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Acid Water Treatment

You probably don't spend much time worrying about the water that comes out of your kitchen faucet. But even water coming from a treatment plant is subject to contaminants that can make you sick. If you are drawing water from a well, the risks are even higher that your drinking water is acidic. Acid water is contaminated by carbon dioxide which dissolves into it, forcing the water's pH to shift from neutral to acidic. Testing and treating your water supply is an easy way to safeguard against water irregularities.

  1. Identification

    • Visual indications that you might have acidic water are blue or green stains appearing in the bottom of your sink or tub--this only applies you if you have copper piping. If you are curious about your water's acidity, go to a hardware store or pool specialty store and pick up a pH test kit.

    Warning

    • If you water scores a pH of 7 or lower, it is acidic and needs to be treated. The acidity is the product of low amounts of carbon dioxide dissolved into the water. Your body, as with many living organisms, is sensitive to pH, particularly if you lack calcium in either your diet or system. Acidic water can also corrode the piping it travels through, causing expensive pipe breaks.

    Home Remedy

    • Simple home solutions can improve the pH of your water supply if you have access to its stores. You can inject soda ash or sodium hydroxide into the system to improve pH. This will increase the alkalinity of the water. To lesser degrees, you can also improve water acidity by running the water through calcite, corosex or both. These "harden" the water, but the minerals used will have to be replenished periodically.

    Advanced Treatments

    • For more serious cases of water acidity, invest in an acid neutralizer, a tank which releases a controlled amount of minerals into the water system. These systems can run $400 and up, and need to be restocked with nutrients over time.

    Considerations

    • If your pH levels are extreme--generally below 5.5--talk to your water provider or a local water expert. They might know of groundwater factors that may be causing the irregularities and can recommend a solution. While a fixed system is a vastly more expensive option, it is also a reliable way of repairing your water supply long-term.

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