Hello, I am a swim school owner

[ktozi]

Hello,

I am a swim school owner in Melbourne Australia. ANd was wondering if you could please help me with a problem we are experiencing at the moment.

We have a very high copper readying in our pool that is 15ppm. We can not find any information on acceptable levels of copper in swimming pools though have been told that that level is unsafe by several authorities.

Can someone possibly explain to me what such high levels can do to people that are in swimming?

Also any suggestions as to how to get rud of the problem and what the source may be. We have plumbers, pool operators, health depatrment all scratching their heads at the moment.

And I have to sit back and wait for someone to decide wether or not we have to dump the water.

Thanks for your time your help will be very much appreciated.

Katie

 

[Metalguy]

Katie,

Don't know about the health problem, but it sounds like you may have a big corrosion problem-likely the filter pump and piping. Or it could be some kind of copper-bearing algaecide/biocide that it being used.

I suspect you may have to drain and refill AFTER you find the source of it.

 

[IRstuff]

Here are some references on copper exposure:

http://www.nextcity.com/ebi/contaminants/copper.htm

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts132.html

http://www.poolmasters.com/pool_datacharts.cfm

TTFN

 

[mizkn]

I suspect you have moved on especially reading the sources of the previous post you may have your answers but here goes anyway...

It is important to determine where the source of the copper is coming from..it could be from an algeacide (copper sulfate which must be used with chlorine/bromine) or more likely from acid corrosion of the heater tubes (if you have one) or copper tubing so, soad ash is needed to raise the pH. I suspect at 15 ppm your complaints are the pool is stained, skin irritant and hair turning colors...

Copper would be in the solution... so a flocculant (chleation) will assist without draining the pool.

Copper assists iron with our blood and this is a benefit but copper can have toxic effects on the liver.

 

[tllamz]

Commercial pools in Florida require the water to meet drinking water standards. The maximum copper concentration for drinking water per EPA is 1.3 mg/L or ppm, see

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/dw_contamfs/copper.html

I would check the source water level first to see if there is a problem there. Then I would check the chemical logs to see if the pool has been running with more aggressive / corrosive water parameters (on the acidic side) which may have dissolved some of the pump impeller, piping or heater core. Water balance per Langlier or saturation index is very important. The calculation takes into account the alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, temperature and total dissolved solids levels. See

http://www.kingtechnology.com/infostation/info532.htm

I would recommend draining and refilling rather than using a treatment chemical as that may remove other important metals that should be in the water. Some additives may percipitate out other metals that may also stain. Water is often the best and cheapest treatment method.

Excees copper can stain hair (especially dyed and blonde) and the pool shell usually turning it a green color.