Does adding copper in pools really work?
I am sure that by now everyone has come across the video on tiktok which went viral. The video is of a guy who put copper in his pools weir and claims it keeps his pool blue all year round.
Now that been said, yes to an extent using copper in pools is true but it is also a false statement. Back in the old days it was used yes, but it was stopped as the copper pipes left stains on the pools linings.
It also turned peoples hair green. Now If someone has extremely high iron in their body, you would see those people wearing a copper braclet to draw the iron out. This would always leave a green mark around their wrist. The same thing applies to pools. I mean this is nothing new and nothing you didnt already know.
But I get that for those seeing the video for the first time might have thought ” hey an easy quick fix.” Sorry to say there is no quick and easy fix I can assure you. ” Not yet at least.
Chlorine is used because it can oxidize organic waste. Copper cannot do this. It will dissolve and suspend in water. The Copper Ions are positively charged, Algea and bacteria are naturally negatively charged. So there is an attraction that brings the copper to the bacteria to mess with their metabolic processes and kill them.
Copper is a great sanitizer in water (if ionic) but it cannot oxidize. Essentially, copper can kill germs, but not clean the water of the germ waste.
Copper in pools is also persistent. You can treat a pool with chlorine, and if it leaks into a nearby stream, the chlorine will evaporate without doing to much damage. If however you treat it with copper salts, it will kill everything along the length of the stream.
If you use copper ionizers then different story but again this costs more than chlorine so what is the point? In South Africa our borehole water contains very high amounts of iron. Yes in a case like this it would work perfect, so by all means add copper as it will decrease the iron level. But on normal municipal water it will just stain the pools lining and turn your hair or skin green.
Copper is used in plumbing due to its antimicrobial properties, which prevent bacteria and viruses from growing inside the pipes. However, placing a copper tube in the pool skimmer will not prevent algae growth elsewhere in the pool. It’s important to understand that copper tubing in plumbing does not equate to effective algae control in the pool.
Excessive copper can be harmful to the health of swimmers and can also be toxic to aquatic life. High concentrations of copper can pollute the pool and pose health risks, especially through skin absorption during swimming.
Regular testing and proper pool chemistry maintenance are essential to manage copper levels. Consistent regular pool water testing helps prevent staining, green hair, and algae problems before they become expensive to fix. The maximum concentration of copper and iron in pool water should be about 1.0 ppm, with an ideal level of 0 ppm.
Approved commercial formulations for aquatic use should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions to control algae effectively and safely. These products are designed to target algae without causing the negative side effects associated with direct copper exposure.
So is using copper in pools worth it? No I do not agree at all to be honest. If you looking for a quick fix for your swimming pool rather hire a pool cleaning company to look after your pool. We take the hassle out of keeping your pool sparkling all year round.
