I can’t figure this out

[Unbakedpegga]

I need to clean out my pre pump filter it is full of leaves but I can’t figure out how even though I have done this once before. But when I opened the lid water gushed out of the basket so forcefully it almost knocked me over and I thought I would never ever get the lid back on and there was nobody to run to for help. I’m widowed, I live alone and most importantly I’m old and don’t have the strength to make that mistake again. I thought I knew what each valve did and whichever way the valve was facing I turned it in the opposite direction. There was a black one on the top I couldn’t figure out. If it’s ok I’m going to post a few pictures here and I hope it’s not impossible for someone could give me some pointers

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! So you need to clean out the pump "strainer pot". I can see from the pic it's full of leaves. So here are some tips:
1 - You need to turn that white handle valve just in front of the pump to close it. In the pic it's open. So turn it 90 degrees one way or the other so the handle is perpendicular to the hose. Once you do that, it will keep water from falling down from the pool suction port/simmer to the pump. That was why your pump pot was gushing with water when you removed the lid.
2 - I would also recommend closing water from behind the pump so water can't flow backwards from the filter to the pump. In the pics I think I see where the hose exits the pump and goes straight up to the filter. If that's true, the you can place the filter multiport handle on CLOSED and that should prevent water from leaving the filter and going from the filter down to the pump.

Doing those two things should isolate the pump from the pool and filter to work for you. You may have a little water flow up and out of the pot just from the hoses, but that should be it. Let us know if that works for you.