What Determines Pool Water Color

What Determines Pool Water Color

Florida has over 1.5 million pools. By the end of this year, there’ll be even more. Bay County alone issued over 3000 pool permits between June and July.

Is one of them yours? Or maybe you’re thinking of installing a swimming pool? If so, there are many design elements to consider.

The more obvious ones include pool size and shape. But have you thought about the water color you want?

What color should pool water be? You don’t have to limit yourself to blue. But how do you change the color of pool water?

Read on to find out how to get turquoise pool water or other shades of blue and even green hues.

What Color Should Pool Water Be?

Water is colorless yet you’ve probably seen pools with different water colors. These include various shades of blue, bordering on green. You might have even seen black pools.

There’s no right or wrong pool color but most tend to be blue. This is mainly due to the water’s absorption of light. White light consists of all the colors of the rainbow.

Water absorbs red, yellow, and orange a lot easier than violet and blue. Because these two colors aren’t absorbed they reflect off the water’s surface. This results in the blue hues seen in most pools.

How Do You Change the Color of Pool Water?

The science behind light absorption is the primary determinant of your pool’s color. But this doesn’t mean you’re limited to shades of blue. Several other factors affect pool color and sun exposure is only one of them. 

Pool Interior

One of the main ways you can change the color of your pool is by choosing the right color for its interior. The three main materials used for a pool’s interior finish are plaster, aggregate, and tile.

These come in different colors that ultimately determine your pool’s water color. Use gray, white, or blue finishes if you want blue water. A turquoise-colored finish will give you turquoise water.

For greener hues, use black, tan, or brown-colored finishes. The water color hue will depend on how dark or light your finish is.

Depth and Size

It’s harder to get a rich water color in smaller pools. The greater the depth and size of a pool, the less light absorption there is. This helps to make the water color in the pool darker and richer.

Water Chemistry

You must use pool water products to maintain the pH balance of your pool. The color of your water will indicate if the water is too acid or too alkaline. A toxic shade of green will signal this.

Landscape

Your pool’s surroundings can affect its color. That’s because trees, grass, and even furniture reflect light. This will inevitably affect the color of your pool’s water. 

Weather

Believe it or not, the weather does change the look of the pool’s water color. On a sunny day, the water will look lighter and brighter vs. on a cloudy day it will look darker.

Creating the Look You Want for Your Pool

A pool is a major investment but with the right maintenance, it pays for itself over time. However, you still want to ensure you get the look you want. This includes the perfect water color.

What color should pool water be? Now you can decide. You have the answer to “how do you change the color of pool water?” You even know how to get turquoise pool water. 

But if you’re still unsure, Cox Pools can help. We’ve been creating backyard oases for our customers for over 60 years. We can build yours too. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.