Is It Safe To Swim In Green Pool Water? (Find Out Now!)

Nick Durante
by Nick Durante

Nothing is worse as a proud pool owner than the sight of murky, green pool water. The sight of green pool water can dissuade anyone from swimming, and it can be quite concerning. As unappealing as it looks, is it safe to swim in green pool water?

No, it is not generally safe to swim in green pool water because of algae. Algae can turn pool water green, and it can cause waterborne illnesses if you swim in it. Your pool can also contain dangerous bacteria that come along with algae, and it is possible to get an infection.

Green pool water is a bad sign, and it is a great idea to treat your pool right away. Let’s take a look at what green pool water means, and what you can do to clear it up.

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Why Is My Pool Water Green?

Your pool water turns green when there is algae in the water. Algae constantly enters your pool, but chlorine and shock can kill it and prevent its growth. However, your chlorine can dissipate if you use too much stabilizer or if you have a pool party.

Algae can reproduce on hot days, and that will further tint your pool water green. It is common for pools to turn green if you don’t shock the water or add chlorine after heavy rain. Rain can lower the free chlorine count in your pool, and that opens the gates for algae to bloom and multiply.

Green pool water is unappealing and can understandably frighten would-be-swimmers.

Is It Safe to Swim In a Pool With Algae?

It is not considered safe to swim in a pool with algae because it can cause several waterborne illnesses. Algae can cause skin rashes, swimmer’s ear, eye infections, and stomach problems such as nausea and diarrhea. The surface of the floor and walls in your pool can also become slippery when there is algae, and that can be dangerous.

Pools don’t experience the same water circulation as larger bodies of water, such as ponds and lakes. That means that the algae has less of a chance for dilution, and water is less likely to be recycled. Algae comes with bacteria, and that bacteria has nowhere to go when it’s inside of a pool.

The high concentration of algae and bacteria in a swimming pool makes it more likely to negatively affect swimmers. It is only safe to swim in a pool with algae after you treat it with chlorine and algaecide, and the green tint begins to fade.

Algae Health Risks

Swimming in a pool with green pool water and algae carries risks from bacterial infection to skin rashes. It’s important to treat algae right away and lessen the green tint in your pool before you get back in. Let’s take a close look at some of the main health risks that come with swimming in green pool water.

Skin Rash

Skin rash is one of the most common health risks of swimming in green pool water because of algae and bacteria. Bacteria thrive in pools with green water, and it works with algae to cause unpleasant skin rashes. Chlorine can also cause a rash, but that is more common when there is limited free chlorine in the water.

You are unlikely to develop a serious condition from skin rash after a swim in a green pool, but it’s not advisable. Many swimmers notice that their skin tingles after they swim in a pool with algae. Pay attention to your symptoms, and don’t be shocked if red and purple bumps appear.

You can safely swim in your pool without risking skin rash if you treat the pool with chlorine, shock, and algaecide. Take a cool bath with Epsom salts to get rid of your skin rash or apply a baking soda and water combination to your skin. Luckily, you can treat the itchiness with standard over-the-counter itch creams.

Infection

Green pool water contains algae and bacteria that can cause unpleasant infections. The bacteria can easily get into your system if you get water up your nose or in your mouth, and especially if you swallow it. You will know right away that you ingested enough water to get an infection when you are sick to your stomach.

It is common to experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when you accidentally ingest green pool water. Algae make it easy for other harmful bacteria to grow, thrive, and cause infections. The worst-case scenario is an infection if you swim in a pool with green water, and it is not worth the risk.

You will most likely experience ear and eye problems if you get a bacterial infection from a pool with green water. Drain some water from your pool, treat it with chlorine and shock, and add more water to avoid infection.

Slipping

Slipping and falling is the biggest physical risk of swimming in a pool with green water. It is all too easy to slip and fall when you get in or out of a pool with green water. Algae accumulates on the walls, floor, ladder, and stairs in your pool and makes them slippery.

The only way to make the pool less slippery is to scrub and brush all of the surfaces within the pool. Scrub the walls and stairs until they are no longer slick, then treat the pool with chemicals so that it doesn’t come back. Don’t swim in your pool for 24 hours or until the pool doesn’t test positively for algae after you clean it.

Fix Cloudy Green Pool Water

It is important to treat your pool for algae right away before you get back in and swim. You can clear up your cloudy green pool water within 7 days or less, depending on the severity. Take a look at each of the methods below and note that your best bet is to try them all.

Scrub Walls

As gross as it may be, you need to scrub the algae off of your pool’s walls and floor. Use specialty brushes meant for cleaning pools and scrub as much as you can without getting in the water. The scrubbing motion will kick up algae that cling to the surface, and it will make the pool look worse at first.

This method is a precursor to chemical treatment, but it is necessary to break up the algae. Scrubbing is one of the best ways to get algae out of a pool without using a vacuum.

Shock Water Treatment

Shock is necessary to clear up your green pool water. Add shock to the pool at least twice a day or as many days in a row until the water is clear. Shock contains high amounts of chlorine that can kill algae quickly.

Run Pool Filter

It is time to run your pool filter if you’ve scrubbed, vacuumed, or shocked the pool. The circulation will help prevent algae from settling or blooming. Only run your pool filter when you’ve been able to kill the algae with chemicals.

Algaecide

Algaecide is best used in concert with shock and chlorine for ideal results. As the name suggests, algaecide refers to chemicals specifically made to kill algae. You can achieve quick and reliable results when you use an algaecide, and you won’t spend more than $10 to $15.

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Summing It Up

It is not safe to swim in green pool water because of the algae. Algae come with bacteria that can cause waterborne illnesses and infection. Scrub your walls and floor, shock the pool, use algaecide, and run your filter to clear up the water.

Regularly test your water for free chlorine to make sure your pool can kill algae on its own. Never swim in a pool with green water until you’ve treated it with chemicals.

Nick Durante
Nick Durante

Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.

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