AboutSteve Young Expertise I will answer questions on residential water treatment, i.e. use of softeners, filters, reverse osmosis systems, disinfection, iron and/or sediment removal and other issues facing the homeowner.
Experience I have worked in the water treatment area for 15 years. I have specialized in the design of reverse osmosis, deionization, and water softening units. I have also done work in water quality and stream and river remediation as it relates to the Clean Water Act.
Organizations I am currently serving as an Expert for Home Improvement, Travel (New Mexico) and Travel (North Carolina)
Expert: Steve Young Date: 7/12/2008 Subject: Muriatic Acid System
Question QUESTION: Hello Steve
I finally got the pH to drop but it took 4 gallons of water to 3 oz. of muriatic acid to drop from 8.2 to 7.8 and the 4 gallons were distilled bottle water. The water company that installed this said to only add 1/2 more to the mix and it should drop to around 7.2 . Unfortoanlly for me they have no idea what they are doing. I am at 4 gallons of water to 4 oz. of acid and still around 7.8, 7.7 they are tell me that this happening because my TDS are to high ( 410 ) and I need more acid to break through it. I am still running the system with a high 8 ppm of free chlorine and a total chlorine of 5 pmm at a pH of 7.8 anything lower the sulfur comes back. Is there any truth to what they are telling me and do you have any suggestions or insight into this.
ANSWER: Hi Dan,
I don't know about the high TDS causing increased acid usage. To the extent that the TDS represents alkalinity it's true. What will cause increased acid usage is high alkalinity. Do you have any tests to indicate what your total alkalinity is? That would be very helpful. The higher the alkalinity the more acid it will take to lower the pH. The reason is this:
HCl (muriatic acid) + CaCO3 (Calcium carbonate alkalinity) -----> H2CO3 + CaCl The H2CO3 is carbonic acid and thus lowers the pH. But it won't lower the pH until all of the CaCO3 has been reacted with.
Let me know what you find out.
Take care,
Steve
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QUESTION: Hello Steve
The total alkalinity is 240
ANSWER: Hi Dan,
With the total alkalinity of 240 I would expect a higher acid usage to reduce the pH. The only suggestion I can give you is to continue what you are doing and try to get the pH in the range of 7.2 - 7.5 if you can. I know you are very frustrated with this system and with the company servicing your home but I really think you are on the verge of getting the system where you want it. It has been so long I have forgotten where you get your water. Is it from a well on your property? Have you considered having another well dug? Just a thought. A very deep well will not have the sulfur bacteria.
Take care and have a great weekend.
Steve
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hello Steve
The well is on my property the whole area where I live has sulfur. I need to have the depth of the well measured , well report not on file from 1996 when It was dug. Drilling a new well is like hitting a bulls eye in the dark. In all likely hood have the same problem I have been told from the company that dug the well. It is money best spent in remeadiation. I will keep trying to get it dialed in. Would shocking the well help or hurt at this point inn the process.
Answer Hi Dan,
I thought that was the case but I couldn't remember for sure. With that in mind I agree with your position about working toward remediation and getting it fine tuned. When you say shocking the well - are you referring to adding chlorine directly to the well head? If so, I don't see that it would hurt anything and in light of everything else it might just work. It would be worth a try and not that expensive of an experiment. I say go for it.
Good luck and keep me posted Dan. I feel for you - you have been through a rough road on your water system. I haven't known of anyone else who has had more difficulties and problems than you have!
Take care,
Steve
