Pool water turned green after vacation — Barcelona, Catalonia
Returning home to a pool full of green, murky water is one of the most common shock-and-treat scenarios. Algae blooms develop quickly when the pump is off or chlorine drops to zero for even a few days—warm temperatures accelerate the problem. The fix starts with brushing the walls and floor, then a triple- or quadruple-dose chlorine shock (bring free chlorine to 30 ppm for green, 40 ppm for dark green or black). Running the pump 24/7 while the chlorine works, backwashing or cleaning the filter frequently, and adding clarifier or flocculant to capture dead algae are all part of the recovery process. A pool technician can perform the shock treatment, test and rebalance pH, alkalinity, and CYA levels, and have the pool swim-ready in 2–4 days.
Who to call
For this problem in Barcelona, call a: Zwembadtechnicus
Vind een Zwembadtechnicus in BarcelonaSymptoms to look for
- Pool water is bright green, dark green, or blackish-green instead of clear blue
- Water is cloudy or murky and you cannot see the pool floor
- Slimy green film on pool walls, steps, or floor when touched
- Strong musty or swamp-like odor coming from the pool
- Pool filter pressure gauge reads higher than normal due to algae clogging
Spoeddienst in Barcelona
Emergency services in Barcelona respond within 30–75 minutes in the central districts (faster in l'Eixample and Gràcia, slower in the upper hillside neighbourhoods). Callout rates run €60–€150 plus €45–€80/hour including IVA — among the highest in Spain alongside Madrid. Confirm the contractor is a registered instal·lador autoritzat with the Generalitat before granting entry, especially for heritage-building work.