Sodium bicarbonate treatment extends life of formerly acid lake
For the second time, researchers have used a familiar home remedy to restore the balance of a once acid lake. On September 29, Wolf Pond, in New York's Adirondack State Park, was treated with sodium bicarbonate to adjust alkalinity and keep pH at normal levels at least into the 1990's. Since it was first treated with bicarbonate in 1984, Wolf Pond has recovered and stabilized enough to sustain fish life once again. Repeated dosing is necessary because acid rain and runoff gradually deplete alkalinity in the lake over a period of years. Wolf Pond was selected for study because it has very little outflow and its major source of replenishment is rain. As the 1986 study explained, sodium bicarbonate was chosen for this application because it provides four advantages: (1) it is very soluble; (2) it cannot raise pH above 8.5; (3) it is easy to handle and apply; and (4) it is safe enough to be a common ingredient of many pharmaceuticals and foods.
- OSTI ID:
- 5348837
- Journal Information:
- J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 38:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
LAKES
WATER RECLAMATION
NEW YORK
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACID RAIN
FISHES
HELICOPTERS
MATERIALS HANDLING
PH VALUE
SAFETY
SODIUM CARBONATES
SOLUBILITY
AIRCRAFT
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMISTRY
FEDERAL REGION II
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RAIN
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER CHEMISTRY
520500* - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)