Fighting Phosphates
Causes And Solutions
Pool professionals and owners are waging a constant battle to keep algae out of their pools. Doing so means keeping a close eye on phosphate levels.
The connection between phosphates and algae growth is well documented. But, what exactly are phosphates, and how should they be dealt with?
Phosphates are a vital plant nutrient and the presence in swimming pool water, even at low level concentrations, can cause accelerated algae growth in poorly maintained pools. Pools that are properly maintained, usually do not have unexpected difficulty controlling algae. Even in the presence of phosphates.
Phosphates can enter the swimming pool water from such sources as:
- decaying plant matter
- contamination with soil
- mineral treatment chemicals
- contaminated well water
- urine and sweat
- acid rain
- fertilizers
- ground water runoff
- bird droppings
- bather wastes
Phosphate removers are typically used in conjunction with algaecides and standard swimming pool maintenance to get rid of the phosphate problem. When added to a swimming pool, these removers attack the phosphates and drop their concentration from parts per million to parts per billion.
Literally, the algae starves to death. No algae – no problems with green water.
This all sounds great, but as long as you have people in swimming pools, there will be phosphates added in some quantity. For this reason a phosphate remover has to be added on a periodic basis.
