Prior to the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics in Brazil, many athletes were worried that the games would turn into a disaster. Reports of dangerously dirty water, spotty transportation, and incomplete infrastructure had many competitors nervous. However, the games largely went smoothly, except for one high-profile mistake: that moment when the Olympic swimming pools turned a ghastly shade of green.
The green Olympic swimming pools caused headlines around the world, even if the situation was quickly resolved. While the green water surprised many watchers at home, it’s a familiar danger for many pool owners here in the United States.
So what causes green pool water, and how do you fix it?
There is one simply way to immediately remedy green pool water: call a swimming pool cleaning service. But if you still want to know more about this phenomenon, keep reading.
Why Does Pool Water Turn Green?
During the Rio Summer Games, the diving pool famously turned green because a large quantity of hydrogen peroxide was mistakenly added to the water. Homeowners are advised to check their pool chemistry one to two times during the summer and once or twice a week during the colder winter months. Of course, if you’re running the Olympic games, daily checks might be helpful.
That’s because there are other reasons pool water can turn green, as any pool repair expert will tell you. If chlorine levels have fallen, it could be a dangerous side effect of bacteria, algae, or other crud in the water.
How Do You Clean Green Pool Water?
If you find green pool water, you have two options (besides calling for a local pool cleaning service).
If the water is only slightly green, you may be able to fix the problem with normal chemical treatments. Any pool owners should know these basic pool repair tricks, but if you don’t, your pool cleaning service should know what to do.
In extreme cases, you will need to completely drain your swimming pool and start from scratch. If that sounds like a lot of work, remember to keep a closer eyes on your water chemical levels in the future.
And keep hydrogen peroxide far, far away from the pool! Visit here for more.