Question:
Can we use pool water for purification (Ghusl or Wudu)? What if there is solid impurity in the water?
Answer:
Yes, pool water may be used for purification, whether for Ghusl or Wudu, as long as the water remains in its original state — pure and cleansing. The presence of chlorine or other treatments does not affect its validity, since it is still considered mā’ ṭāhir (pure water) so long as its natural qualities (taste, color, smell) are not changed by impurities.
As for solid impurities, the ruling depends on their effect:
1. If the impurity falls in but does not alter the water’s characteristics (taste, smell, or color), the water remains pure and valid for Wudu and Ghusl.
2. If the impurity changes one of the water’s main qualities, then it is no longer suitable for purification. This is based on the general principle mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ:
“Water is pure and nothing makes it impure, except what changes its taste, smell, or color.”
(Narrated in Sunan Ibn Majah and others)
The majority of scholars — including the Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools — agree with this principle. The Hanafis also classify water in a similar way, emphasizing that what matters is whether the impurity overpowers the water.
And Allah knows best.