How long does recovery take?

Light cases clear in a day or two; dark, debris-heavy pools can take a week of repeated treatments and filter cleanings.

Can I just shock it once?

Only for a light tint. Heavier algae needs balanced water, repeated shock, continuous filtration and filter cleanings.

When is draining the right call?

At level 5, when the water is opaque and the chemical cost to balance it exceeds a drain-and-clean, and local rules allow draining.

Estimating

How do you recover a green pool?

Quick answer

Recover a green pool by grading its severity (1–5), then testing and balancing water, shock-chlorinating, running the filter continuously, brushing, and cleaning the filter as it clears — repeating over several days for heavier cases. Level 5 pools that are opaque and debris-heavy are often cheaper to drain and clean.

Definition

Green pool recovery is the process of clearing algae from a pool. Severity is graded 1 (light tint) to 5 (severe contamination), and each level maps to expected labor, chemicals and follow-up visits.

Step by step

1Level 1 (light tint): shock, brush, run the filter — often one visit.
2Levels 2–3 (green, bottom fading): balance, heavier shock, filter cleanings, 2–3 visits.
3Level 4 (dark green, debris): repeated treatments plus vacuuming to waste.
4Level 5 (opaque/severe): evaluate a drain-and-clean where local rules allow.