What Are the Causes of Alkalinity in Pools?

 

Keeping balanced levels of acid and alkalinity in pools is an important step to keeping a healthy pool. Balanced pool levels help prevent algae and pathogens from taking up residence in the pool water. Balancing a pool's total alkalinity requires measurement and attention to balancing levels of chemicals and particulate matter in pool water. Alkalinity can be caused by a variety of environmental factors, but can only be balanced by adding the appropriate acids or acid salts to the pool water.

Identification

Alkalinity is found in water that has a high level of alkaline compounds in the water. When alkalinity is measured in a pool, it is also known as total alkalinity or TA. According to the 2006 "Certified Pool-Spa Operator Handbook" by the National Swimming Pool foundation, total alkalinity is a measure of how the pH level of water changes when an acid is introduced.

Causes

A pool can be alkaline for a variety of reasons, but the problem stems from too little acid in the water. Conditions that can cause alkalinity in your pool can include plant or dirt debris that can dissolve into your pool and change the pH, and can also be a result of alkalinity in the local water source. Most of the time, alkalinity is caused by inaccurate addition of pool chemicals.

Expert Insight

Experts and pool product manufacturers disagree on the range of alkalinity that is right for a balanced pool. According to "The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual," balanced water should have total alkalinity of 80 to 150 parts per million (ppm) of bicarbonate and carbonate. According to "Pools and Spas," balanced pool water needs 90 to 150 alkaline parts per million.

Symptoms

Problems associated with a high level of alkalinity include cloudy water, clogged filters and heating elements, and roughness on the pool walls. High alkalinity can also irritate swimmers' skin.

Prevention/Solution

Acid can be added to a pool to control total alkalinity. According to "Certified Pool-Spa Handbook," acids used to control alkalinity include muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate.

Benefits

Maintaining a proper alkalinity level makes a pool healthier and safer for swimmers. Keeping a pool's levels in balance can also help prevent or cure an algae infestation or to keep the pool water from staining the pool. Keeping balanced chemical levels in the pool can also protect the pool from damage from mineral water deposits.

How to Stop Tree Fruit

Home Pool Maintenance & Troubleshooting

DIY Fences and Patios

How to Stop Tree Fruit

 

Stopping your trees from producing fruit is very easy, and is very helpful to the tree's health. It takes the tree a lot of energy to produce fruit, which means a lot of the energy needed for the tree to grow is missing. This is especially helpful with a young, fruit-bearing tree. Removing the flowers is all it takes to stop the fruit from growing.

Locate the tree flowering before the flowering turns into fruit. Depending on the type of tree, the flowering will look different, but they will be very easy to spot, as they are completely different shapes and colors than the leaves.


Locate the flower pods that have yet to turn into flowers and remove them. A lot of energy goes into helping these pods blossom into flowers, so removing them will help the tree concentrate on growing instead of flowering and producing fruit.


Cut the flowers off at the leaf junction. You can use a very sharp blade or gardening sheers. Pinch off the flowering pods with your fingers, and then cut the stem down to the leaf junction. Do this every season until the tree gets to the height you need.

What Are the Causes of Alkalinity in Pools?

Home Pool Maintenance & Troubleshooting

DIY Fences and Patios