How To Remove Copper & Iron From Pool Water

Having your own swimming pool provides fun and recreation right in your own backyard, but having a pool also brings maintenance issues. Depending on the condition of the water in your region, certain metals can be detrimental to maintaining a clean pool environment. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper and iron leave deposits that can be difficult to remove. Copper and iron are the most common issues because most pipes and fittings for your pool contain these elements.

Step 1

Use stain and scale chemicals, a sequestering agent or chelators for well water filled pools, or pools that have metal fittings. This acts to suspend the minerals and bind them at the molecular level.

Step 2

Add the proper chemicals to safely raise the alkalinity and pH levels and then start the pump. The suspended copper and iron particles will flow into the filter. Check the filter frequently for blue stains from copper or reddish-brown stains from iron. Replace the filter as necessary.

Step 3

Shock the pool water with lithium hypochlorite or sodium and keep the pump running for constant filtration. Shocking removes excess minerals such as copper and iron through the filtration system.

Iron is a mineral that naturally exists in water. Remove iron from your swimming pool water quickly to save yourself time and money in the long run. Iron present at 0.2 parts per million (PPM) is enough to cause staining and clouding. Add shock, which comes in chlorine and non-chlorine types, to your pool and follow up with a treatment of clarifier to reduce the look of iron buildup. Vinyl pools require a different shock than gunite pools. Follow the directions on the shock label. Shock destroys harmful contaminants in your pool water. Maintain your pool's pH level between 7.2 and 7.6.