31 Oct Swimming Pool Water: Do We Need to Change?

We’re sure everyone has come across these questions at least once in their lives. How often is swimming pool water drained changed? How does the process occur? When was the last time they drained the water of the pool you swam in? 

If you were ever curious about the questions above, read on for answers! 

What Determines To Change Swimming Pool Water

Pool water has to be changed after some time based on a broad range of factors. These include number of users, climate, type of water and frequency of maintenance service.

On average, a well-maintained pool can last up to 7 years before you need to change its water. This requires weekly servicing and ensuring that the pool chemistry is carefully monitored. On the other hand, some public pools in Singapore have their water changed twice a year. This is due to the sheer volume of usage that these pools face on a daily basis. The water quality must be tested by accredited laboratories at least once a month, and test results are submitted to NEA.

Now, let us dive (pun intended!) into the few factors that determine the frequency of changing your pool’s water. 

Number of Swimmers

It is only natural for a pool that hosts many visitors to have its waters changed regularly. This is because of higher volumes of bodily residues and fluids (e.g. perfume, tan lotion, sweat) present in the water. Just like how the water in your bathtub becomes dirty after every use, pool water also becomes contaminated with each visitor entering it.

While filtration systems help to recirculate water and filter waste, they are insufficient in removing unwanted chemicals from the water. The more you use your pool and the more the visitors, the more often you should change your pool water.

Singapore’s Climate 

In the case of heavy rainfalls, chemical imbalance occurs due to the dilution of pool chemicals. Rainwater also carries bacteria and dirt that attack chlorine in pools, causing the PH levels to change.

When it comes to sunny weather, UV rays break down chlorine in pool water, affecting PH levels consequently. Higher temperatures also create optimal conditions for algae growth, which can cause swimming pools to turn green. 

Due to Singapore’s tropical weather, periods of heavy rainfall or prolonged heat can affect the quality of pool water too. Given how Singapore’s weather is constantly fluctuating, pool water has to be checked regularly and maintain chemical level whenever necessary. 

Type of Pool Water – Soft or Hard

The type of pool water also plays a role in deciding how frequent you should be changing them. Ideally, most pools should have soft water, as hard water carries minerals and sediments that accumulate over time. These can become grit in your pool tiles and cause damage to your pool surface. 

While scrubbing pool walls helps with hard water, it is not sustainable and your pool water might still require disposal.

Frequency of Pool Maintenance 

By now, you should know how important maintaining your swimming pool is, in ensuring that you have a safe environment to swim in. While the factors aforementioned do influence the frequency of changing pool water, so does your weekly maintenance routine! In fact, this aspect weighs a lot more than the others, since good cleaning habits go a long way in sustaining the life cycle of pool water. 

A large part of your pool servicing habits should involve keeping the free chlorine and PH levels of pool water within appropriate ranges. A variety of services have to work together to ensure that your pool water is chemically balanced, and these involve weekly water testing, vacuuming, good filtration systems and more. 

What About Other Possible Factors?

Definitely, a few other factors can trigger the immediate need to replace the water in your swimming pool. Cloudy, green water, pungent smells, slimy tiles and walls or non-removable debris are signals that it is time to replace the water in your pool. While shocking your pool with chlorine can be helpful in mild cases, severe cases require more intensive efforts. In such cases, it is possible that draining your pool might be the only solution. 

Extending the Life Cycle of Swimming Pool Water

In a nutshell, extending the life cycle of your pool water is surely manageable if you take good care of your swimming pool! By adhering to proper maintenance schedules and not abusing your pool water, you probably won’t have to drain your pool that frequently. 

That being said, if you do feel that it is time to change your pool water, contact the FPNP Team for a thorough check! Draining a swimming pool is not only time-consuming but also physically challenging. Because you might damage your pool unknowingly if you attempt to do so on your own. Hire a professional to manage your pool and complete the task for you instead!