Hard Water and Pools?
Question:I bought one of those inflatible pools where you inflate the ring and the pool rises (10' circular, 4' deep). It has a filtration system that comes with it, and I'm wondering if it'd be safe for me to use our hose water (which doesn't go thru our water system that's in our basement). We have hard water (bacterial iron). The water runs clear but if it sits for 5 minutes you get a slimy rust colored residue in the water. So, I'm wondering, would the pool filter be able to handle this, or should I go thru all the trouble of finding a way to get water from the house to fill the pool?
Answers:
Bacterial iron responds well to chlorine in a pool. You will have to keep an elevated level of chlorine in the pool while filling it (add a half gallon of liquid household bleach [non scented]). Also pick up a metal sequestering agent like Metal Lock or whichever name brand is out there.
As the water is introduced and mixes with the bleach hypochlorous acid will be produced. You will have a pool with approximately 2,500 gallons in it and a chlorine level of 20ppm which is sufficient to kill these bacteria types. But once they die the iron will drop out of their cellular structure, which is where the addition of a sequestering agent comes in to bind the free iron into substances that won't be detectable nor will they stain the pool.
If at all possible, I would buy an adapter to connect the hose to your kitchen sink and fill it that way. I am having the same dilema here, and I'm thinking about calling our fire department. I know they fill big pools for 50.00, maybe they can come by and fill my little one for 20.00? :) Good luck! :)
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