PHOSPHATE IN THE POOL

 PHOSPHATE IN THE POOL

Preventively, your pool technician should use an enzyme with phosphate remover to ensure better treatment and balance of your pool water. This regularly ensures that phosphate levels remain below dangerous levels. However, if measurements show a high index, extra chemical treatment is necessary, which may incur additional costs.

What is it?

Phosphate is a chemical compound containing phosphorus, an essential element for life. In the form of the ion (PO₄³⁻), it binds to other elements, forming compounds found in rocks, soils, and living organisms. Phosphates are crucial for many biological processes, including the formation of bones, teeth, and cells, as well as in cellular energy production through ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Phosphates are organic materials that naturally occur in your pool, coming from dead leaves, lawn fertilizers, and many other sources. In pool water chemistry, phosphate generally enters the water through external sources, such as leaves, dust, fertilizers, fresh water, and even cleaning chemicals. In the aquatic environment, it acts as a nutrient for algae, stimulating their rapid growth. Therefore, elevated phosphate levels in a pool can contribute to algae growth, making the water cloudy and complicating water quality maintenance and cleaning.

Phosphates are types of phosphorus commonly found in water. There are many different types of phosphates present in pools. Testing kits usually only test for one type, orthophosphates.

Phosphates are a misunderstood issue in pool chemistry because 1) they are difficult to test and 2) they cannot be removed by chlorine alone. In fact, chlorine does not even interact with phosphates.

 

Where do phosphates come from?

Because phosphates are so abundant and used in a wide range of applications, they can "come from" almost anywhere. In a pool, phosphates can accumulate from four primary sources:

·     Swimmers: Human sweat, skin and hair products, and detergents used on towels or swimsuits can all contribute to phosphate levels in a pool.

·         Water Runoff: Fertilizers and garden care products used around a pool can add phosphates to the pool water.

·         Organic Matter: Leaves, branches, algae, and other microorganisms can contribute phosphates to a pool.

·     City Water Supply: Many municipalities add some phosphates to the water supply to reduce lead and copper levels. Additionally, some cleaners and pool chemicals, along with stain and scale removers, may contain phosphates.

 Measurements and acceptable levels?

Acceptable phosphate levels in a pool should generally be reduced below 125 ppb (parts per billion). In summary, we classify three levels to be observed and their consequences:

•  Less than 125 ppb: Ideal level for most pools, minimizing the risk of algae growth and keeping the water clean and clear.
• 125 to 300 ppb: Moderate level that may start to allow algae growth, especially if there is poor circulation or other chemical imbalances in the water.
• Above 300 ppb: Elevated level that can cause significant algae irritation, resulting in cloudy water and the need for additional chemicals for control.

 What are the consequences and damages of phosphates in the pool?

Are phosphates bad for your pool? Phosphates may not directly harm your pool, but they can indirectly create problems. High phosphate levels promote algae growth, which can damage the pool lining, for example! These same phosphates also consume chlorine quickly, making pool maintenance more challenging. Here are the main effects listed objectively: 

·      Algae Proliferation: Phosphates are essential nutrients for algae, and high levels in the pool encourage the growth of these microscopic plants. This makes the water cloudy and greenish in appearance.

·       Cleaning Difficulty: With more algae, the pool requires larger doses of chlorine or other disinfectants, increasing the cost and effort to keep the pool clean and sanitized.

·        Cloudy and Unsafe Water: The presence of algae and debris caused by phosphates can make the water opaque and slippery at the edges, posing safety risks for users.

·        Increased Chemical Use: Elevated phosphate levels require more products to control algae and maintain balanced water, increasing the consumption of chlorine, algaecides, and clarifiers.

·     Filter and Equipment Wear: The buildup of algae and phosphate debris can overload the filter, necessitating frequent cleanings and possibly earlier replacements than expected.

 How to Treat?

Preventively, to be more conscious and economical, avoid adding fresh water to your pool, keep plant pots away, and ensure that your landscaping service does not allow grass clippings or tree prunings to fall into your pool.

Reactively, following the steps below will ensure you can manage the situation and remove excess phosphate to levels below 125 ppb:

1.    Use a Phosphate Remover: Apply a specific phosphate removal product, also known as a phosphate inhibitor. These products, usually based on lanthanum or aluminum, bind to phosphate and turn into larger particles that are easier to filter.
2.   Let the Filter Work: After application, keep the pump and filter running to capture phosphate particles. Filter the water for at least 24 hours to ensure effective phosphate removal.
3.  Clean or Replace the Filter: Phosphate debris accumulates in the filter, so clean it or backwash (backwash) for sand or cartridge filters.
4. Monitor Phosphate Levels: After removal, use a phosphate testing kit to check levels. Ideally, they should be below 125 ppb to prevent algae growth.

Each phosphate removal chemical has a formula and composition that ensures a unique property in application, so read the instructions on the packaging for the correct dosage and wait time. It is best to seek the help of a professional.

 Why are extra costs applied to this treatment?

It is not a simple, quick, and cheap treatment; therefore, your pool treatment company must charge for it, as the causes are external to the demand for regular maintenance.

Typically, your technician works daily to maintain the chemical balance of your pool. It is not simple and not cheap, but the various and strange causes of phosphates in pool water are independent of this technical effort for pool maintenance, which is the initial and necessary reason for the application of extra costs.

Phosphate removal requires extra effort from the professional maintaining the pool and many chemicals that are not common for chemical balance and maintenance of your pool.

Estimates usually come in below $100.00 and need to be approved quickly because, depending on the level and concentration of phosphate, the pool can turn green in a matter of hours.

In general, pool companies record test results and phosphate levels in the water, start chemical treatment to prevent the pool from turning green (when phosphate is in the water, this can happen quickly), inform the client, and then issue the charge for the extra chemical.

 Conclusion:

Phosphate in pool water acts like oxygen for the proliferation of algae that can turn your pool green in a matter of hours. Preventively, not adding fresh water, avoiding garden debris, and keeping fertilizers away from the pool is the best rule of thumb to prevent an increase in phosphate levels in pool water.

Treatment may be lengthy but should start immediately upon identifying phosphate in the pool, preventing the problem from worsening and becoming more difficult and expensive to treat.

Although phosphate itself does not pose direct health risks in pools, its presence at elevated levels can contribute to conditions that make pool water less safe and pleasant. Therefore, it is important to control phosphate levels to ensure a healthy and safe swimming experience.

Due to the extra time, work, and use of additional chemicals, it is normal for your pool maintenance company to charge for this, which is why we recommend prevention.