How To Get Rid Of White Water Mold In Pool?

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
30 min read

When mold grows in a swimming pool, it floats on the surface and resembles tissue paper in appearance. Pink slime, a bacteria-laden residue, is frequently found alongside it. However, neither of these non-algae growths pose a threat to people. The presence of these organisms indicates a problem with the water filtration system or the concentration of chlorine in the water. A halogen-based sanitizer (such chlorine or bromine) is ineffective against white water mold; nevertheless, you can still get rid of it by repeatedly shocking the water. The only way to keep a full-blown mold colony at bay is to perform frequent, thorough cleanings.

Contents

What is White Water Mold?

White water mold is a fungus, much like any other kind of mold. A fungus is a mold, but not all fungi are molds. However, yeast isn’t mold, which is fortunate because without it, we wouldn’t be able to make bread or beer. Penicillin would not have been possible without mold, on the other hand. Regardless, you don’t want white water mold in your pool.

How to Get Rid of White Water Mold in a Pool

What is That Pink Slime in a Pool?

Pink slime in a pool is sometimes referred to as pink algae because of its color. In fact, it isn’t even algae. Known as “pink bacteria,” Serratia marcescens is the culprit.

Almost certainly in the bathroom of your own residence. You might see it around the water line in a toilet bowl or the bottom of your shower curtain. “Oh, that’s just rust,” some may have said. “We have a harsh water.”

Rust is not the problem. As a type of airborne microbe, it thrives in damp places like toilets, where soap scum contains mineral deposits. Soap and shampoo residue is also a favorite food for it. Pink bacterium doesn’t seem to have a particular preference when it comes to food.

In addition to being unattractive, it poses a threat to one’s safety. Bacteria can cause a variety of ailments, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and lower respiratory tract infections, if it enters the body through the eyes or nose. As a result, it’s critical to remove it from your pool as soon as you discover it, or better yet, to prevent it from appearing in the first place.

A pet’s water dish is another possible source of pink bacteria in your home. To avoid sickness, you must immediately rinse and disinfect the dish. UTI in dogs and bacteremia in both dogs and cats can be made worse by Serratia marcescens.

What Causes White Water Mold and Pink Slime?

White water mold and pink slime, like any other variety of fungus or bacterium, are organic, naturally occurring entities.

Your pool’s lack of cleanliness and unbalanced water are to blame if you find one or, god forbid, both.

Does Biguanide Cause White Water Mold?

No. However, for some reason, this rumor continues to circulate. No white mold can form in your pool if you apply Biguanide (the brand name Baquacil).

When it comes to removing it from your pool, biguanide is a good option.

The first step in removing mildew or slime from your pool is to clean it thoroughly.

Why Is Pool Water Mold A Problem?

It’s not white water mold that’s dangerous, but the pink slime bacteria that is.

Whatever the situation may be, it’s a dreadful experience. This is due to the fact that it is likely to be found in your pool’s pipes and filters, not just floating in the water. That implies you’ll need to conduct a lot of pool cleaning to get rid of it.

As a result of the presence of mold, germs are also likely to be found. White water mold produces pink slime, which can cause respiratory problems, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections in people. Your eyes, nose, or an open wound can all be entry points for the disease. A pool full of pink slime is surely not something you’d want to be splashing about in! (or home for that matter).

White water mold is particularly resistant to halogen-based sanitizers like chlorine and bromine. But don’t worry, there’s a solution at hand.

How to Get Rid of White Water Mold in a Chlorine Pool

Any trace of white water mold left behind can quickly grow into a major issue, therefore it’s critical that the removal process itself be as thorough as possible.

1. Clean the Filter

A white water mold problem in your pool is likely to be found in your filter. Clean the filter first because the filter will be needed to complete this step. Infested with mold, it won’t work as well.

It is sufficient to backwash a sand or D.E. filter or spray a cartridge with water, but filter cleaning can be used if desired.

2. Balance the Water

Acidity (pH) is the most critical factor to maintain. With 7.5 being the optimal, make sure it’s between 7.4 and 7.6

3. Shock the Pool

White water mold cannot be eradicated with a single dose. Your pool will require a significant amount of chlorine shock. Calcium hypochlorite shock should be added at a rate of 3 or 4 pounds for every 10,000 gallons.

Using a pool calculator before shocking might help you determine the volume of your pool.

When the bag is opened, use everything that’s inside. Use a brush to spread any granules that may have settled to the bottom of the pool. When the filter pump is running at night, add the correct amount of this product.

4. Brush the Pool

The bottom and walls of the pool should be carefully cleaned with a stiff pool brush. The objective is to remove as much of the white water mold as possible by brushing it off with a stiff brush.

Mold prefers to hide in and around the pool’s skimmer and return jets, beneath ladders, and in otherwise gloomy areas.

