in nature, and it can come from almost everywhere in your pool water. Let’s discuss the topmost possible sources of phosphates in your pool.
- Fertilizers used in the yard: Many fertilizers carrying Phosphorus can be frequently used in your yard like TSP, DSP, MAP, DAP, etc. There’s a chance that phosphates from these fertilizers get soaked up by yard soil and get mixed in the pool water.
- Water wash-off: Rainwater can sweep the garden fertilizer and wash them off to your pool. Thus, phosphates may add to it.
- Phosphates from the human body: Human body produces phosphates in varied forms like sweat, nails, hair, skin products. Also, the hair products and detergents used in your swimming or bathing suits can contribute to your pool’s phosphates level.
- Organic sources of Phosphates: Soggy leaves, twigs, and all other microorganisms might play a big role in your pool water phosphates gathering.
- By municipalities and authority: Sometimes phosphates get added to the pool by the concerned authority or municipalities intentionally as a part of water maintenance routine as they help in killing copper or lead. Again, many pool cleaning agents, stain removers, or stabilizers might contain some level of phosphates.
Damages caused by phosphates
If the phosphate level in your pool exceeds 1000 ppb, then your pool will get more vulnerable to algae blooming. Phosphates start feeding the algae. When an algae organism dies, it eventually releases more phosphates in the pool water. Thus, phosphates create a long cycle of algae colony production. The condition of water turns worse with time.
But, if there’s no algae growth in your pool and the phosphate level is also in check, then you have nothing to worry about. In that case, phosphates won’t be able to affect the pool water quality. It won’t have any interaction with chlorine but bind with calcium and other minerals. So, basically, a tolerable level of phosphate can actually help in softening the pool water!
Effect on environment and ecosystem
All the aquatic animals live on the oxygen being present in the water. Even algae also respire oxygen. When the number of algae increases rampantly, the amount of oxygen gets decreased for others as well. If there’s an abundant level of phosphates in the pool, the growth of algae will never cease. Thus, nutrient pollution will occur in nature.
Testing phosphates in your pool
Almost the majority of the pool kits don’t come with any phosphate checking kit. But these kits are widely available in maximum local pool supply shops. They are really easy to use and also inexpensive ones to easily purchase. You can test phosphate in your pool very easily with them.
Controlling phosphate levels in pool
There are some basic steps that you might need to take to keep the phosphate level in your pool in check. All of them are easy to follow. Let’s learn them.
- Skim the pool regularly: Use an effective pool skimmer that can remove all dead leaves and other decaying materials very efficiently off your pool. Skimming is the very first step of avoiding phosphate in the pool.
- Cleaning the pool filter: Just like skimming, cleaning your pool filter is another great way of removing all microorganisms that may cause phosphate addition in your pool.
- Controlling calcium level: While maintaining your pool to control phosphate, you need to control the calcium level of it in the very first place. The lower the calcium level, the greater the risk of pool phosphate contamination. Maintain your pool properly, check its pH, alkalinity, salt level to prevent phosphate and algae.
- Using algaecide: For an obvious reason, using algaecide to control algae is another way of getting rid of phosphates from the pool.
Final Words
You might have many misconceptions regarding the phosphate present in your pool, like how harmful they are, how much damage they can occur to your pool, how much necessary it is to remove them once and for all, etc. But, to speak honestly, having phosphate isn’t that much a worry for you. Again, removing them isn’t much hassle as well. All you just need is to maintain cleanliness, go for some routine check. That’s it. So, enjoy your swimming.