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Can you swim with high pH levels?

Updated: 9/27/2023
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13y ago

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Yes, It will just make your skin itch

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Lower Your Pool Alkalinity

You want to run your pool water alkalinity level between 80-100ppm, not up to 150 as some may suggest. Most pools guys get their info. on how to balance pools from your local water company. Yes, this is correct. It's called the Langelier Index, which was originally designed for public water systems. This index was never intended for pools.

In the 1950's, when pools started to come into the mainstream, this was the only index available, so it was used to balance pools and hot tubs.

The Hamilton Index, which I use, is much more pool-friendly and is specifically designed for pools. It takes into consideration acid rain, drag-off, heat, the sun, organic and inorganic matter in the pool, etc...

While I don't completely agree with the Hamilton Index, it is much closer to how a pool should be balanced and will save you much time and money in the long run.

Higher alkalinity levels (120ppm or above) can be reduced using pool acid. There are mainly two types of acid:

liquid hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid)

dry acid (sodium bisulphate)

Take care when using acid because it may affect your pH.

While your filtration system is off and the water is motionless, stand in the deep end and slowly add (don't dump the product or go too fast), the pool acid,

or alkalinity minus if you wish, into the pool. Please remember to use goggles and heavy rubber gloves. If you spill any acid on your skin, it will probably eat through 3 layers of skin before you can wash it off. Remember, safety first.

Allow the water to sit for 2-3 hours, then fully circulate, usually 4-6 hours, then re-test your pool's alkalinity balance.

Using the proper chemicals and proper techniques will allow for better results.

You can go to the link below for a full chart on lowering your alkalinity.

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14y ago
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12y ago

Total Alkalinity acts like a buffer for your PH level in the spa, if your alkalinity is too high your pH is also probably too high. These acid levels can affect the feel of the water which can irritate the skin and the eyes. It is not harmful but should be adjusted using a chemical like PH down (sodium bi-sulfate).

The real problem with Alkalinity being too high is that this can affect how well the chlorine is sanitizing the water, the higher the PH and Alkalinity the less effective the chlorine or bromine is which leads to your water not being properly sanitized.

Also remember when adding PH down to lower your Alkalinity you should stay out of the hot tub for a few hows as that is a granular acic that your are adding and you want to give it time to dissolve into the water.

-Jay Broyer

Precision Pool Construction

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11y ago

Total alkalinity refers to the buffering capacity of the water or how well the water can resist changes in pH.

It is regulated by adding common baking soda that can be acquired inexpensively in any warehouse type food store. I generaly add 10 LB to my pool in the spring and another 10 LB if the PH starts to fall too low half way through the season. Hatawa

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14y ago

Low alkalinity in itself is not a problem. But it may affect your other water chemistry levels, such as chlorine. If there is not adequate free chlorine, you could have contaminates in your pool water.

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12y ago

Your question is confusing. You do not add alkalinity to a pool, alkalinity is a measurable component of a pools chemical balance. You normally only have to worry if a pools alkalinity is low and then the only impact is on the pool equipment. Baking soda is added to raise alkalinity, which is harmless to people so you can add baking soda to a pool while people are in it.

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11y ago

No, you can with chlorine but not with pH.

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15y ago

It may be uncomfortable to your skin.

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13y ago

No you can't its not good for you

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High pH levels can lead to the disruption of chemical processes in living organisms, affecting their metabolic functions and potentially causing harm to cells and tissues. In aquatic environments, high pH levels can harm aquatic life by altering the solubility of nutrients and metals, impacting the ecosystem's balance. It can also lead to the deterioration of infrastructure such as pipes and concrete exposed to high alkaline conditions.


Why is the pH in my pool always high?

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High pH levels indicate what?

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