Some insects can spoil our summer fun. And as if biting mosquitoes, wasps and the like weren't bad enough, the swimming pool sometimes has the next surprise in store for us. A look into the water shows us little worms in the pool that you don't really want to keep company with. Have you ever wondered what kind of worms they actually are and where they come from? We have put together a selection of typical larvae and worms that you can also discover in your swimming pool and in some cases are dangerous to your health.
Why are the larvae even there?
Well, without trying to offend you, but worms in the pool are usually either a sign that the water is dirty or that the quality of the water is not optimal. With proper care and the amount of necessary chemicals, insects are not given good conditions to reproduce or live in water.
If you notice green spots in the tank, you can assume that you are offering the larvae a real feast, as this is algae that serves as their food. So it's a good idea to take preventative measuresMaintain swimming pool properly.
But what if it's already too late and the worms are in the pool? Are they dangerous? And what measures should you take if you discover the unwelcome guests?
Mosquito larvae live in water and most of the worms you find in the swimming poolcome from mosquitoes:
- White mosquitoes produce harmless larvae of white color.
- Small red worms in the pool come from midges and can cause allergic reactions when they come into contact with human skin.
- Brown larvae come from mosquitoes and pose the risk of transmitting pathogens, including not only viruses (e.g. yellow fever and malaria, although fortunately extremely rare in Europe), but even nematodes.
- Mud tubeworms in the poolYou can also recognize them by their red color, but they are more elongated than the red mosquito larvae.
When swimming in an infested pool, there is a risk of swallowing water and also swallowing larvae. In some cases, this can lead to a gastrointestinal infection.
First aid measures against the worms in the pool
Since worms in the pool pose a certain health risk, you should take action as quickly as possible before treating yourself to a dip in the cool water again. How to proceed:
Landing net and filter system
- Get a landing net with very fine mesh. With his help, you can now fish as many worms out of the water as possible. Remember that they will not stand idly by, but will swim into the depths. Therefore, repeat this again after a few hours or days.
- The next step is to deprive the animals of what they need to survive, namely food. So –get rid of the algaeand other insect food! For this purpose, your pool should be equipped with a filter system that sucks up everything that floats on the surface.
- The same system has a so-called backwash, which has the purpose of unclogging filters through increased speed following normal cleaning. This removes all contamination, including worms in the pool.
Check and improve water quality
- Optional but effective is also a pool vacuum, which you can use in combination with the steps above.
- Test the water quality using special strips for pH, alkalinity and chlorine and, if necessary, incorporate the necessary substances into the water (e.g. using chlorine tablets). Please adhere to the following guidelines:
PH valuebetween 7.2 and 7.6 (can be regulated by chlorine; check values weekly)
alkalinitybetween 80 and 150 ppm (parts per million)
calciumin water between 200 and 400 ppm
Final steps against the worms in the pool
- Carry out shock chlorination with a so-called pool shocker, which is intended to kill all parasites. This unstabilized chlorine only remains in the water for a few minutes.
- Finally, you can also replace the water. However, you can first wait and see whether the previous measures have not been sufficient, as this is expensive and, depending on the amount of chemicals still available, is prohibited by law (the public wastewater treatment system is not suitable for this).
- Once your swimming pool is clean and pure again, you should always pay attention to the correct hygiene measures and check the water quality regularly. You can also avoid new worms in the pool by cleaning the surface of the water every day with a net to remove not only obvious dirt, but also eggs that mosquitoes may have laid in the meantime and from which new larvae would hatch.
How to get rid of stringwormfind out here.