Long-lasting sturdiness that you can rely on. Brushing that can swiftly and efficiently clean big areas. Having curved edges will make it easier to clean around the corners.

5. Run the Pump

A whole 24-hour period is preferable to just one night. The goal is to get as much mold as possible into the filter, so give it as long as possible.

6. Brush the Pool Again

Is it possible that you missed some mold? You may want to rethink this. Even if you didn’t catch all of it, all you’re doing now would be for naught if you left it behind.

Once again, sweep the pool’s sides and bottom to remove debris, and then sit back and let it all settle.

7. Vacuum the Pool

An automatic pool cleaner will not suffice for this task. The pool will need to be physically vacuumed. Make careful to vacuum the floor.

Mold and other debris might cause the water level to drop too low when vacuuming the pool. Having a garden hose nearby will allow you to refill it as needed.

8. Clean the Filter Again

If you’re using a sand or DE filter, or a cartridge filter, use a filter cleaner or a chemical soak.

9. Test and Balance the Water

Take a sample of your pool water to your local pool business and have them test it for you, or use test strips or a liquid test kit. Maintaining proper pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels is essential.

You will have to repeat a few steps. This should serve as a warning about how problematic white water mold may be and how tough it can be to eradicate it. You may save yourself a lot of time and frustration by being patient, thorough, and meticulous.

Keep an Eye Out for More Mold

A few days to a week following this process, you’ll want to keep an eye on your pool to ensure that the white water mold doesn’t reappear.

Run the pump as frequently and as long as possible during this period. Make a point of sweeping and vacuuming the pool at least once every other day to be safe.

How to Get Rid of White Water Mold in a Biguanide Pool

Using different chemicals and making a few minor modifications, this procedure will be quite similar to that of chlorinating a pool.

1. Clean the Filter

A white water mold problem in your pool is likely to be found in your filter. First things first: clean the pool filter. You’ll need it later to complete this process. Infested with mold, it won’t work as well.

It is sufficient to backwash a sand or D.E. filter or spray a cartridge with water, but filter cleaning can be used if desired.

2. Balance the Water

Acidity (pH) is the most critical factor to maintain. With 7.5 being the optimal, make sure it’s between 7.4 and 7.6

3. Use an Oxidizer

Make sure you use an oxidizer in addition to biguanide sanitizer because it doesn’t remove contaminates. Regular shock, whether chlorine or non-chlorine, cannot be used in a biguanide pool.

White water mold cannot be eradicated with a single dose. To get the best results, you’ll need to double or even triple your dosage. Add 3 or 4 liters of oxygen every 10,000 gallons of water for this procedure.

4. Brush the Pool

The bottom and walls of the pool should be carefully cleaned with a stiff pool brush. The objective is to remove as much of the white water mold as possible by brushing it off with a stiff brush.

Mold prefers to hide in and around the pool’s skimmer and return jets, beneath ladders, and in otherwise gloomy areas.

5. Run the Pump

A whole 24-hour period is preferable to just one night. The goal is to get as much mold as possible into the filter, so give it as long as possible.

6. Brush the Pool Again

Is it possible that you missed some mold? You may want to rethink this. Even if you didn’t catch all of it, all you’re doing now would be for naught if you left it behind.

Once again, sweep the pool’s sides and bottom to remove debris, and then sit back and let it all settle.

7. Vacuum the Pool

An automatic pool cleaner will not suffice for this task. A hand vacuum is required to clean out the pool. Make careful to vacuum the floor.

Mold and other debris might cause the water level to drop too low when vacuuming the pool. Having a garden hose nearby will allow you to refill it as needed.

8. Clean the Filter Again

If you’re using a sand or DE filter, or a cartridge filter, use a filter cleaner or a chemical soak.

9. Test and Balance the Water

Take a sample of your pool water to your local pool business and have them test it for you, or use test strips or a liquid test kit. Maintaining proper pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels is essential.

10. Add Algaecide

For best results, wait at least 5 to 7 days after completing the cleaning process before proceeding.

Algaecide is generally not recommended by us. But a biguanide algaecide isn’t just a weapon against weeds. The sanitizer and oxidizer work together to eliminate and prevent white water mold.

Use a biguanide algaecide of 4 ounces per 10,000 gallons of pool water. As long as you like, you can keep doing this once a week for routine maintenance.

There are a few things you’ll have to do again and over again. This should serve as a warning about how problematic white water mold may be and how tough it can be to eradicate it. You may save yourself a lot of time and frustration by being patient, thorough, and meticulous.

Keep an Eye Out for More Mold

A few days to a week following this process, you’ll want to keep an eye on your pool to ensure that the white water mold doesn’t reappear.

Run the pump as frequently and as long as possible during this period. Make a point of sweeping and vacuuming the pool at least once every other day to be safe.

