Total Alkalinity

Total Alkalinity (TA) refers to the total amount of alkaline substances present in the swimming pool water.

Pool water should be within the suggested total alkalinity range, which is said to be between 80 and 120 parts per million (PPM) to keep the pH level stabilized and avoid rapid changes in pH.  The pH is hard to adjust when the total alkalinity is too high, making the pool water cloudy, the test kit continuously requiring acid to be added to the pool water and the chlorine in the pool loses its effectiveness.  When the total alkalinity is too low, the pH changes rapidly and can make the water green, eyes of swimmers can become irritated, metals can corrode and etching of plaster walls can occur and the walls and floor of the swimming pool can become stained.  If this happens, the total alkalinity must be raised using sodium bicarbonate.  Swimming pool owners and service professionals should check the total alkalinity regularly, however if the pool is well-maintained, the total alkalinity should remain within the suggested range.