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A pool is no longer a prestige object for upscale residential areas, but enriches numerous residential properties with real leisure-related added value. Due to the increased number of private pools, the associated technology is now simple and easy to use, even for laypeople. Nevertheless, it can happen in individual cases that the chlorine content in the pool is too high. What needs to be done is explained below in a way that is easy to understand and understand.
Too much chlorine in the pool
Before attempting to reduce excessive chlorine levels in the pool, it is important to determine how the excess chlorine got into the water in the first place. Otherwise, it may be that all efforts only show temporary success and have to be repeated again and again. Common causes of overchlorination include the following:
- Overdose of manual chlorination, e.g. due to calculation or measurement errors
- Faulty functioning of automatic dosing systems, e.g. in measurement or control technology
- Incorrect water pH value, resulting in overdosing due to the poor effectiveness of the chlorine
Once the cause has been identified, it can be remedied and a renewed increase in the chlorine content in the pool after adjustment to the target value can be avoided.
Reduce chlorine levels in the pool
There are various approaches and options for effectively reducing the chlorine content. The lower the overdose, the easier it is to reduce it to the desired value.
1. Stop or reduce chlorine addition
First of all, it should be prevented that further chlorine gets into the pool and further increases the value. In the case of manual chlorination, the chlorine preparation is simply not added. If you use technical solutions, you should switch off the chlorination plant or remove the chlorine preparation from the dispenser. However, if the target value is exceeded very slightly, it can also be sufficient to reduce the dosage. This makes it easier to adjust to a reasonable level later on than if you start all over again with chlorine.
2. Neutralization of chlorine in small to moderate overdoses
In the case of small to moderate overdoses, you can usually do without chemical chlorine-lowering agents. The following options are available to reduce the chlorine content:
- Waiting - neutralization of the overdose by the natural decomposition of the chlorine
- Remove covers, etc. - Promotion and acceleration of chlorine decomposition by UV radiation from the sun
- Swimming - pool use contributes to chlorine depletion
- Exchange pool water - proportionate exchange of pool water with a high chlorine content for fresh water, proportion of the exchanged water depending on the value of the overdose
danger: You should only swim in the pool to reduce chlorine if the excess is within tolerable limits! Exact limit values for this do not exist, but one can orientate oneself well on the high dosages of public pools: Up to 10 mg/l are used here with intensive use. Values beyond this should definitely be neutralized in other ways.
notice: If you change pool water, you can hardly do without a new adjustment of the chlorine value. One cannot assume that, for example, if the value is twice as high, 50% of the water will be exchanged and then optimal values will be found. The background is the increased need for chlorine for the initial chlorination of fresh water.
3. Chlorine neutralization in case of high excess
On the other hand, if the excess of suitable chlorine values is high or even very high, neutralization with the methods already mentioned is either very time-consuming or - as in the case of swimming - simply not possible. Here it is definitely appropriate to react with the use of chemical preparations, which can be used to reduce the content in a targeted and reliable manner.
The most widespread is the use of sodium thiosulphate. Hydrogen peroxide is also used again and again in finished preparations to remove unwanted chlorine from the pool. Both substances are offered in different combinations as powder or pellets and used as follows:
- Determine the amount of water - done by calculating the length, width and depth of the filled pool
- Determine the actual value of the chlorine content in the pool by measuring
- Determine the target value for the desired chlorine content, usually between 1 and 2 mg/l water.
- Determine the required amount of the neutralizer, usually easy to do with the manufacturer's information on the product
- Add neutralizer to the pool water
- Determine generated chlorine content via measurement
- In the event of deviations from the target value, readjust using chlorine or a chlorine reducer
tip: In order to avoid unnecessary amounts of chemicals, it is worth not adding the chlorine neutralizer completely to the water in the first place. Instead, a proportionate addition makes sense, after which the actual value can be determined. If this deviates from the theoretically generated value, the remaining quantity should be adjusted accordingly.
danger: Even in processed form, the substances used for chlorine neutralization are not entirely uncritical. When using it, it is therefore essential to take all the precautions specified by the manufacturer. A look at the safety data sheet can also help to assess the dangerousness of the substances and to take the necessary protective measures.
Neutralize chlorine with hydrogen peroxide
While sodium thiosulphate is rather difficult to obtain for the layperson outside of the pool of chemicals mentioned, hydrogen peroxide is quite easily available in a wide variety of concentrations from pharmacies or other sources. It is obvious that one or the other pool owner will now come up with the idea of saving themselves the detour via finished products and tackling the chlorine directly with hydrogen peroxide inexpensively and without additional binders and additives. This is made very clear here discouraged.
Hydrogen peroxide is available in a wide variety of concentrations, so it is easy to make mistakes in determining the amount required. In addition, it is also one hazardous substance, which is in high concentration highly corrosive can be and thus represents a high risk for people who are not used to handling it. In particular, respiratory tract, skin and eyes can be permanently damaged if handled incorrectly.