Map of the Rio Grande River. Will Rogers once described the Rio Grande as âthe only river I know of that is in need of irrigating,â a prescient observation considering how fragmented this fabled river has become.
Low pH (acidic water) can also corrode metal parts of a pool system and damage the plaster finish. The State standard for pH is 7.2 â 8.0 (Recommended range 7.4â7.6). To lower the pH, muriatic (hydrochloric) acid must be added. It is advisable to add the desired amount of acid to a full (plastic) bucket of water before adding to the pool. (Acid introduced directly can stain the pool wall.) To raise the pH, soda ash (sodium carbonate) must be added. ALKALINITY Alkaline (basic) substances are present in all water. Within the 7.2â7.8 pH range, alkalinity exists as a bicarbonate material.
Tips on Lowering your Swimming Pool pH. 1  Never pour any chemicals into your skimmer filter basket (if you have one). The water here goes directly to your expensive pool pump, filter, heater, and other equipment. 2  If pH is really low, test strips and even test kits cannot test higher than a pH of 8.6. If this is the case, you will need to add a significant amount of pH reducer or muriatic acid to bring that pH value back down to testable levels. Once you can test pH, then you can fine tune how much more you need to reduce the pH. Use our online calculators to determine how much you need. In general, you add about 2 pounds of dry acid per 10,000 gallons of pool water, but use our online calculators to get a more exact guideline.