People who have a fear of water, or aquaphobia, may cringe at the thought of learning about the properties of water and its usage in various industries. But even if you don’t like water much, you can see how useful it is. People are usually scared of water because they know how dangerous it can be. You probably already know that water can be hazardous if it contains contaminants or other unsafe elements. One such contaminant is iron in swimming pool water. Read on to find out more about iron in swimming pool water and how to get iron out of your pool.
How To Get Iron Out Of Pool Water
- First, you have to know what iron is. Iron is a metal that is naturally present in the earth’s crust. It is commonly found in its oxidized form, which means that it has oxygen bound to it. In its oxidized form, iron has a bright red color and can be used as a pigment in any color of paint or as steel for construction. In its reduced form (without oxygen), iron becomes magnetic and can be easily magnetized.
- Iron also exists in pool water because of the presence of dissolved oxygen (DO). You see, when a chemical reaction occurs between the water and the air, the water absorbs oxygen from the air and becomes saturated with it. When this happens, the DO level increases tremendously. This increase results in an increase in oxidation levels because there are now more elements available for oxidation to occur with. This causes an imbalance between free electrons and free oxygen atoms, which results in an increase in ferrous ions (Fe2+) concentration.
- Iron levels in pool water can also increase when there is too much chlorine in the water. This is because chlorine itself is a catalyst for oxidation reactions, which means that it speeds up the process of oxidation. When chlorine combines with iron ions, it forms ferric chloride (FeCl3). If you have too much ferric chloride in your pool water, then you have to get rid of it because it will contaminate your pool’s water and turn it green or brown.
- Iron levels in pool water may also increase if there are stains on the pool floor or if the bottom of your pool is starting to rust. In these cases, you should get rid of the rust by using a brush and acid solution to clean the surface before decontaminating your swimming pool with chlorine or another oxidizer like bromine. You may also use an iron filter designed specifically for taking out iron from swimming pools as well as other contaminants like copper and filtering it out.
Why Is Iron In Pool Water Harmful?
- Iron in pool water can make the water look brown or rusty. This is especially the case if your pool has a metal frame or is made of metal.
- It can also cause stains on your tiles and equipment.
- Iron in pool water can also corrode your equipment and make it unusable or even dangerous to use in the future.
- It can stain your clothes and ruin them, especially when you swim with them on.
- If you swallow iron-contaminated pool water, you may develop a condition called hemochromatosis which causes you to retain too much iron in your body system, which could lead to liver damage and other serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease over time if left untreated.
Types Of Iron In Pool Water
- Dissolved Iron
Dissolved iron is the most common form of iron found in pool water. It is usually found in low levels and is considered safe, but if it increases, it can cause a lot of damage to your swimming pool. If you want to get rid of this kind of iron, you will need to use a filter.
- Free Iron
Free iron is another form of iron that can be found in water. It is dangerous because it can cause corrosion and staining on your pool walls and floors, which can make them look unsightly and unsafe for swimming. Free iron also causes foaming problems with your pool’s water. To get rid of free iron from your swimming pool, you will need to use a sequestering agent like polymers or ion exchange resins that are designed specifically for this purpose.
What Causes Iron To Build Up In Pool Water?
- Natural Causes
Iron is a natural element that exists in water. It can build up in your pool if you have a well-water source, or if you live near the ocean. If you have an above-ground pool, it is possible that the iron in the water may come from your roof, which could be made of galvanized steel. These three things are not always harmful to your swimming pool but they can increase the amount of iron that builds up in the water.
- Poor Quality Water Treatment Chemicals
If you use poor-quality water treatment chemicals, it will not only affect your swimming pool’s water chemistry but it will also cause free iron to build up in your swimming pool’s water. Your pool’s walls and floor will still be affected by corrosion and staining, even if you add good-quality water treatment chemicals later on.
- Poor Water Balance
If you don’t maintain a good water balance in your pool, it can cause excess amounts of iron to build up. If you use too much chlorine or bromine, it will react with the iron and cause it to build up in your swimming pool. You should make sure you have a regular maintenance schedule so that you can check the levels of these chemicals regularly, and adjust them accordingly so that they don’t react with any other element in the water.
- High pH Levels
High pH levels will also cause iron to build up in your swimming pool water because it combines with other elements like copper and manganese to form compounds that are insoluble, which means being able to remove the iron from your pool’s water. In fact, it will make the problem worse. The chemicals you use should contain a sequestering agent that is designed to remove iron from your pool’s water.
Conclusion
Iron can be harmful to your pool water and can make it look and smell bad. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get rid of it. You can test your water for iron, add a sequestrant to remove it, and create a balanced chemical balance.
