Things That Lead to an Alkaline Pool

Alkalinity

• Alkaline in water helps neutralize high pH levels from items such as acid rain and to keep drinking water safe. Alkalinity in a swimmering pool serves a similar role. It helps to prevent the pH levels from fluctuating and aids in keeping the water neutral. If the alkalinity is low in a pool, it can contribute to the water can becoming too acidic. Although pH and alkalinity are two separate entities and have their own separate roles in water maintenance, they do have an indirect influence on one another.

Alkalinity Levels

• Your local water supply will contain a small amount of alkaline to neutralize the pH levels in many jurisdictions. Some areas will have a higher amount of alkaline in their water supply than others. In most cases, you will have to raise the alkalinity in your swimming pool rather than lower it. The ideal reading for alkalinity in your pool should be somewhere between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm). The water can be tested with a water testing kit or testing strips.

Causes

• In the rare case that alkalinity is high, it can only be the result of a handful of occurrences. The first reason could simply be that your local water supply has higher than average alkaline levels in the water. Another reason for high alkalinity is the addition of too much alkalinity-increasing chemicals. Maybe you slipped or measured incorrectly the last time you added chemicals to raise your pool's alkalinity. High alkalinity can lead to cloudy pool water and a decreased efficiency in your pool sanitizer.

Remedy

• When the alkalinity is high, there's a good chance that the pH in the water is high as well. This is because high alkalinity levels lead to a more basic pH reading in the water. The only solution to lowering the alkalinity is to add acid to the pool. The chemical to do this is called "pH down," formally known as sodium bisulfate. The same chemical used to lower pH is used to lower alkalinity. Depending on the alkalinity level, it can take multiple treatments with sodium bisulfate before alkalinity levels return to normal. Refer to the chemical instructions for dosage rules in accordance with your pool's water capacity.