Acidic Water Filtration Systems Prevent Copper Pipe Corrosion on Acid Well Water

In thousands of homes on well water, acidicthe flow rate of the water, in gallons or liters per
water causes thinning of copper pipes, pinholeminute. The higher the flow rate, and the more
leaks, and numerous copper pipe leaks over time.gallons per minute flows through the pipes, the
Acidic water filtration systems can easily correctlarger the system required. Generally for most
and neutralize a low pH in well water.homes with 1 bathroom, a 1 cubic foot size
The pH scale is a scale from 1 to 14. A neutral pHsystem containing 100 lbs of calcite will work well.
is 7. A ph of less than 7 is considered acidic. A pHFor homes with 1 to 2 bathrooms, a 1.5 cubic
greater than 7 is considered alkaline and is lessfoot filter is recommended. For higher flow
corrosive to copper pipes than waters with a pHdemands and in homes with 3 to 4 bathrooms
of less than 7.and larger families, a 2.5 cubic foot neutralizer
Signs of acid water are corrosion of fixtures, bluecontaining 250 lbs of calcite is recommended.
staining (from copper pipes) or rust staining (fromNeutralizer filter tanks contain a small amount of
iron pipes). Acidic water can also cause pinholefilter gravel in the bottom of the tank and are
leaks and pipe failure over time. By raising the pHfilled to two-thirds full with a blend of calcium and
to the range of 7.0 to 7.5 the water can be mademagnesium carbonates made from naturally
alkaline which will then reduce or eliminate pipeoccurring minerals. These minerals dissolve into
corrosion.the water, making it less corrosive. More mineral
Common causes for acidic water are acid rainfallcan quickly and easily be added to the filter tank,
due to atmospheric carbon dioxide and othertypically once per year for most residential
airborne pollutants, runoff from mining spoils, andapplications. No special tools are required.
decomposition of plant materials. Acidic watersThe neutralizer filter should be installed after the
can be of good quality and are typically low inpressure tank but before any copper piping in the
buffering calcium minerals, but are high in dissolvedhouse. If the pressure tank, check valve and
carbon-dioxide gas, which can cause the low pH orpressure switch are installed with copper piping
acidity.the copper piping should be replaced with PVC or
Calcite Neutralizer Filtersstainless steel pipes up to the inlet of neutralizer
An acidic water filtration system is also known asfilter. It is OK to have copper pipes installed on
a calcite neutralizer filter. One of the mostthe outlet of neutralizer filter since the water is
convenient methods to raise pH, and add a littleneutralized at this point and the pipe will be
hardness and alkalinity is to use a calciteprotected.
neutralizer filter. These filters will typically raise theThis type of neutralizer also acts as a filter
pH of the water to 7.0 to 8.0 and add 30 to 100removing sediment and small amounts of rust
ppm of hardness depending on the alkalinity andfrom the water, and then backwashing it out
water hardness. The water will taste better and inonce every week or so. The most common type
most applications no water softener will beof acid neutralizer filter has an automatic
required after the calcite neutralizer filter.backwash control valve. The frequency and length
In neutralizer filters, the acidic water slowlyof the backwash cycle can be easily adjusted on
dissolves the calcium and magnesium media onthe control valve. Most backwashing acid
contact as the water flows through the filter,neutralizer filters are set to backwash once a
raising the pH of the water and increasing theweek for eight to ten minutes. This backwashing
alkalinity. This eliminates the effects of corrosivecleans the calcite filter media and allows the
water chemistries and can help to preventmineral media to more easily dissolve into the
corrosion of piping and fixtures.water over time.
The size of the system is directly proportional to