For those curious as to WHY a person would have interest in a fast, easy-to-use and accurate test strip for dissolved copper, pH and total alkalinity, the answer lies with pools, spas and water features (i.e. decorative ponds, coy ponds, fountains, etc.). In water samples from each of those three water environments a person could very easily expect to find traces of dissolved copper.

• Copper in Swimming Pools – Dissolved copper in swimming pools may come from a number of sources including, but not limited to, copper based algaecides and algistats, normal wear and tear on a heated pool’s heating element, and/or from source water used to replace water lost due to intentional draining and evaporation.
   
• Copper in Hot Tubs & Spas – One could expect to find dissolved copper in a hot tub or spa due to the natural wear and tear on its heating element. Also, in the case of outdoor spas and hot tubs we have heard that some, but not a whole lot, of people employ the use of copper based algaecides to ward off algae attacks in tubs that do not get used on a regular basis.
   
• Copper in Water Features – In an effort to retard and or prevent the growth of algae in water features — many of which do not have the protective benefit of sanitizing or disinfecting chemicals due to the presence of organics (plants, fish, etc.) — owners of water features will often use small amounts of copper based algaecides/algistats. Not keeping a watchful eye on the dissolved copper could have a seriously detrimental effect on plant and animal life if levels get too high.

Now that we know why people would want to test for copper in water, some of you probably want to know why anyone would find it desirable to also test for pH and total alkalinity at the same time. The answer to that question lies in the relationship between copper as a solid metal and the effects of pH & alkalinity on that solid metal when either parameter drifts out of the acceptable range.

Water with incorrect pH and/or alkalinity becomes more corrosive than properly balanced water and will eat away at (dissolve) most metals at a much faster rate. In pools, spas and hot tubs corrosive water will target the copper heating elements of water heaters and pull copper metal ions out of them.

If not watched closely water with improper pH and/or total alkalinity can very easily shorten the lifespan of copper heating elements in swimming pools and hot tubs to a mere fraction of what one would normally expect… and if they go bad unannounced, well, the cleanup & repair — especially for indoor hot tub owners — could very easily wind up costing a whole heck of a lot more than monitoring and balancing the dissolved copper, pH and total alkalinity levels in the first place!

Other reasons to monitor copper, pH and alkalinity levels?

While the untimely and expensive demise of heater elements certainly should make a good enough case to encourage folks like us to perform regular testing for dissolved copper, pH and total alkalinity, other folks out there may need a bit more convincing… so try THIS on for size: Dissolved metals (i.e. and especially copper) will drop out of solution and stain pool/spa/feature surfaces if the pH and/or alkalinity strays too far out of range!

To make matters worse, getting those stains off surfaces typically takes a good amount of time, physical labor (elbow grease!), and metal stain removal chemicals.

Testing for copper in source water?

Earlier we mentioned that water used to fill a swimming pool, hot tub or water feature may contain dissolved copper… and we meant what we said. Some well water and even some municipal/city/tap water may contain dissolved copper so it makes sense to always test your source water for quality before blindly adding to your pool, spa or water feature.

AND it REALLY makes sense to make sure you test for the presence of heavy metals (i.e. copper, iron, etc.) before adding strong oxidizers like chlorine or bromine because the addition of those chemicals causes a sharp change in the water’s pH and alkalinity levels… and as stated earlier this could cause the metals to fall out of solution (form precipitates) and potentially stain surfaces.

The term pH refers to the concentration of hydrogen ions in water. Measured on a scale of 0 to 14, neutral water has a pH of 7, acids have a pH of less than 7, and bases have a pH greater than 7.

While the desired pH for drinking water typically hovers around 7.0, the acceptable range for the pH of drinking water is between 6.5 and 8.5.

Why Does pH Matter?

Water with low pH tends to corrode metals. This can lead to premature wear and tear on plumbing fixtures and more importantly, it also means the water may now contain potentially harmful metals such as lead, copper, iron, etc.

Water with a high pH can leave deposits and cause sanitizers/disinfectants like chlorine to not work as well as they would in water with a lower pH.

Acids and Bases in the Real World?

Many popular drain cleaners make use of a very strong base called NaOH (sodium hydroxide). Other common bases in everyday life include baking soda and ammonia.

Common acids in everyday life include soda, vinegar and lemon juice.

Testing for pH with a Meter

Most times when recording extremely accurate pH levels matters, technicians and scientists will use pH meters since meters typically can give more precise readings than a person can get by taking a visual reading.

Chlorine & pH Meter: Analog pH 5.5 to 9.0, Chlorine 0.2 to 3.0 (CPH12101) Pool & Spa Tester with 3′ Coiled Cable Probe	CPH12101
eXact® Micro 7+ Kit for Water Quality Testing (486691-K) pH, Calcium Hardness, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid, Copper, Free & Total Chlorine	486991-K
pH Test Meter: Digital, Pen Style 0 to 14 pH (DPH8690) with Thermometer, ATC & Holster	DPH8690
pH Test Meter: Digital, Pen Style 0 to 14 pH (PH501) ATC with Calibration Solution, Screwdriver & Hard Case	PH501
pH/ORP/Temperature Conductivity Combination Digital Water Testing Meter (DPHO1380K) with Software & Carrying Case	DPHO1380K

Note: Before using a pH meter, make sure you calibrate the meter properly using the correct pH calibration solutions and/or factory suggested calibration procedures.

Other Ways to Test for pH

Often times people do not require precise pH readings and instead just need an approximate pH reading. For times like that a simple dip’n’read pH test strip such as pH Check will work just fine.

While the desired pH for drinking water typically hovers around 7.0, the acceptable range for the pH of drinking water is between 6.5 and 8.5.

Why Does pH Matter?

Water with low pH tends to corrode metals. This can lead to premature wear and tear on plumbing fixtures and more importantly, it also means the water may now contain potentially harmful metals such as lead, copper, iron, etc.

Water with a high pH can leave deposits and cause sanitizers/disinfectants like chlorine to not work as well as they would in water with a lower pH.

Acids and Bases in the Real World?

Many popular drain cleaners make use of a very strong base called NaOH (sodium hydroxide). Other common bases in everyday life include baking soda and ammonia.

Common acids in everyday life include soda, vinegar and lemon juice.

Mixing Acids and Bases?

In a nutshell, DON’T DO IT! Depending upon the concentrations and relative pH values of the compounds you mix, a violent and sometimes explosive, reaction may occur.

How Does One Measure pH?

Test strips such as pH Check work very well for this application and require users to simply compare the color on the test pad to a color chart. Other methods for testing pH require the use of pH meters. Although typically more accurate than pH test strips, pH meters require calibration and frequent cleaning of thin glass membranes and/or metallic probes.

WaterWorks^TM pH Check Test Strips (0 to 12 range)