What should be done if the total alkalinity is too high?

When the total alkalinity in a pool is too high, adding muriatic acid is the appropriate action to take. Muriatic acid works by lowering the pH and total alkalinity levels in the water. High total alkalinity can lead to issues such as difficulty in maintaining pH levels and increased scaling, making it essential to bring the total alkalinity back into the recommended range, which is typically between 80-120 ppm.

Adding sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, or sodium carbonate would further increase the alkalinity levels. Sodium bicarbonate is often used to raise alkalinity, calcium chloride is primarily used to increase calcium hardness, and sodium carbonate (also known as soda ash) raises pH and alkalinity. This makes them ineffective for reducing high total alkalinity, emphasizing the importance of using muriatic acid for this specific scenario.