Purchased new house pool causing redness on kids skin

[dausmus]

Just purchased a forclosed house with a pool. When I bought it the pumps were running and the water was clear this is still the case. I have 4 kids and after swimming 3 of them had very red skin that they said was burning them. Gave them a shower put on lotion and it was gone the next day. I had Leslies test the water and got the following results.

Free Available Chlorine = 1
Total Available Chlorine = 0.2 difference
Cyanuric Acid = 80
Total Alkalinity = 120
PH = 8
Total Dissolved Solids = 1500

I added some Muriatic Acid to lower the PH and the guy at Leslies wasn't any help on what could be causing the skin irratation. Looks to me like the Chlorine level is low so this shouldn't be a cause of the kids skin irratation. Another though is that its allergy season and maybe pollen is an issue in the water although I don't see anything visibly.

Im looking for any suggestion on what are the possible causes of the skin irratation with my above numbers.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[PoolDoc]

Hi Dausmus;

It could be the pH -- it's likely the test results mean 8.0 OR HIGHER, not 8.0 exactly.

Or, it could be algaecides or other products added to the pool, to 'keep' it while the house was unoccupied. I've done that -- when I pool was not in use, used things I'd never use in a pool that was being used.

The fact that your pool was clear, with a chlorine=1.0 and CYA=80, makes me suspect this is the case. With a chlorine level that low, and a CYA level that high, your pool could be growing algae like crazy! The Best Guess Chart page in my signature will explain what's going on.

I would strongly suggest the following:

1. Get a cheap OTO/phenol red kit locally, and check your pH and chlorine. Tell us what you find.
2. Order a K-2006 testkit, so you can REALLY find out what's going on with your pool. The test kit page (http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?14994) will explain a lot more.
3. Look around and see if you see any empty chemical containers in the trash or around the pool. If you do, tell us what you find.
4. Keep your kids out of the pool for now, but add 1 gallon of plain 6% household bleach to your pool, for every 10,000 gallons in the pool. (Chlorine breaks down many pool 'additives' that can cause problems.) BUT, do your pH test FIRST. You won't get an accurate pH reading with a Lowes kit, once you add the bleach.

Good luck!