Heavy rain can have a significant impact on your pool water. Rainwater dilutes your pool chemicals, washes dirt and organic matter into the water, and can quickly upset your water balance if left unchecked.

After a heavy downpour, here are a few things you should do:

Test and rebalance your water

Start by testing your pool water. Depending on how much rain has fallen, you may need to top up:

• Salt, if you have a saltwater pool.

• Buffer (sodium bicarbonate) to restore total alkalinity.

• Stabiliser (cyanuric acid) if it has been diluted.

• Chlorine, especially if the free chlorine level has dropped.

If the chlorine level is very low or the water has become cloudy, it may be worth carrying out a shock treatment using liquid or granular chlorine to quickly restore sanitisation.

Clean your filter

Heavy rain often washes dust, dirt, leaves and other debris into your pool. Your filter works hard to remove these contaminants, so it's a good idea to backwash your media filter or clean your cartridge filter after the weather has cleared.

Check your equipment

Storms and heavy rain can sometimes cause pool equipment to stop operating correctly. Take a few minutes to make sure:

• The pump is running normally.

• Water is flowing through the pump lid and return jets.

• The filter pressure is within its normal operating range.

• Your chlorinator isn't displaying any warning messages or faults.

Catching an equipment problem early can prevent your pool from turning green over the following days.

Remove leaves and debris

If leaves, branches or other debris have blown into the pool, remove them as soon as possible. Organic matter consumes chlorine as it breaks down, making it harder to keep the pool sanitised.