Water Treatment Troubleshooter

Symptom Possible Cause Possible Reason Solution Chemical
Cloudy Water Build up of dirt & bather pollution. Insufficient chlorine or poor filtration Backwash filter then super-chlorinate to 10ppm of free chlorine. (If you have a liner pool, please remember to work in line with the liner manufacturers guidelines, which will reduce the level of chlorine to help protect the liner from fading.) Add clarifier to polish water
  • Liquid

Granule Chlorine shock

  • Sparkle
Start of algae growth Insufficient levels of chlorine. Super chlorinate. After 24 hours Liquid Chlorine
backwash filter. Maintain chlorine level above 3ppm. Prevent recurrence of algae growth.		 Liquid Chlorine
Chlorine Granule
Chlorine Tablets
Algaecide
Chlorine ineffective Over stabilization Dilute pool water and super chlorinate. Liquid Chlorine
Ineffective filtration Filter blocked or filter media needs renewing Check sand, filter cartridge or D.E. Media See below
Suspended particles Precipitation of salts due to high PH or high alkalinity. Correct pH and/or alkalinity Dry acid
Unpleasant Water High combined chlorines. Free chlorine levels too low Dilute pool water
Sore eyes/throat.
Itching Skin		 Detergents from cleaning compounds getting into pool water. Reaction between chlorine
and detergent.		 Use chlorine compatible cleaners. Tile & liner cleaner
Water too acidic or alkaline. pH too low or too high. Correct pH as in chart. Dry Alkali or Dry Acid
Chlorine level difficult to maintain Sunlight destroys chlorine. Chlorine not stabilized. Use stabilizer or stabilized chlorine. Stabilizer. Chlorine granules or Chlorine tablets.
Build up of pollutants Insufficient chlorination. Super chlorinate Liquid Chlorine
High water temperature Organisms multiply more rapidly. Increase dose rate of sanitiser. Chlorine granules or chlorine tablets.
Apparent inability to get a chlorine reading on test kit in spite of chlorine addition. Chlorine levels may be too high High chlorine content bleaches reagent in test tablet Dechlorinate. Allow chlorine to reduce naturally over a period of time. If very high reduce with chemicals. Neutraliser
pH too low Low pH of local mains water Insufficient Dry Alkali being added. Add Dry Alkali as per instructions. pH to be between 7.2 & 7.6. Dry Alkali
Use of acidic chlorine donors.
pH too high High pH of local mains water Insufficient Dry Acid being added, or applied incorrectly Add acid as per instructions .Maintain pH to be between . 7.2 & 7.6. Dry Acid
Use of alkaline donors. High alkalinity Reduce alkalinity to 200ppm Check pH Dry Acid
Salts being leached from new concrete pools Self correcting over a period of time Add acid to maintain pH between 7.2 & 7.6. Dry Acid
pH levels erratic Insufficient bicarbonate to buffer pH. Low total alkalinity. Add bicarbonate. Min 100ppm required. Alkalinity Increaser
pH locked Too high a level of bicarbonates. Topping up from the mains water can increase alkalinity in hard water areas. Reduce alkalinity to 200ppm Check pH. Dry Acid
Low Alkalinity Bicarbonates reduced by dilution particularly in soft water areas. Mains water has low level of bicarbonates. Add bicarbonate. Min 100ppm required. Alkalinity Increaser
Pool walls feel slimy Algae growing Insufficient chlorination and pool wall brushing. Super chlorinate to kill algae. Sweep or vacuum debris. Prevent recurrence with algaecide. Liquid Chlorine
Algaecide
Dirt on pool wall at water line. Build up of body fat, sun oil or cosmetics. Irregular cleaning of surfaces. Clean with environment friendly chemical. Tile & Liner Cleaner
Rough scale formed on pool surfaces. Water out of balance Ratio of calcium hardness to total alkalinity incorrect Check levels of pH, alkalinity and calcium. Seek advice from 1st Direct Pools. Go to 'Contact 1st Direct Pools'
Sharp edges round tiles. Grout being leached by water. Mains water too soft. Regrout the pool. Increase calcium levels to min. 250ppm & maintain. Consider changing sanitiser to HTH Calcium Hypochlorite which will ensure calcium levels are maintained. HTH Calcium Hypochlorit
Ineffective Filtration Sand filter
Is the sand level correct?
no: No Not enough sand to filter out particles. Renew or top up sand. Go to 'Contact 1st Direct Pools'
yes: Blocked filter or filtration needs assistance Backwash filter and use filter aid. Sparkle
Cartridge filter:
Is cartridge in good clean condition?
no: Filter allowing particles to pass through. Renew cartridge Go to 'Contact 1st Direct Pools'
yes: Filter requires assistance Backwash and use filter aid. Sparkle
Pool left unattended for long period of time Unable to treat daily. Use Fi-Buoy. Remember to run filter daily on a timeclock. Fi-Buoy

pH Scale on test kit