Total alkalinity is the total measure of alkaline substances in water and the ability of water to neutralize acid or buffer pH changes. Buffering pH changes refers to how long it will take a quantity of chemical to change the pH level.
It’s bad to have a low total alkalinity because this means your pH levels in your pool will fluctuate wildly. If the total alkalinity is too high, pH levels will rise or drift up gradually.
To adjust total alkalinity you add sodium bicarbonate for increases in TA levels and add sodium bisulfate to decrease TA levels. *Always adjust total alkalinity before adjusting pH!
Ideally you want your pool’s total alkalinity to be between 80-120ppm. For salt water swimming pools you want it between 80-100ppm.
Concerns of low total alkalinity:
- Etching of plaster, pebble, or grout
- Corrosion of metal parts, especially copper, stainless steel, and metal on your pool equipment.
- Staining on the pool’s surfaces
- Green water
- burning eyes and itchy skin
- pH bounce (rapid fluctuations in pH levels)