Total Alkalinity
The capacity of water to resist pH changes — a pH buffer.
Definition
Total alkalinity (TA) measures the concentration of alkaline compounds — primarily bicarbonates, carbonates, and hydroxides — dissolved in pool water. It acts as a pH buffer, resisting pH swings caused by additions of acid, base, or CO₂. Low TA causes pH to swing wildly with minor chemical additions (pH bounce). High TA makes pH very difficult to lower and increases scaling tendency. Total alkalinity must be adjusted before pH — it determines how much chemical is needed for a given pH change.
Quick Facts
- Ideal Range
- 80–120 ppm
- Units
- ppm
- Also Known As
- TA, total alkalinity, bicarbonate alkalinity, carbonate alkalinity, pH buffer
Relationships
Outgoing Relationships
- affected by → Muriatic Acid
- affected by → Baking Soda
- measured by → Water Testing
- calculated by → formula-05
- part of → Langelier Saturation Index
- explained by → glossary/total-alkalinity
- related to → pH
- requires → Baking Soda
Incoming Relationships
- affected by ← pH
- measured by ← Langelier Saturation Index
- requires ← Water Balancing
- references ← PHTA