Why is the pH level of my swimming pool important?

Keeping the pH of your swimming pool in the correct range is a vital component of keeping your water safe and sanitary. For ideal swimmer comfort and chlorine effectiveness, the optimal pH level is between 7.2 and 7.4 (this is the natural range of pH for your eyes). If the pH is outside of the range of 7.2 to 7.8, the chlorine cannot sanitize your water properly. This means that it is more difficult to kill any algae growth that may be taking place. Here are a few other potential effects of improper pH levels:

High pH
• Calcium in the water begins to form scale at the edges of the pool, trapping dust and dirt.
• Water becomes cloudy.
• Calcium carbonate clogs the sand in the filter, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the filter.
• Increases the time required to kill certain pathogens.
• You need 80 percent more chlorine to do the same work because the chemical isn't as effective. • Eyes and nose burn. Skin gets dry and itchy.

Low pH
• The water begins to dissolve the surface of the grout, plaster, or other material that makes up the bottom and walls of the pool. The surface becomes rough and allows algae to grow.
• Metal corrodes, including ladders and rails in the pool. Heater elements also tend to take on damage.
• As the metal corrodes, brown or black stains appear around the pool.
• Chlorine activates, but evaporates too quickly to sanitize the water.
• Eyes and nose burn. Skin gets dry and itchy.
• Swimwear and pool toys fade.