The ‘Water Balance Triad’ starts with the pH of your pool. The water used here should have a pH between 7.2 and 7.8. Ideally, your pool reading would be 7.4 which is the average pH of the human body. This reduces the risk of both skin and eye irritation.
If we take it back to basics, pH typically runs between 1 – 14 with 1 being extremely acidic and 14 being very basic/alkaline. Pure water is entirely neutral with a pH of 7. However, there is no guarantee that the water that comes from your taps is neutral. According to the water quality regulations set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, tap water must have a pH of between 6.5 and 9.5 here in the UK.
When the water first leaves the treatment plant, it normally has a pH of between 7 and 8. This can change as it travels through the networks and reservoirs towards your tap. For this reason, it is important to check the pH of your water at its source when filling your pool or hot tub for the first time. This gives a clear indication of what you’re working with. We would also advise testing the water again if you have to partially drain and refill your pool.
For the best results, check your pool water pH at the same time as your sanitizer levels. The pH of your water will have a direct effect on how well your chosen biocide is working. Typically, the higher the pH, the less effective the biocide. With chlorine, a pH over 7.5 greatly reduces the chemical’s ability to sanitize.
Having a low pH reading allows your pool water to become more acidic which could lead to corrosion of the pool walls and/or internal plumbing. Alternatively, having a high pH reading puts your pool into a basic/alkaline state which can lead to increase scaling on your pool walls and in the filter. In this situation, you will want to find a powerful product to remove this scale such as our SpaChem ™ Scale Away.
In our next post, we will discuss Total Alkalinity – another vital factor to consider along with your pool pH.
If you have any further questions regarding Water Balancing, contact us today. Our friendly and experienced team are happy to answer any questions that you may have.
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