Will soot and ash have an affect on water chemistry?

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We've got an uncontrolled widlfire burning southwest of here that has already claimed over 50,000 acres. It's about 30 miles away, but my pool has gathered a significant amount of soot and ashes today.

Will this have any affect on the water balance? I tested this evening and noticed that the CC was 0.5 but that was the only apparent change.

Do I need to do anything other that give it a good vacuum tomorrow?

 

[Richard320]

I didn't notice any big difference in the chemistry when we had a big fire down here. Lots of ash on the surface is all.

 

[lightingguy]

I'm right in the foothills where the Station fire started. Our entire property was covered in a thick layer of ash - you could make footprints in the "snow" - which continued to rain down until the rains came in the winter. I never noticed anything strange in the chemistry - though the load on the filter was significant.

 

[frogabog]

I'd keep an eye on pH just in case. Isn't ash acidic?

 

[yeggim]

I'd keep an eye on pH just in case. Isn't ash acidic?

Ash is alkaline. I believe a significant portion of wood ash is calcium carbonate? Or maybe it's potassium carbonate. I do know that wood ash is a good soil amendment for acidic soils.

 

[Richard320]

I'd keep an eye on pH just in case. Isn't ash acidic?

No, it should be basic. Pioneers used to leach wood ashes to make lye which they used to make soap.