To increase alkalinity in a pool, the most common and effective method is to add sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda. Baking soda has a naturally alkaline pH of about 8 and raises both the alkalinity and pH of pool water, helping to stabilize water chemistry and improve clarity

Steps to Increase Pool Alkalinity Using Baking Soda:

• Test the current alkalinity and pH levels of your pool using test strips or a dropper test kit. Ideal alkalinity is between 110-150 ppm and pH between 7.2-7.8

• Calculate the amount of baking soda needed. A general guideline is to add 1.5 pounds (about 24 ounces) of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of pool water to raise alkalinity by approximately 10 ppm

• Add baking soda slowly and evenly around the pool, preferably in front of return jets but not directly into the skimmer, to allow it to dissolve and distribute properly

• Brush the pool floor near where you added the baking soda to prevent staining or discoloration

• Run the pool pump to circulate the water and mix the chemicals thoroughly.
• Retest alkalinity and pH after 24 hours and adjust further if necessary

Additional Notes:

• If both pH and alkalinity are low, sodium carbonate (soda ash) can be used to raise pH quickly, followed by baking soda to adjust alkalinity without raising pH too much

• Avoid adding too much baking soda at once to prevent overshooting the alkalinity and pH balance, which could require acid addition to correct

• Commercial alkalinity increasers often contain sodium bicarbonate and come with dosing instructions, but regular baking soda from a store is also effective

In summary, baking soda is the preferred and safest chemical to raise alkalinity in pool water, applied carefully based on pool volume and current water chemistry levels