The Role of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in Swimming Pool Water, part 2

May 24, 2016

Reprinted with permission from Kim Skinner of OnBalance:

In balanced swimming pool water, why does the pH eventually rise after acid lowers it? One answer lies in the fact that whenever the pH is below 8.2, there is generally more CO₂ in water than its natural equilibrium level with the atmosphere.  Because of this, the extra CO₂ will off-gas into the atmosphere over time, and the pH rises.

Unless checked, the pH will continue to rise until the CO₂ reaches its equilibrium of about 8.2 to 8.6 depending on the amount of carbonate alkalinity.  The lower the starting pH, the faster it rises at first.  The more alkalinity (80 ppm and higher), the stronger pull to a pH of 8.2 and higher.  This is one of the difficulties that pool service techs have to deal with.

But there are exceptions to the above rule. For instance, a common but occasionally unrecognized factor which interferes with CO₂ off-gassing or absorption is a pool cover.  When pools are covered with non-gas permeable covers, such as the common blue bubble solar blankets or solid vinyl automatic safety covers, the exchange of gas from water to air and air to water is blocked.  The pH can remain unchanged for many days, even weeks, when pool covers remain on the pool.

So how long does it take for CO₂ to off-gas after adding acid for typical pool water? Or, why does the pH “rebound” happen faster and higher in some pools than others, or faster one time than another in the same pool?

CO₂ off gassing, and its relative speed, are dependent on several factors, which includes alkalinity, the starting pH, water temperature, circulation, ratio of water volume to air-exposed surface, and atmospheric pressure.

Factors which accelerate off-gassing (and speed of pH rebound) include higher carbonate alkalinity (above 80 ppm), lower starting pH, higher water temperatures, increased circulation, higher air-exposed surface area to water volume, and especially increased aeration as seen with waterfalls, fountains, and spas.

Factors which inhibit off-gassing (thus slowing down pH rebound) include lower carbonate alkalinity, higher starting pH, decreased aeration, decreased circulation, lower air-exposed surface area to water volume, and lower water temperature.

Service techs can observe for themselves the speed at which CO₂ off-gasses by watching the speed at which the pH increases.  They can detect how some pools have a major change in the pH within a day or two, maybe even in just a few hours, while some pools take over a week to have a significant change in the pH.

Next: The Role of CO2 in Swimming Pool Water, part 3