Phosphate Removal in Swimming Pools

If your phosphate levels are in high in your residential or commercial swimming pool, they need to be removed. Since they are something that you can’t see, as their levels increase in the swimming pool, algae can bloom even though you have the proper amounts of chlorine/sanitizer in your swimming pool. Phosphates (also denoted as PO4) are known nutrients to help increase plant growth rates such as in algae. However, there are several debates (and confusion) regarding phosphates in pool water. Simply put, phosphates are food for algae and when their levels get high, you are going to have challenges with algae in your pool. Now that we are well into the summer swim season, vegetation is in bloom, numerous bathers have been in the pool, and various chemicals containing phosphorus have probably been used in your pool, you might be having this issue. With that said, phosphate levels will increase in your swimming pool. If you want to prevent this from happening rapidly skimming out debris in your swimming pool regularly can help as regular filtering doesn’t remove them. When it comes to phosphates, they enter the swimming pool from the following sources:

• When water is added to the pool by either you or the automatic leveler. Depending on where you are, phosphates are present in tap water.
• The wind blows dirt, leaves, and other vegetation into the pool
• Sprinkler fun off from your lawn or landscaping/dirt gets into your pool. This can also occur after heavy rains. If soilers were to enter the swimming pool this is definitely a way that they will increase.
• Certain chemicals that contain phosphorous to help clean your pool

If it has been determined that your phosphate levels are high, you will need to remove them and this can be done a couple of different ways. Please keep in mind, you can also be pro-active in removing dirt, debris, and vegetation from the pool as soon as possible instead of allowing it to sit on the surface or bottom of the pool. That will definitely help in the future but to remove them you can purchase a phosphate remover. This is a more expensive chemical but it is extremely effective if used following the directions based on the size of your pool. Many people think more is better but this is definitely not the case with phosphate removers. ONLY USE WHAT IS NECESSARY!

Please keep in mind phosphate removers will make your pool cloudy. It is best to run your filter continuously until the cloudiness is gone and your phosphate levels are lowered. This might take several treatments. Typically, as soon as the phosphate levels are lowered, the chlorine will work effectively and the algae will be removed.

If you have any other questions about phosphates or how we can help you, contact us today!