Acid Neutralizer for Well Water in Howard County, Maryland
Acid Neutralizer for Well Water in Howard County, Maryland
Last updated: Feb 2026
Written by Aidan Walsh (Mid Atlantic Water)
32 years installing, repairing, sizing and shipping whole-home well water systems. I'm hands-on with this stuff every week.
Quick summary: If your well water pH is below 7.0, it's acidic. Acidic water eats plumbing and fixtures. In Howard County well homes, the right fix is a properly sized whole-home acid neutralizer installed right after the pressure tank. For most homes, 2.5 cu ft is the most recommended size because it handles demand better and cuts down on top-off frequency.
If this is you - do this
- pH 6.0 to 6.9 and low iron - Non-backwashing upflow calcite neutralizer (simple, no drain, septic-friendly).
- pH below ~5.5 - Use a calcite + Flomag (magnesium oxide) blend (calcite alone is often too slow at very low pH).
- Iron or heavy sediment - Backwashing neutralizer (and if you are backwashing, Vortech is preferred for higher flow and more effective cleaning).
- On septic - Backwashing can be fine, but make sure your septic system is in good working condition and can handle the extra discharge. Avoid backwashing unless iron or sediment forces it.
Why Howard County homeowners run into low pH well water
Howard County has both public water areas and private well areas. Baltimore City provides drinking water supplies to the eastern portion of Howard County, and that raw water supply comes from Liberty Reservoir and is treated at the City's Ashburton Water Filtration Plant.
If you're on a private well in Howard County, your water quality is whatever comes out of the ground on your lot, not what a utility adjusts and stabilizes for you.
Geology matters. Howard County is mostly in the Piedmont Plateau, with a smaller portion in the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
In the Maryland Piedmont, groundwater occurs in rock fractures under unconfined conditions, with a lot of groundwater stored in the weathered bedrock (saprolite) above the solid rock.
That water can be clear and still be thin, meaning it has low buffering power (low alkalinity). When water has low buffering, the pH can run low, and once it's low enough you get corrosion. That's where the confusion starts. People replace plumbing parts, fixtures, toilets, water heaters, and they never fix the actual cause.
This is treatable. You do not need to guess. You test the water, then you choose the right neutralizer type and size.
How common is this around here, and why?
Low pH (acidic) well water is a common complaint in Maryland private well homes. In Howard County, it shows up most often when the water has low alkalinity and cannot hold pH steady under normal household demand.
What "pH" means in plain English
The pH scale runs 0 to 14. 7.0 is neutral. Anything below 7 is acidic. The lower the number, the more aggressive the water is.
pH is logarithmic. Water at 6.0 is about 10x more acidic than 7.0. Water at 5.0 is about 100x more acidic than 7.0.
What makes Howard County different town to town
Howard County spans two different physiographic regions (Piedmont Plateau and Atlantic Coastal Plain), so well chemistry can change fast from neighborhood to neighborhood.
That's why I do not "size by county." We size by your test and your flow needs.
Also, if you're seeing corrosion and you're using water softeners, high chloride, or you have a lot of plumbing repairs in the past, those factors can stack. Low pH is often the main driver, but it's not always the only one.
How this problem gets solved for Howard County well homes
Low pH well water is not a mystery problem. You confirm it with a test, then you correct it with the right neutralizer type and size. For Howard County well homes, that usually means an acid neutralizer right after the pressure tank, and sized for your actual peak flow.
When I hear "metal taste," "blue-green tub stains," "pinhole leaks," or "shower heads failing early," I already know where this is headed. You can keep swapping parts, or you can neutralize the water and stop feeding the reaction.
The warning signs are usually obvious
- Metallic taste (especially in homes with copper plumbing).
- Blue-green stains in tubs and showers (copper corrosion).
- Pinhole leaks, failing shower heads, running toilets, degraded rubber seals.
If your home was built before 1986 and has copper plumbing, there's another reason to take this seriously: older copper lines were often joined with lead solder. Acidic water can speed up corrosion issues. Don't guess. Test the water.
Best solution for most well homes: a whole-home acid neutralizer
An acid neutralizer is a tank filled with food-grade calcite limestone (and sometimes a calcite + Flomag blend). You install it right after the pressure tank. As water passes through, it raises pH and helps stop corrosion.
What it beats, and what it does not do
- It beats "doing nothing": corrosion keeps going until you stop it.
- It beats random part replacement: you fix the cause, not the symptoms.
- It is usually simpler than chemical feed (soda ash): fewer moving parts, no pump, no solution tank, less babysitting.
- It does not remove iron, sulfur, or bacteria: it's for pH correction. Those problems are separate.
Non-backwashing vs backwashing: which one is best?
| Type | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-backwashing (upflow) | Most well homes with low pH and low iron | No drain, no electricity, simple install, no backwash dumped into septic | Not the best fit if you have heavy iron or heavy sediment |
| Backwashing | Homes with iron or sediment where media needs periodic cleaning | Helps prevent media fouling in tougher water | Needs electricity + drain line, dumps 100 to 150 gallons per cycle, more moving parts. If you're on septic, make sure it's in good working condition and can handle the discharge. |
When iron is not the problem, our default recommendation is the non-backwashing upflow neutralizer. Simple. Fewer parts. Less hassle.
Vortech vs gravel-bedded tanks
On backwashing systems, you'll see traditional gravel-bedded tanks and Vortech-style tanks. Vortech allows higher flow rates and more efficient, more effective backwashing. If we're building a backwashing neutralizer, Vortech is usually our preferred platform.
