Chlorine and copper are two chemicals which are highly toxic to each other. When they come in contact with each other, they react violently and you would be lucky to get away unscathed. The majority of pool owners get this reaction firsthand when, in an attempt to clean their pool, they accidentally add chlorine to it. Although this may seem like a harmless mistake, it can result in extremely dangerous and violent reactions. This article will advise you of the proper way to remove copper from pool water, as well as what injuries you may experience if you do not follow directions closely.
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Learn To Recognize The Signs Of Trouble
It is of paramount importance that you learn to recognize the early signs of trouble so that you can avert any potential danger to yourself. One of the primary ways in which you can reduce the amount of copper in your pool is by checking the PH level of your pool water regularly.PH is an abbreviation for “power of hydrogen”, and the concentration of this chemical compound in your pool will determine the stenchiness and transparency of your water. If your pool water is anywhere between 7.2 and 8.4, you can be certain that there is a large amount of copper in your water. When this happens, it usually indicates that there is a leak in the plumbing system which is pumping your pool water.The reason for this is that the PH value changes quickly with changes in the concentration of copper in your water, and so you will more often than not find that your PH levels rise and fall with erratic regularity. If this is the case, then there is no need to proceed with adding additional chemicals to the water as the original problem will not be solved by merely changing the chemistry of your pool.
Copper In Your Water
If you or any of your family members are showing signs of copper poisoning, then it is time to rid your pool of this toxin once and for all. To do this, you will have to flush your pool with freshwater and then replace all of the water that was removed. This process is known as cleaning your pool or spa, and should be done at least once a month in order to prevent any serious harm to yourself or your family.
The amount of copper that you are likely to find in your pool will depend on how long it has been since the last time that it was cleaned. The longer that it has been since the last time that it was cleaned, the more copper that you will find in it. In rare cases, it can even become an issue of lead poisoning as well, so it is important that you test for both of these metals if you suspect that you or your family are suffering from any sort of toxicity.
How To Get Rid Of Copper Toxicosis
If you test positive for copper toxicity, then the first thing that you need to do is consult with a specialist who can advise you on the proper course of treatment. Depending on how deeply ingrained the copper toxicity is within your system, you may need to take a more aggressive approach than others to rid your body of this toxin. The majority of people who suffer from copper toxicosis will require a combination of both medication and dietary changes in order to fully recover.
A Few More Things You Should Not Do
If you decide to clean your pool on your own, then you must be extremely careful to not put yourself in any sort of danger. One of the most important things that you need to do before starting any sort of cleaning process is to ensure that all of your local and state authorities have been notified of the situation. In some cases, you may be required to call 911 or the hazmat team depending on the severity of the situation. Once they are notified, they will be able to assist you in properly disposing of the contents of your pool before starting any sort of cleaning process.
Another thing that you need to avoid while cleaning your pool is introducing any new chemicals into it. Avoid adding additional chlorine as this will only encourage copper to accumulate faster within your water. If you accidentally add more chlorine to your pool, then remove it immediately as this will also cause you to react violently with the copper in your water. If you do not remove this chlorine quickly, then you will very likely experience violent reaction upon exposure to the copper in your water. Another thing that you need to avoid while cleaning your pool is using any type of acid to dissolve the mineral deposits which line the inside of your pipes. This is extremely dangerous as any sort of acid contact with your skin will cause severe and painful rashes which could become infected. Using acid in any way to clean your pool is also illegal as this is a controlled substance and so you will need a special permit in order to obtain it. If you do decide to use acid for cleaning your pool, then be careful not to eat, drink, or breathe in while removing the deposits as any of these chemicals can alter the PH value of your pool water significantly.
Remove The Entire Pool
If you are sure that the copper in your pool is just contaminating your water and that there is no danger to you or your family, then it may be a good idea to remove the entire pool and replace it with a fresh batch. This will help ensure that you get all of the copper out of your system which may reduce the amount of toxins that you are facing. However, you must make sure that you act quickly as this will likely be an extremely dangerous situation and one which could hurt you very badly if you are not careful.
Dangerous Chemicals
Another thing that you need to be careful about while cleaning your pool is using any type of chemicals which are known to be dangerous. Do not use any type of stain removing or cleaning compound as it will likely contain some sort of acid which can eat away at the surface of your pool and so you could end up with an even bigger hole in it than what you started with. If you use any sort of chemical compound frequently, then you will also need to change the pH value of your pool water significantly which may require additional work on your part. You also need to be careful not to use any sort of scrubbing soap as it can strip the minerals from your pool’s surface causing it to become dull and cloudy. If this happens regularly, then you will need to clean your pool on a regular basis which will result in more wear and tear on your equipment and so it is best to avoid using any type of soap or scrubbing compound at all while cleaning your pool. If you use any of these chemicals frequently, then you will also need to change the pH value of your pool water significantly which may require additional work on your part.
Additional Considerations
While it is not always possible to determine the source of the toxins which cause copper toxicity, it is still possible to determine how you are going to remove it from your pool. If you test positive for the presence of copper in your water, then you need to make sure that you remove all of it and so there is no further speculation as to the source of this element. As you already have a problem, you need to focus on how you are going to solve it and so you must remove all of the copper from your pool as soon as possible. In most cases, a simple change of diet and water will suffice to bring the levels back down and so you can continue your daily routine as usual. If this is not possible for you, then you may need to consult with a specialist who can advise you on the proper course of treatment for this condition.