The carbonates in water help stabilize pH. But both the heat and aeration of spas drive out carbon dioxide. Consequently, pH in spas tends to rise. If pH is outside the recommended range it can cause problems:
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Swimmer Discomfort - Bloodshot eyes and irritated skin can be signs of a high or a low pH.
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Equipment Deterioration - High pH forces minerals into solids and forms scale. A low pH will corrode equipment and the spa interior.
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Chemical Inefficiency - Chlorine (and to a lesser extent bromine) residuals become less active at a high pH and overly active at a low pH. Although bromine operates in a wider pH range than chlorine, it’s still a problem if pH is excessively high or low.
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Water Clarity - High pH can make the water cloudy.
Since spas are smaller, holding fewer gallons of water, pH changes caused by people and chemical treatments are more dramatic. So to create a spa environment that is truly safe and relaxing, you have to control these pH fluctuations through having the proper total alkalinity level.