See acid neutralizers | Non-backwashing options | Backwashing options
Video: how an acid neutralizer works (5 minutes)
This shows what the tank is doing, where it gets installed, and why calcite works without chemicals.
How to size an acid neutralizer for your home
Sizing is based on three things: (1) your pH, (2) how many bathrooms can run at once, and (3) how many people live in the home.
Common sizing mistakes I see
- Buying too small because it is cheaper. You end up topping off constantly and the pH is less stable at high flow.
- Ignoring iron and sediment. If your water fouls the media, a non-backwashing tank may underperform.
- Assuming "county average" applies to you. It doesn't. Test the actual water and size around your peak demand.
Simple sizing guide (based on pH)
| pH Range | Typical Media | Typical Size | My take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 to 6.9 | Calcite | 1.5 to 2.5 cu ft | Works in many homes. If you want lower maintenance and better handling of demand, go bigger. |
| 5.5 to 6.0 | Calcite (often upsized) | 2.0 to 2.5 cu ft | 2.5 cu ft is the most recommended for most homes because it is the safe, low-hassle pick. |
| Below ~5.5 | Calcite + Flomag blend | Needs review (often 2.5 cu ft+) | Below ~5.5, calcite alone is often not enough. A calcite + Flomag mix is typically used to raise pH fast enough to protect plumbing. |
Most homeowners don't want constant maintenance. That's why the 2.5 cu ft unit is the most common choice for us. More media usually means less frequent top-offs.
If you want us to size it: send us your pH, how many bathrooms, and how many people live in the home. That's enough to give you a straight answer on size and type.
2.5 cu ft non-backwashing (common pick)
2.0 cu ft non-backwashing
1.5 cu ft non-backwashing
How to test for acidic well water (do this before you buy anything)
Do not buy equipment first and "hope it fixes it." Test first.
Minimum test
- pH
- Iron and sediment (helps decide non-backwashing vs backwashing)
Smart test (if you have corrosion symptoms)
- pH
- alkalinity
- hardness
- iron and manganese
- TDS
- copper (if you have copper plumbing and symptoms)
- lead (especially if your home is older or you suspect old solder)
Howard County's Bureau of Environmental Health recommends regular private well testing and specifically calls out coliform bacteria and nitrate as low-cost indicator tests.
Howard County also notes that for established wells, the Health Department can collect samples for bacteria and nitrate testing through the state lab, and they direct homeowners to certified labs for more complex testing.
If you want accurate metals results (lead, copper), use a state-certified lab. Maryland's Drinking Water Lab Certification Program (run by MDE) maintains the certified lab list used statewide.
Note: Heated acidic water can be more aggressive than cold water and can shorten the life of water heaters and fixtures.
Example patterns in Howard County (names removed)
These are example patterns we see in and around Howard County. Your exact sizing comes from your test results and peak flow needs.
| Area | Problem severity | Solution installed | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellicott City area (older well home) | pH in the mid 6s, copper staining | 2.5 cu ft non-backwashing calcite | Staining slowed down, fewer plumbing issues tied to low pH |
| Glenelg area (well + septic) | pH low 6s, homeowner replacing valves often | 2.0 to 2.5 cu ft non-backwashing calcite | Symptoms stabilized, lower maintenance than chemical feed |
| Clarksville area (high demand household) | pH around 5.8 to 6.0, multiple baths | 2.5 cu ft upflow calcite, upsized for flow | More stable pH at peak use, fewer top-offs |
| West Friendship area (iron present) | Low pH plus iron that fouls media | 2.0 to 2.5 cu ft backwashing neutralizer (Vortech) | Media stayed cleaner and performance stayed consistent |
| Woodbine area (very low pH) | pH below ~5.5, low pH moving fast | Calcite + Flomag blend (often 2.5 cu ft) | pH came up faster and stayed more stable |
DIY install vs hiring a local installer
If you're somewhat handy, you can install a non-backwashing acid neutralizer in about 2 to 3 hours. It's basically an inline tank install: inlet, outlet, bypass, and a flush procedure.
DIY is a good fit if:
- You can shut off water, cut pipe, and make clean connections.
- You have room right after the pressure tank.
- You're comfortable handling media and following a flush procedure.
Hire a pro if:
- Your plumbing is tight, corroded, or needs rework to add a proper bypass.
- You need a backwashing unit (drain line, electrical, programming).
- You're on septic and want the discharge routed correctly and responsibly.
If you DIY, you can save on labor on the same equipment. If you do not want the headache, hire it out and be done with it.
For Howard County properties served by private well and septic, Howard County's Inspections, Licenses and Permits department notes that Health Department approval is required.
FAQ (5 common questions)
1) What pH should I be aiming for?
For most homes, you want to get out of the corrosive range and into a stable, neutral zone. If you can hold pH in the mid 6s to 7s, you usually stop the corrosion problems. Your lab report and your plumbing symptoms matter here.
2) Will an acid neutralizer remove iron, sulfur, or bacteria?
No. It's for pH correction. If you have iron, sulfur, or bacteria, you treat those separately (or with a properly designed combo system).
3) Does an acid neutralizer add anything to the water?
It dissolves a small amount of calcite as it neutralizes. That's the point. It can slightly increase hardness, depending on your water.
4) How often do I need to add more calcite?
It depends on how low your pH is and how much water you use. Check the media level periodically. Most homeowners review it at least once a year.
5) Should I use a backwashing neutralizer in Howard County?
Only if your water has iron or heavy sediment that will foul the media. Otherwise, non-backwashing upflow is simpler, cheaper to run, and easier on septic systems.
On septic: If you do need a backwashing system, make sure your septic system is in good working condition and sized and maintained properly to handle the added discharge.