Read on to find out how to get rid of white water mold in pool and enjoy your swimming time. White water molds in the pool can be managed by simply keeping your pool and its accessories clean.
These molds are certainly unsightly contaminants that can make your swimming session unpleasant.
Most of the time, white water molds are hard to distinguish from other foreign contaminants. Check out this helpful guide to determine what does white water mold look like.
How Do White Water Molds Grow In Pool?
Contrary to popular belief that white water molds come from the cleaning chemicals in the pool, this type of mold is naturally occurring in the environment.
White water molds or oomycetes are fungi naturally found in tap water. They grow by feeding on decaying organic matter which can be found in an unclean pool.
They have an affinity to plastic piping and therefore, normally get into the pool through a contaminated garden hose and PVC piping. They also usually multiply in areas of the pool that are hard to reach with low water circulation.
Aside from the pool, white water molds love to grow in high humidity areas such as bathroom and kitchen sinks. Here is a guide on how to get rid of black mold in the sink.
Is White Water Mold Harmful To Humans?
White water mold is non-pathogenic. It does not cause disease or harm to humans.
However, the growth of this type of fungus is normally accompanied by a growth of pink slime or Serratia marcescens. Pink slime is a bacterium that grows on top of white water mold.
It can cause numerous illnesses such as urinary and respiratory tract infections, wound infections, and even life-threatening diseases when it gets into the body.
Ways To Get Rid Of White Water Mold In Pool
1. Skim and scrub the pool
The first thing you want to do in a mold-infested pool is to skim the pool water until almost all visible molds are removed from the surface of the water. Afterward, carefully brush all surfaces of the pool to make sure no remaining molds adhere to it.
It is important that you thoroughly brush hard-to-reach areas like the inside of the skimmer, the back of the return fan, and other low water circulation areas. You can brush the surface of the pool multiple times to make sure all mold growths are removed.
2. Clean the filtration system
If you have a visible white water mold growth on the pool water, there is a high chance that it has already infested the filtration system.
Clean your pool filter by backwashing. Alternatively, you may spray the filter cartridge with a garden hose to remove adhering molds or use chemical solutions or tablets to soak the cartridge.
3. Use chlorine
Chlorine is a disinfectant that kills microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, and molds) and viruses. You can add it to the pool water at 1ppm free chlorine concentration for effective sanitation.
You must also keep the pH of the pool water at pH 7.2-7.8 because that is the level at which chlorine is most effective in killing germs and is not painful to the eyes.
Free chlorine concentration must also be measured regularly because it tends to drop through time depending on the amount of dirt in the pool. You might need to recharge the pool with chlorine from time to time to keep the concentration at 1ppm.
A chlorine test strip is usually used to measure the free chlorine concentration.
4. Expose pool to UV light
The cheapest source of UV light is the sun. UV rays kill microorganisms by destroying their DNA so they cannot multiply.
For outdoor pools, exposing the pool and its accessories to sunlight can kill surface molds. For indoor pools, installing a UV lamp in the filtration system is effective in sanitizing the pool.
UV light is also cost-efficient as it uses the same energy as regular light bulbs with low wattage.
5. Maintain cleanliness of the pool
After eradicating mold colonies in your pool, you must keep the cleanliness of the pool to avoid a recurring mold problem. Keep weekly maintenance of the pool and its accessories.
Since white water molds usually get into the pool through garden hoses, inspect your hoses for signs of mold glob. It is better to run the hose for a few minutes to flash out possible molds or debris from the water before using it to fill the pool.
Conclusion
Removing white water molds in your pool should not be a struggle. Follow our guide on how to get rid of white water mold in pool to solve your problem.
Overall, the growth of white water molds can be prevented by maintaining the cleanliness of your pool. Skim and scrub your pool and turn on the filter regularly to remove dirt from the pool water.
Sanitize the pool by using chlorine, maintaining the water pH level, and exposing the pool to UV light. Ask for professional help if the mold problem persists.