Decreasing pH Level of Siltation Ponds

How can I decrease the pH of siltation ponds because we are currently discharging water of the pH around 11 from the underground.

The natural pH of the water in the area is around 8.5 - 9 due to the geology of the area (alkaline porphyry).

I tried dosing dry acid but it costs a lot. Does anyone have a more economical solution?

Taxonomy

• Waste Water Treatments
• Quality
• Water Quality
• Hydrodynamics & Water Quality
• Hydrogeology

6 Answers

1. Alum at an initial dose of 10gm per liter of water is very effective since on reaction it can decrease pH

   Increase carbon dioxide content since carbonic acids decrease pH.

   Gypsum has been tried with effectiveness if water has high hardness levels,relatively.

   There are many organic solutions.

   Sodium bicarb r not much effective,as found from practice,though often recommended

2. MgO Magnesium Oxide in prill form placed in pond should raise the pH to a permanent 8.7 

   http://PrillyPureWater.net

   1 Comment

   1. Richard Fishman , do you think that MgO can lower the pH?

3. Dear Chris,

   1.     Add standard, white household vinegar to your  pond  if the  pH  testing kit reveals a  pH that's above 7.5. Use 1/4 cup of vinegar for every 500 gallons of water in your  pond . The acid in the vinegar helps neutralize the alkalinity and  lower  the  pond  water's  pH levels.

   2.     Add carbon dioxide hydrates in water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates to hydrogen ion and bicarbonate (HCO3 - ): CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3 -

   3.     Using herbicides to kill algae and plants will eliminate high pH problems, but the benefits are often not worth the risks and costs.

   4.     Tests were conducted to determine the effectiveness of calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, acetic acid, and ground corn for the control of high pond pH..

   5.     Application of ground corn did significantly reduce pH at all levels tested.

   6.     Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to be added in pond.

   SO42- + CH3COOH + 2 H+ → HS- + 2 HCO3- + 3 H+  

   7.     Nitrifying bacteria – Breaking down aquarium waste and reduce pH

    

    

    

    

4. Dear Chris,

   1.     Add standard, white household vinegar to your  pond  if the  pH  testing kit reveals a  pH that's above 7.5. Use 1/4 cup of vinegar for every 500 gallons of water in your  pond . The acid in the vinegar helps neutralize the alkalinity and  lower  the  pond  water's  pH levels.

   2.     Add carbon dioxide hydrates in water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates to hydrogen ion and bicarbonate (HCO3 - ): CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3 -

   3.     Using herbicides to kill algae and plants will eliminate high pH problems, but the benefits are often not worth the risks and costs.

   4.     Tests were conducted to determine the effectiveness of calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, acetic acid, and ground corn for the control of high pond pH..

   5.     Application of ground corn did significantly reduce pH at all levels tested.

   6.     Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to be added in pond.

   SO42- + CH3COOH + 2 H+ → HS- + 2 HCO3- + 3 H+  

   7.     Nitrifying bacteria – Breaking down aquarium waste and reduce pH

    

    

    

    

5. Do you need to dispose of this high pH water?Where are you located?

    

6. I don't know if you have a good place for a injection point but co2 is very cheap about .09 cents per pound and it doesn't take much to lower the ph.we use it to lower our ph and it's very easy to use once you get it dialed in.