Clear, but no chlorine???

[PoolDoc]

About Pee in Pools:
Basically, any kids who were hydrated when the left in the house, and who remain in the pool 2 hours (where they aren't sweating) have probably pee-ed in the pool.

Dedicated US Swimming participants (year round swimmers) pick up the habit of doing so during 2 hour practices during which they aren't allowed to leave the pool. (Coaches HATE having to retrieve swimmers who are tired and taking an extended break in the rest room.)

I know it's gross -- till you get mentally adjusted to it. Urine is normally sterile, which is why doctors can test for bladder infections using a simple presence/absence test for bacteria. Consequently, it's not really a health problem. But urine DOES use up quite a bit of chlorine, and it combines rather badly with chlorine at that. On outdoor pools exposed to solar UV, the combination of chlorine + UV destroys the byproducts rapidly. The one place where pool UV systems have a REAL value is on indoor pools where these combination products accumulate in the absence of solar UV.

But, if you want to keep pee out of your pool, you either have limit pool sessions to 1 hour or less OR provide an EASY alternative. Many homeowners exclude dripping kids from the house: if you do, you also have a pee-filled pool, unless you've worked out an alternative. This can be -- depending on your fences and family's modesty standards -- as simple as a designated pee-bush! Others set up a camping type portable outhouse. Of course a dedicated pool house with a flush toilet is the ultimate solution, but you'll need an extra $20,000 or so, plus enough yard, if you want to take that route.

About Mystery Chlorine Loss:
The most common identified causes of 'mystery' chlorine loss include:

1. Unrecognized algae or bacterial growth, like mustard algae deposits or water mold (in light fixtures, etc)

2. Prior use of a bromide product for mustard algae, or just about any product made by United Chemicals

3. Low CYA, due to an earlier algae / biofilm bloom.

4. Unrecognized heavy bather 'load', such as REALLY oily swimmers, or swimmers with full bladders.

5. Regular use of algaecides.


Fertilizer will not affect chlorine use EXCEPT by helping to fuel algae or bacterial growth, as in #1 above.

[CarlD]

My next-door neighbor has a summer "pool bathroom" that's outdoors, sort of, but built into the house. They have to winterize it, of course, shutting off the water and filling it with pool anti-freeze every fall. No idea what it cost.
We don't but in an emergency it's just steps across a tile floor to bathroom off the kitchen--and it's a rough tile we put deliberately put in because it isn't deadly when wet.
Plus, after an hour, we get kids out.

[mary jo]

@watermom- Indeed a dead body is the ultimate ick factor. Sure took my mind off of pee in the pool…

so today's stats:
Yesterday pool stayed at FC30 most of the day, dipping down to FC29 that evening.
I added 1/2 jug of bleach and re-tested @10:00pm FC=31 CC=2.5

This morning tested @ 7:15 FC=30 CC=2.0

I'm not sure what else to clean! I fear we are approaching the end of the flow chart, and the dreaded "d" work (drain) is coming up….