Apparatuses and methods for clarifying liquids

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for clarifying liquids such as water in swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, and the like by removing phosphorus, particles, and suspended solids including, but not limited to, fines and ultra-fines from the water. The apparatus includes a perforated enclosure for holding one or more types of gel flocculant, wherein the apparatus is placed in a skimmer unit of the pool, hot tub, spa, and the like whereby water drawn into the skimmer contacts and absorbs the gel flocculant through the perforations of the enclosure. The absorbed flocculant acts to bind together the phosphorus, particles, and suspended solids in the water, as the water circulates through a water treatment system, into clumps that either precipitate out of the water or are filtered out by a filter in the water treatment system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.