pH is pHenomenal
There are several elements of water balance in our swimming pools. The most impactful element in water balance is pH. pH is critical in the proper operation of swimming pools. It has so much effect on all parts of our swimming environment, including bather comfort, system operations, and effectiveness of our sanitizer. Let’s discover the importance of pH.
pH pHactors
pH stands for potentia hydrogenii, which is Latin for the power of hydrogen (ion). pH is a measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration in water. The potential of hydrogen in your water determines whether your pool water is basic, neutral, or acidic. In our pools, we want our water to be slightly alkaline between 7.2 – 7.8. This is because the pH of tears from a human eye is about 7.5. Many influencing factors affect the pH of pool or spa water, including:
• Bather waste
• Sanitizers
• Fill water
• Environmental debris/weather
• Additional pool chemicals
pHases of pH
When eyes become red and irritated, chlorine is readily blamed, but we need to account for pH. Low pH leads to corrosive water, causing etching of pool/spa surface, corrosion of metals, and staining of surface walls. Other problems can include wrinkles in vinyl liners and eye/skin irritation. High pH causes scale buildup in the water, leading to clogged filters and heater elements, restricted circulation, cloudy water, and metal staining.
Other problems can include reduced chlorine effectiveness and eye and skin irritation. This is why controlling pH is important; not only for bather comfort, but also to maximize disinfectant efficiency and protect the pool and its equipment.
pH Control
No matter what we do, our pH will be affected by everything that enters the swimming pool. This includes our chlorine, which has its own pH: trichlor tablets have a low ph, salt has a neutral pH, and calcium hypochlorite has a high pH. So, knowing our sanitizer can help us control our pH levels. Further steps that help control pH include showering before entering the pool, keeping the pool covered to reduce environmental debris, and regularly emptying skimmer baskets and skimming the surface to maintain clean, balanced water.
