What is the purpose of sodium bicarbonate in swimming pools?

Sodium bicarbonate serves as an essential chemical for maintaining the overall water chemistry in swimming pools. One of its primary purposes is to raise the total alkalinity of the water. Maintaining appropriate alkalinity levels is vital because it helps stabilize the pH level, preventing it from fluctuating widely.

When alkalinity is too low, pH levels can become unstable, leading to potential issues such as skin irritation for swimmers or damage to pool surfaces and equipment. Sodium bicarbonate raises the alkalinity without causing a substantial increase in pH, making it a preferred choice for pool maintenance.

In contrast, some of the other options focus on actions that may not be suited to the desired outcomes in pool maintenance. Lowering pH significantly is typically achieved with different chemicals. Decreasing chlorine levels can compromise pool sanitation, while increasing water temperature is not the function of sodium bicarbonate and instead requires a separate heating system. Thus, sodium bicarbonate is specifically valuable for balancing pool water chemistry by raising alkalinity effectively.