From green to clear: cleaning a neglected pool in West Beach

ByEcoTuffSA

We recently cleaned a swimming pool in West Beach, Cape Town, that had turned completely green. It took about two weeks to bring the water from green to clear. Here is what the job looked like.

Swimming pool full of green water before cleaning
The pool when we started: thick green water.

What we found

The water was green all the way through and the cleaner hose was hard to see below the surface. A pool in this state cannot be fixed by one quick treatment. The water has to be cleaned and cleared in stages, and the filter and vacuum have to keep working while it happens.

Dark green pool water with the cleaner hose just visible
Dark green water with the cleaner hose just visible.

Cleaning it up

We cleared the pool in stages over about two weeks. This is the method we followed:

  1. Brush the sides. Brush the pool walls with a pool brush.
  2. Remove the large debris. Take branches, leaves and other debris off the surface and the bottom.
  3. Run the filter for at least 12 hours. Make sure nothing is blocking the automatic pool cleaner.
  4. Backwash and rinse the filter the next day. Then add algae killer.
  5. Run the pump on bypass for 24 hours.
  6. Switch the pump off and let the pool stand for 24 to 48 hours.
  7. Vacuum the pool floor by hand and add a water purifier. Run the pump on bypass for at least 12 hours, then leave the pump off for 24 hours.
  8. Vacuum by hand again and test the water (pH, chlorine and other levels). Adjust the chemicals as needed.
  9. Run the pump and the pool cleaner as normal.

White foam collected on the surface while the pool was being cleaned. This is common when a heavily green pool starts to clear, and it goes away as the water improves.

Foam on the surface of the green pool during cleaning
Foam on the surface during the clean-up.
Pool water clearing with foam on the surface
The water starting to clear.

The result

After about two weeks the water was clear again and the pool was ready to use.

Clear pool water after cleaning
The same pool, clear again.
Clean clear swimming pool with white fence
Clear water and a clean pool.

Why pools turn green, and how to avoid it

  • Not enough sanitiser. Warm weather and heavy use use up chlorine faster than most people expect.
  • Poor circulation. If the pump and filter run too few hours, water stands still and algae takes hold.
  • Leaves and debris. Organic matter feeds algae, so skim and vacuum regularly.
  • Neglect over a holiday. A pool left alone for a few weeks in warm weather can turn quickly.

The earlier a green pool is dealt with, the quicker and cheaper it is to recover.

Related reading

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