+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: High level of copper

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    1

    Default High level of copper

    Hi, We just bought a house with an in-ground pool. It is about 22,000 gallons. We ran some test at the local pool store and the level of copper in this water shows 5ppm, which I was told is very high. Is there a way to remove copper from the water or should we drain the pool? If we drain the pool, how do we clean the pool (fiberglass) so that the copper is actually removed? We will replace the copper pipe in the ground as well.

    Thank you.

  2. #2
    BigDave's Avatar
    BigDave is offline Lifetime Member Whizbang Spinner BigDave 3 stars BigDave 3 stars BigDave 3 stars
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,932

    Question Re: High level of copper

    Do you have stains or other issues from the copper? Anybody's hair turn green? If it's not a problem, why fix it?
    12'x24' oval 7.7K gal AG vinyl pool; ; Hayward S270T sand filter; Hayward EcoStar SP3400VSP pump; hrs; K-2006; PF:16

  3. #3
    waterbear's Avatar
    waterbear is offline Lifetime Member Sniggle Mechanic waterbear 4 stars waterbear 4 stars waterbear 4 stars waterbear 4 stars
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    St. Augustine, Fl
    Age
    70
    Posts
    3,743

    Default Re: High level of copper

    Quote Originally Posted by BigDave View Post
    Do you have stains or other issues from the copper? Anybody's hair turn green? If it's not a problem, why fix it?
    5 ppm is way too high and if it is not a problem now it will be. Does the pool have a heater? Heat exchangers are often a source of copper when the pool is improperly maintained and the pH drops too low. My guess is that the pool had been kept on trichlor tabs and the pH and TA was not monitored and the pH had crashed for an extended period of time. Copper levels should ideally be 0 ppm and anything above about .5 ppm can cause problems. When copper is used as an additive for algae control (not a good idea) added from an ionizer the upper limit considered acceptable is 1 ppm and even that will cause staining and other problems.
    Retired pool store and commercial pool maintenance guy.

  4. #4
    BigDave's Avatar
    BigDave is offline Lifetime Member Whizbang Spinner BigDave 3 stars BigDave 3 stars BigDave 3 stars
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,932

    Default Re: High level of copper

    waterbear: Spank -> Ouch! -> Got it.

    topjobs: Are you confident of that value? I apologize; I presumed the PS had fouled / mis-read the test. Waterbear is right, of course. Is your pH low now? Is there evidence it has been low historically ( an in-line chlorinator, etched surfaces, metal corrosion ). The copper came from somewhere, you may need to look for damaged equipment.
    12'x24' oval 7.7K gal AG vinyl pool; ; Hayward S270T sand filter; Hayward EcoStar SP3400VSP pump; hrs; K-2006; PF:16

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Fiberglass pool with high cyanuric acid and copper level
    By donnalubbq in forum Dealing with Stains & Metals, . . . and 'Minerals' & 'Ions',
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-11-2013, 09:42 PM
  2. .5 Copper Level OK?
    By DistantHorizon in forum Dealing with Stains & Metals, . . . and 'Minerals' & 'Ions',
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-26-2011, 04:35 PM
  3. high level of nitrates
    By alanleafgobbler in forum Testing and Adjusting Pool Water Chemistry
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 06-07-2011, 09:32 PM
  4. At what level are nitrates too high?
    By smallpooldad in forum Dealing with Algae & Slime
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-27-2006, 08:57 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts