The molecules in pool water absorb light from the red end of the spectrum when sunlight falls on the water. By removing the red, the light which ends up being reflected has a slightly blue hue which can vary in richness by water depth.
Looking at the structure of water itself, science tells us about the way the water molecules work. When interacting with light, the molecules actually absorb red light waves, whilst reflecting blue light waves. This selective process is known as electromagnetic absorption and is the main reason that water appears blue.
Contrary to popular assumption, water does not get its blue color from the sky. Any water, including swimming pool water, will always be blue because of the nature of both light and water, and how the two interact.
When pool water is cloudy, you may wonder why. Pool chemicals could be out of balance or the pH might be off. Chlorine levels and the right pH are key to keeping a pool clear. If a pool's pump or the filter isn't working right, the water may look murkier than usual.
In fact, barring unfortunate events such as in Rio, pool water will always look blue because of the way light and water interact. According to Dr Paul Coxon, a physicist from the University of Cambridge: “Sunlight is white and is made up of all the different colors of the spectrum.
Is There Truth to the Rumor? No. There is no chemical which changes color when someone urinates in a swimming pool. There are dyes which could cloud, change color, or produce a color in response to urine, but these chemicals would also be activated by other compounds, producing embarrassing false-positives.
The two most likely causes are calcium scaling or copper stains.
Citric acid works quickly to remove copper stains from pool and spa surfaces. This copper stain remover is a quick dissolving power which reduces the copper off the walls of your swimming pool.
Most stains and discoloration can be traced to improperly balanced water. But even “perfectly balanced” pools have the potential to contribute to these types of problems due to the almost-daily influx of metals, minerals and other contaminants. Oxidation also is a concern.
So if you decide to go in the pool, or you swim in the diluted urine of someone else, it's not harmful. Urine isn't sterile, but this isn't necessarily a problem. Similar to the surface of the skin and other areas of the body, your bladder contains a mix of healthy bacteria called the microbiome.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
No reaction. From a scientific standpoint, Esbaugh says that it's “definitely not true” that sharks are attracted to urine, and he assumes the rumor got started because many animals use scent to track their prey. But he says this doesn't hold up because humans aren't the most common meal for sharks.
A shark's sense of smell is powerful – it allows them to find prey from hundreds of yards away. Menstrual blood in the water could be detected by a shark, just like any urine or other bodily fluids. However, there is no positive evidence that menstruation is a factor in shark attacks.
Peeing in the ocean is totally fine, but don't pee in protected areas like reefs or smaller bodies of water, especially swimming pools.
The truth is that while urine isn't as clean and pure as some people think it is, most of the time it's not likely to cause health problems if you occasionally opt for the shower drain instead of the toilet bowl.
Borax acts as an effective pH buffer and helps prevent algae growth in swimming pools. Plus, it will leave your water looking sparkly and feeling soft.
Green pool water is often caused by the presence of algae in your pool. Algae blooms can appear when your pool has a low Free Chlorine. Exposure to high heat, heavy rain or poor circulation, without the use of a preventative algaecide, also increase your risk of developing pool algae.
Nearly 100% of elite competitive swimmers pee in the pool. Regularly. Some deny it, some proudly embrace it, but everyone does.
You should too. You wouldn't be alone. In fact, 61 percent of Americans pee in the shower, including Kelly Clarkson and Madonna.
A short video produced recently by the American Chemical Society answers the question, “Is it OK to Pee in the Ocean?” with a resounding “yes!” Ocean swimmers, relax, and know that your, eh, “contribution” is processed by the marine environment. Pool swimmers, you are not off the hook.
Super Iron Out is not recommended for pool water. Super Iron Out is safe to use in an empty pool to remove staining from walls, liner, etc.
Use Ascorbic acid to clear the stains and consider draining and refilling portion of your pool water to lower metal levels or use metal remover like ProTeam Metal Magic to remove metals through the filter.
One major thing to remember is that pool plaster can change colors or overall look as it sets and cures. Plaster is hand applied, so it is normal to expect slightly uneven areas, and the color will not be 100% uniform throughout the pool. Also, as the plaster cures, the appearance will change slightly.