How to clean the pool and disinfect the water in it

Recommendation points

• Portable water treatment station
• Disinfectant chemicals for the pool
• Maintaining optimal water performance
• Mechanical water treatment
• Cleaning the bowl cover
• Do temporary pool bowls need maintenance
• Other recommendations

If stationary pools are relatively easy to maintain, and water treatment in them is carried out almost completely automatically, then the care of temporary reservoirs lies entirely on the shoulders of the owners. In this article we will tell you about the maintenance and care of inflatable and frame pools.

In summer, a temporary pool should not only be a source of joy and coolness, but also an object of close attention. No one will argue that it is pleasant to swim in clean and transparent water, a cloudy suspension and a greenish color are not only unpleasant, but also harmful.

The main causes of pool water spoilage are:

1. Dust, leaves, small debris blown by the wind.
2. Insects.
3. sunlight.
4. Birds drinking water from the pool.

In addition, the water in the pool becomes dirty by itself for reasons that cannot be avoided: human microflora, anaerobic bacteria and other factors..

Portable water treatment station

If your summer cottage has a pool all summer long, the best option would be to buy a portable water purification station. The price range is great and starts from about 130 € for the simplest pumps with a cartridge filter for swimming pools of 10-14 m³. Slightly more expensive – from 150 € – will cost filtration and pumping stations on the sand. The most sophisticated and productive installations include an automatic chemical dispenser, heating and disinfection devices with ultraviolet or active oxygen. Cost corresponds to efficiency – from 500 € and more.

The procedure for using the station is somewhat different from stationary pools. First of all – by the operating mode: the pump is turned on for 6-8 hours, usually at night. But if the pool has a volume of more than 20 m³ or they constantly bathe in it, you will have to keep the installation turned on all the time, as during disinfection or heating water.

Maintenance of such stations consists in periodic backwashing of the sand filter and pump filters, replacing the cartridges as they become dirty – about twice a month. It is advisable to completely replace the filter sand before each swimming season..

Disinfectant chemicals for the pool

Time-tested chlorine or bromine is used to disinfect water in temporary pools. There are no fundamental differences from chemistry for stationary pools, the subtleties of dosage and methods of application are determined by the instructions. There are also peculiarities of using chemicals in pools with a specific coating, such as wood, but these are rather special cases..

It is best to carry out periodic disinfection in the evening, so that the effect and weathering of the drug pass overnight, and from the second half of the next day you can swim without fear. This does not apply to shock chlorination when a fourfold dose of chlorine is injected into the water. In this case, bathing will be impossible within 72 hours from the moment of entry.

In pools without circulation, chemistry is introduced in a dissolved form, no floats with tablets. The powder or granules are diluted in a plastic container and poured along the perimeter of the pool in two equal parts with an interval of one hour.

Maintaining optimal water performance

An equally important task is to maintain optimal hardness (up to 450 ppm), total alkalinity (100–150 ppm) and acidity of water (pH: 7–7.4), and inhibit the growth of algae. For this purpose, you should acquire a set of testers. A set of indicators of chlorine content, acidity and total water hardness will cost 1500-2500 rubles, for the summer this set is quite enough. Give preference to testers in the form of disposable strips or drops: they are inexpensive and easy to use.

You need to take measurements about once or twice a month, provided that the water in the pool is renewed by tap water by no more than a third, otherwise – more often. After measurement, you need to align the corresponding indicators with acidity and hardness regulators. Until you fill your hand, it is necessary to carry out a control measurement after adding the drugs.

It makes sense to use algaecides to slow down algae growth only if the water in the pool does not change or is drained 2-3 times per season. They are also applied diluted at night, although most products are considered safe for bathers. Algicides are used either regularly every 1.5-2 weeks, or immediately when the first signs of flowering appear.

Mechanical water treatment

In certain situations, the filtration devices do not cope with their task, the water becomes cloudy, and a black precipitate constantly falls on the bottom overnight. The filter station malfunctions occur for a number of reasons:

1. Clogged filters, need to clean or backwash the sand barrel.
2. Clogged circulation channels, water pressure in the nozzles is weak or not felt. In most cases, the pool will have to be drained and the hoses of the pumping station disconnected and the channels cleaned.
3. Small particles are not captured by the filter. In this case, a flocculant is added to the water, leave the station turned on and do not bathe until the water is completely cleaned.

Even with a filter unit, the water surface must be cleaned by hand: collect small debris and dead insects with a net.

Cleaning the bowl cover

In modern swimming pools, you can easily connect a water vacuum cleaner to a pump or skimmer and clean it like a stationary pool. But if this is not possible, the walls and bottom are cleaned with a complete drain of water from the pool..

To remove plaque from the walls, use pool brushes with soft bristles and special cleaning chemicals. The pool is drained by 2/3, the walls are thoroughly washed, then the water is completely drained and the bottom is washed.

If the pool has been used for only 2-3 days, it is not necessary to use detergents; it is generally better not to do this for no good reason, so as not to clog the water that can be used to water the garden or lawn. If chemicals were introduced into the pool, it is recommended to wait 5-7 days before watering the garden with such water.

Do temporary pool bowls need maintenance

A mandatory check of the bowl for damage must be carried out every time before the start of the swimming season. It is better to repair even small cracks and scratches on the coating immediately, without waiting for the water to break through and make them unrepairable. Fortunately, most high-quality pools have a simple repair kit made of moisture-resistant glue and patches..

In frame pools, it is necessary to periodically check the reliability of the fastening of the posts and jibs. You also need to pay attention to the reliability of the connections of the support structure with the tie straps laid under the bottom of the pool, especially if these connections are not bolted, but locking. Keep in mind that intense play in the water can break a weak knot and all the fun will be hopelessly ruined..

Other recommendations

The best advice is to treat the pool with integrity and no excess. There is no place for food and drinks when bathing, as well as for foreign objects. Although the pool serves as a decoration for your backyard, it is still better to cover it with a cover if no one is swimming.

Traditionally, a shower is taken after swimming in the pool to wash off aggressive chemicals from the skin. But it is also recommended to do this before swimming, or at least rinse your feet well from sand and grass..