Can I use acid injection to remove carbonates and bicarbonates?
As described above, and in HILS 557 and 558, injecting acids, most commonly sulfuric, is the most common way to eliminate moderate levels of carbonates and bicarbonates and can be the most cost-effective. Unless the alkalinity levels are extreme or iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide or other contaminants are present in the water, acid addition may be all that is necessary. Do I have an alternative water source available? Both high alkalinity and high EC can potentially be reduced by substitution of another water source or dilution with higher quality water. Well water is the most likely water source to contain iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium and organics. Municipal water, surface water or a different well may be cost-effective alternatives to expensive water treatment systems for alkalinity in some cases. Municipal water prices and chlorine levels vary widely, however, so using municipal water may not be practical in some areas. Tomatoes are fairly tolerant of the chlorine injected
