If you own a pool, you have seen at least one of these 8 common Broward County pool water issues that can affect it. When you detect any of the common problems listed below, it’s past the time for your pool to be cleaned by a professional pool cleaner.

1. Cloudy Water.

The main reason behind this problem is the buildup of fine suspended particles in your pool. The factors that cause this buildup include: poor filtration system that is unable to filter out the particles or is not working properly; poor water circulation, meaning the water does not turn over enough; poor water chemistry, meaning the chemicals in your pool are not balanced properly; and overuse of your pool, which can cause depletion of your pool’s sanitation capabilities, which can cause debris such as dead human skin, bacteria, suntan lotion and cosmetics to build up.

You can address this problem by adjusting the free chlorine, pH and total alkalinity of the water to the correct levels. You need to maintain a consistent free chlorine level of 1.0 to 1.5 ppm.

2. Algae buildup.

Algae is the most common problem encountered in swimming pools. There are 30,000 species of algae, only a few of which appear in swimming pool water. Although algae are not harmful in themselves, they can turn sunlight into food, releasing waste as a side effect, which can cause dangerous bacteria to breed.

It is the blue-green algae that can cause cloudiness in the water. Other types of algae cause different problems. Pink algae suspend themselves on the surface of the water. Black-spot algae stick to the walls and floor of the pool, and hide in crevices or cracks where the water circulation is weaker. Yellow or mustard algae coat the floor and walls of the pool. Algae can also cause black or dark green spots on the walls and floor of your pool.

You can prevent the buildup of algae by maintaining the correct chlorine levels in the water, by ensuring proper circulation in your pool and by using a high-quality algaecide as part of your regular pool maintenance. You can also brush the spots with a firm brush to remove the clinging algae.

3. Staining of your pool stairs, walls and floor.

This is caused by the buildup of unwanted minerals. You can identify which mineral is building up in the water based on the color it turns into. When your pool water turns rusty red, it means that there is iron in the water. When your water turns black or blue-green, copper build up may be the cause. In addition, copper in the water can cause swimmers’ hair and fingernails to turn green. Manganese turns water to a deep purple or pink color depending on how much of the mineral is present.

4. Scales in your pool.

This problem causes brownish, gray or white deposits in your pool. The main causes are the accumulation of hard solids and the buildup of calcium carbonates in the pool due to excessive hard water. The ideal calcium content in the water is within the 100 to 400 ppm range. You can keep the calcium in this range by adding a sequestering agent to the water, which dissolves the calcium to prevent buildup.

5. Foaming.

This issue results in the surface of your water looking like it is full of soap bubbles. The most common cause is an air leak in your pool’s return lines, although certain algaecides can also result in foaming. Buildup of debris such as cosmetic residues, body oils and chemical byproducts can cause the formation of insoluble materials. You can address this problem by using super-chlorinate in the water as well as discarding swimming pool water as necessary.

6. Eye burning and irritation as well as heavy chlorine odors.

If you experience eye irritation while swimming in the pool, it could be because of unbalanced pH levels in the water. You can correct this problem by adjusting the pH level to the 7.2 – 7.8 range. If you test the pH level in the water and find that it is balanced, then the problem may be chloramine, which are due to insufficient levels of free chlorine. Free chlorine is the form of this chemical that is present in your water and is used to disinfect it. When it attacks bacteria and other impurities in the water, it becomes combined chlorine.

If your water emits an unpleasant chlorine odor, it may be the result of excess combined chlorine. You can address the problem by shocking the water in order to reduce the amount of impurities, which would also bring combined chlorine levels down.

7. Total dissolved solids.

TDS is the total of all the dissolved materials in your pool water, and is measured by looking at the electric conductivity of water. The typical TDS range is around 250 ppm and up. TDS is caused by the buildup of residue such as sweat, chemicals and other debris in the water over time. When the level of TDS in the water is too high, at a range of 1500 ppm, it can lead to problems such as hazy and cloudy water, problems with sanitation, forming and water balance.

You can address this problem by removing old water from your pool by setting the filter on the ‘waste’ setting as well as maintaining proper levels of total alkalinity, pH and free chlorine residual.

8. Phosphate and nitrate buildup.

High levels of these minerals in the water can make it harder to control the growth of algae, You can address the problem by using a precipitating lanthanum product to treat the water; however, if the levels are too high you may need to drain and replace the water in your pool.