Frustrated by adding chemicals and trying to keep your pool clear all the time?

In this comprehensive ebook and video course, we have eliminated all the uncertainty of pool maintenance. It will save you $100 in the first month alone in pool maintenance costs!

How to Get Rid of Pink Slime in a Chlorine Pool

Most chemicals used to clean and sterilize your pool are ineffective against pink bacteria. As a result, standard cleaning procedures and sanitizer doses are ineffective in this case.

Blog: How To Prevent Algae Forming In Your Pool - Pool & Spa Warehouse

1. Clean the Filter

In the event that you find pink bacteria in your pool, it’s likely that it’s also in your filter. First things first: clean the pool filter. You’ll need it later to complete this process.

It is sufficient to backwash a sand or D.E. filter or spray a cartridge with water, but filter cleaning can be used if desired.

Your pool or hot tub filters will look and perform like new after using this strong cleanser!

2. Balance the Water

Acidity (pH) is the most critical factor to maintain. With 7.5 being the optimal, make sure it’s between 7.4 and 7.6

3. Turn off the Pump

Your water will contain chemicals that you don’t want to circulate until you’ve finished adding them.

4. Brush the Pool

Brush the bottom and walls of the pool thoroughly using a hard pool brush. As much of the pink germs as possible needs to be removed from the surface.

Check around the skimmer and return jets, behind the ladders, and in the shaded areas of your pool where bacteria likes to hide out. ‘

5. Add Algaecide (Sort Of)

Pink slime is bacteria, not algae, as we’ve already established. As a result, various companies have developed devices to deal with the condition as it is often called.

The only “algicide” you should buy is one labeled “for the treatment of rosy slim or rosy bacteria.” Brands like Pink Treat are an example.

6. Shock the Pool

The pink bacteria is resistant to most chemicals, so a regular dose won’t do the trick. Your pool will require a significant amount of chlorine shock. Adding 3 or 4 pounds of calcium hypochlorite shock per 10,000 gallons of water would accomplish this.

After each shock treatment, make sure the water is safe to drink. The ultimate goal is to raise the chlorine concentration to 5 ppm (ppm).

7. Take a Break

overnight, allow the pool to cool down.

8. Vacuum the Pool

An automatic pool cleaner will not suffice for this task. A hand vacuum is required to clean out the pool. Make careful to vacuum the floor.

Precaution: Make sure the water does not get too low. Having a garden hose nearby will allow you to refill it as needed.

9. Clean the Filter Again

If you’re using a sand or DE filter, or a cartridge filter, use a filter cleaner or a chemical soak.

10. Run the Pump

Put it back on as usual.

11. Keep the Chlorine Level High

Keep the chlorine level at 5 ppm for about a week following this treatment. To make sure you’re keeping the water at this level, you’ll need to test it daily.

Test strips or a liquid test kit are the quickest and most convenient options for determining this frequently.

If you purchase something after clicking on this link, we will receive a small commission.

12. Balance the Water

Take it easy for a week or so until the chlorine level drops back to normal and then balance the water as you typically do.

How to Get Rid of Pink Slime in a Biguanide Pool

Using different chemicals and making a few minor modifications, this procedure will be quite similar to that of chlorinating a pool.

1. Clean the Filter

In the event that you find pink bacteria in your pool, it’s likely that it’s also in your filter. First things first: clean the pool filter. You’ll need it later to complete this process.

It is sufficient to backwash a sand or D.E. filter or spray a cartridge with water, but filter cleaning can be used if desired.

2. Balance the Water

Acidity (pH) is the most critical factor to maintain. With 7.5 being the optimal, make sure it’s between 7.4 and 7.6

3. Turn off the Pump

Your water will contain chemicals that you don’t want to circulate until you’ve finished adding them.

4. Brush the Pool

The bottom and walls of the pool should be carefully cleaned with a stiff pool brush. As much of the pink germs as possible needs to be removed from the surface.

Check around the skimmer and return jets, behind the ladders, and in the shaded areas of your pool where bacteria likes to hide out. ‘

Add Biguanide Algaecide

Biguanide pools can’t be treated with conventional algaecide or the pink “algacide.” For every 10,000 gallons of pool water, add 16 ounces of biguanide algaecide.

3. Add an Oxidizer

Make sure you use an oxidizer in addition to biguanide sanitizer because it doesn’t remove contaminates. Regular shock, whether chlorine or non-chlorine, cannot be used in a biguanide pool.

The pink bacteria is resistant to most chemicals, so a regular dose won’t do the trick. To get the best results, you’ll need to double or even triple your dosage. Add 3 or 4 liters of oxygen every 10,000 gallons of water for this procedure.

4. Raise the Sanitizer Level

Biguanide’s typical concentration ranges from 30 to 50 ppm. Bring the biguanide concentration to 50 ppm to destroy the pink bacteria.

