Rain can be beautiful and calming when it showers your backyard, but have you ever stopped to think about how the rainwater can affect the chemistry of your pool water? It’s important to understand the impact rainwater has, and what you can do to protect your pool after a downpour.
Water Chemistry
Everything that enters your pool has a pH and rainwater is no different. Due to the pollution and toxins in our air, rainwater is less sterile than the clean water you work so hard to maintain in your pool. If left untreated, rainwater can significantly change the pH levels of your pool, and it does not take long for a pool with low pH levels to play havoc with both swimmer’s eyes, materials and equipment.
After rainwater has mixed with the water in your pool, the first thing you should do is focus on your water chemistry and checking the pH level. The Australian standard for pool water is 7.0 to 7.8, with 7.2 to 7.6 recommended. Check your pH levels to see if your pool remains within these guidelines after a downpour. Should you be experiencing ongoing storms and rain, you will need to check your pH levels on a regular basis to be safe.
Runoff Water
As well as rainwater, you need to pay attention to runoff water, which is water that falls off the top of your house, landscape or deck after a downpour and ends up in your pool. When runoff water enters your pool, it typically brings contaminants from different surfaces with it. This can alter your pool’s calcium hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and other chemical levels. Depending on how much rain you get will depend on how you act on this issue, but again, if you experience a significant downpour, you will need to check the pH levels in your pool and respond accordingly.
In the case of flooding, it’s always recommended that you drain any excess water from your pool and bring the water levels down to an appropriate level to allow for proper skimming.
Water Testing Kits
It’s easy to test the pH levels of your pool without the assistance of a professional thanks to the water testing kits that we have available at Perth Pool Professionals. Easy to operate, remove the middle man and take your water chemistry into your own hands. For more information about pH levels, protecting your pool against rainwater or our products, please contact our team today.