Green pool cleanup in Austin

Questions about green pools

• How long does it take to clear a green pool?

  The estimate depends on the tested water, equipment condition and work required. We do not use a fixed number of days or a change in color as a safety promise. Treatment progress and the conditions for returning to swimming need to be assessed separately.

• Is it safe to swim in a green pool?

  No. Keep everyone out until the water tests right, not just until it looks clear. CDC says to “make sure you can see the drain at the bottom of the deep end” and warns that “cloudy water can be a warning that there are more germs in the water than normal.” For home pools CDC recommends free chlorine of at least 1 ppm, or 2 ppm with cyanuric acid, and pH of 7.0–7.8.

• Is it cheaper to drain a green pool or treat it?

  Sullivan’s Pool Service compares treatment with water replacement for the actual pool. PHTA puts the ideal cyanuric acid range at 30–50 ppm, says it should not exceed 100 ppm, and lists partially draining and refilling to reduce it. In Austin, pool water may go to a storm drain only if it has no algae, no chlorine or other pool chemicals and a pH of 6.0 to 10.5, so green water cannot.

• More questions

  • Can I drain or refill my pool during Austin water restrictions?

    Check before you drain. Austin Water’s Drought Contingency Plan lists “no adding of water to swimming pool, pond, fountain or spa” under Emergency Stage 5, and the stage in force changes, so check Austin Water’s current drought response first. Sullivan’s Pool Service assesses treatment and water-replacement options before any draining work, so a pool is not emptied that cannot be refilled.

  • Why is my pool still cloudy after shocking?

    Cloudy water after a shock can come from filtration or circulation that is not keeping up, pH outside its range, or dead algae still suspended in the water. Run the filter, check its pressure, and retest chlorine and pH against CDC’s ranges for home pools. Sullivan’s Pool Service in Austin tests the water and the equipment together to find which it is.

  • Why did my pool turn green overnight?

    Green water means the disinfectant fell too low to hold back algae. Testing chlorine and pH and checking that the pump and filter ran shows why it fell. Keep swimmers out until the water tests right, and call us to assess it and quote the recovery.

  • Is green pool cleanup included in weekly service?

    No. One-time recovery is quoted after the pool is assessed and approved before work begins. Weekly service afterwards is a fixed $275 to $325 a month by pool size, with routine chemicals included.