6. Take a Break

overnight, allow the pool to cool down.

7. Vacuum the Pool

An automatic pool cleaner will not suffice for this task. A hand vacuum is required to clean out the pool. Make careful to vacuum the floor.

Precaution: Make sure the water does not get too low. Having a garden hose nearby will allow you to refill it as needed.

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Recheck the Sanitizer Level

The biguanide concentration should remain at 50 ppm. If it has fallen, apply more biguanide to restore it back to its original height.

8. Clean the Filter Again

If you’re using a sand or DE filter, or a cartridge filter, use a filter cleaner or a chemical soak.

9. Run the Pump

Until the water is clear, leave it running constantly.

11. Balance the Water

Allow the biguanide level to return to normal when the water has cleared, and then rebalance the water as usual to restore all levels to their proper positions.

Keep an Eye Out for More Bacteria

A few days to a week following this process, you’ll want to keep an eye on your pool to ensure that the pink bacteria doesn’t reappear.

Run the pump as frequently and as long as possible during this period. Make a point of sweeping and vacuuming the pool at least once every other day to be safe.

How to Prevent White Water Mold and Pink Slime in Your Pool

Whew! In the end, you’ll want to make sure mold and germs stay where they belong—out of your swimming pool!

Keeping your pool clean (and we mean clean) and the water balanced (particularly in terms of pH and sanitizer levels) as well as shocking it often are the strongest defenses against either invasion (or use an oxidizer for a biguanide pool).

No More Pink, White and Blue for You!

Suddenly, just when you thought it was safe to get back into the water, it is. The hard work you’ve put in deserves some time off to relax by the pool. Keep the white water mold at bay by according to your pool care routine, and don’t let the pink slime return to your pool. Keeping your pool clean, clear, and swimmable requires only a small amount of time and effort.

FAQs

How Do White Water Molds Grow In Pool?

It is a common misconception that the chemicals used to clean swimming pools are the source of white water molds. However, this sort of mold occurs naturally throughout the environment.

Molds called oomycetes or white water molds are naturally occurring fungus that can be detected in municipal drinking water. They feed on decomposing organic debris found in filthy pools, and this is how they grow.

Normally, they enter the pool through a contaminated garden hose and PVC pipe because of their liking for plastic piping. They tend to multiply in places where water flow is poor, making it difficult to reach parts of the pool.

White water molds thrive in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms and kitchen sinks. To get rid of black mold in the sink, follow these instructions.

Is White Water Mold Harmful To Humans?

Non-pathogenic white water mold. Humans are not harmed or harmed by it.

Pink slime, or Serratia marcescens, usually grows along with the growth of this particular fungus. A bacterium known as pink slime grows on top of white water mold.

Many disorders, including infections of the urinary and respiratory tracts and infections of the skin and wounds, can be brought on by its presence in the body.

Does chlorine kill white water mold?

If you want to get rid of white water mold, you’ll need to shock the water three or four times with a halogen-based sanitizer, like chlorine or bromine. The only way to keep a full-blown mold colony at bay is to perform frequent, thorough cleanings.

Will algaecide kill white water mold?

Chlorine or oxidizer can be used to kill and prevent the reappearance of white water mold by using algaecide in combination with it.

What is the white film on top of my pool?

If you notice white flakes on your pool’s surface, it’s not paint but rather calcium scale or biofilm residue from an unbalanced chemical balance in your pool. When water contains an excessive amount of calcium, scale deposits form. Calcium deposits may be the source of the white flakes.

How do you treat water mold?

Mold can also be killed with a bleach solution in the right circumstances. One cup of bleach in one gallon of water should be applied to the surface and not rinsed off. Mix ammonia and water in a 50/50 ratio. Spritz on the surface, wait a few hours, and then rinse.

What is the white flaky stuff in my pool?

Calcium carbonate flakes are common in saline water pools. Salt chlorine generators produce a high pH byproduct (sodium hydroxide) that causes scale to build in the salt cell, resulting in calcium flakes.

Can you shock a pool after adding algaecide?

In order to get rid of algae, it is possible to use a combination of shock and algaecide, but this is not recommended. This is due to the fact that mixing chlorine and algaecide renders both substances ineffective. Since chlorine levels need to fall below 5 PPM, you should first shock the pool and wait for the levels to drop.

Conclusion

Remove white water molds from your swimming pool without difficulty. To get rid of white water mold in a swimming pool, follow our step-by-step instructions.

Maintaining the cleanliness of your pool is the best way to prevent the growth of white water mould. Regularly clean your pool by skimming and scrubbing and running the filter.

Using chlorine, keeping the pH level stable, and exposing the pool to UV radiation are all ways to sanitize the pool. If the mold problem does not go away, you should seek professional assistance.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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