J-PRO-38 PVDF Acid Injection System with Solution Tank

Automatically Lowers High pH Well Water with Citric Acid

• Designed specifically for acid injection to lower high-pH well water.
• Heavy-duty PVDF chemical-resistant J-PRO-38 metering pump.
• Excellent for injecting citric acid and other compatible acid solutions.
• Choose from 10, 15, 25, or 50 gallon heavy-duty polyethylene solution tanks.
• Complete system includes injection check valve, tubing, fittings, suction tubing, and foot valve.
• Choose standard operation, pre-wired flow switch, or proportional-feed flow meter configuration.
• Accurately adjust acid feed to bring high-pH water closer to your desired pH.
• Easy to install, prime, adjust, and maintain.

IMPORTANT: This system is configured and sold for acid injection and pH reduction. It is not a chlorination system.

Lower High pH Automatically with Acid Injection

If your well water has a naturally high pH, the J-PRO-38 PVDF Acid Injection System provides an automatic way to inject a controlled amount of acid into the water supply.

High-pH water can be difficult to treat because the amount of acid required depends not only on the starting pH, but also on the water's alkalinity and overall chemistry. The J-PRO-38 allows the acid feed rate to be adjusted so you can gradually dial in the desired finished-water pH.

For many residential applications we recommend using powdered citric acid mixed with soft or purified water. The PVDF wetted components of the J-PRO-38 are designed for excellent chemical resistance and make the pump well suited for acid-feed applications.

Features: Heavy-Duty PVDF Acid Metering Pump

• Designed for lowering high-pH well water.
• Heavy-duty PVDF chemical-resistant wetted components.
• Excellent for citric acid injection.
• Suitable for compatible acid solutions.
• Stroke frequency adjustable from 0 to 100 strokes per minute.
• Digital speed adjustment makes the pump fast and easy to fine-tune.
• Works at line pressures up to 110 PSI.
• Low power consumption.
• Built-in degassing and priming valve makes priming fast and easy.
• Pump mounts on top of the solution tank or can be wall mounted.
• Designed for continuous-duty chemical-feed applications.
• Complete system includes tubing, fittings, foot valve, and injection check valve.

Free Expert Technical Setup & Support

Since 1986 we have helped homeowners solve difficult well-water problems. Correctly lowering pH requires more than simply turning on an acid pump. Your starting pH, alkalinity, water usage, acid concentration, flow rate, and desired finished-water pH all affect the correct setting.

Our water treatment specialists can help you determine an appropriate starting acid concentration and J-PRO-38 setting. Our easy-to-follow installation instructions walk you through setup and adjustment, and if you need additional help, our technical support team is just a phone call or email away.

What Is Included?

• J-PRO-38 PVDF chemical metering pump.
• 10, 15, 25, or 50 gallon heavy-duty polyethylene solution tank.
• 12 feet of tubing and fittings to connect the pump, injection check valve, and solution tank.
• 1 injection check valve with 1/2" male pipe thread.
• Suction tubing and foot valve to connect the solution tank to the pump.
• Degassing / priming valve to make the pump easy to prime.
• Easy-to-read installation and operating manual.
• Optional proportional-feed flow meter package when selected.

What Size Solution Tank Should I Order?

We recommend the 15 or 25 gallon solution tank for most residential acid injection systems.

The best size depends on your water usage, acid concentration, required feed rate, and how frequently you want to mix additional solution. A larger tank does not necessarily improve treatment performance; it simply provides more solution capacity.

Dimensions including pump mounted on tank (width x height):

• 10 Gallon: 14" x 24"
• 15 Gallon: 16" x 29"
• 25 Gallon: 18" x 32.5"
• 50 Gallon: 22" x 41.5"

What Type of Acid Should I Use?

For most residential applications, we recommend powdered citric acid mixed with soft or purified water.

Citric acid is convenient to store, easy to mix, and is an excellent starting choice when the goal is to reduce high-pH well water.

A common starting solution is approximately 1 pound of citric acid (about 2 cups) dissolved in 1 gallon of soft or purified water.

This is a starting concentration only. The actual amount of acid required depends heavily on the alkalinity and chemistry of your water. Test the treated-water pH and make gradual adjustments until the desired pH is consistently achieved.

Why Does Alkalinity Matter When Lowering pH?

Two wells can both have a pH of 9.0 and require very different amounts of acid to bring the water down to pH 7.0.

The reason is alkalinity. Alkalinity measures the water's ability to resist a change in pH. Water with higher alkalinity generally requires more acid to achieve the same pH reduction than water with low alkalinity.

For best results, we recommend having both pH and alkalinity results available when sizing and setting up an acid injection system.

Why Use a PVDF Pump for Acid?

Acid injection requires a metering pump with wetted components that are compatible with the chemical being pumped.

The J-PRO-38 PVDF pump uses highly chemical-resistant wetted components designed for demanding chemical-feed applications. This makes it a much better choice for acid injection than pumps constructed from materials that may deteriorate when exposed to acidic solutions.

Should I Use a Contact Retention Tank?

Yes. For most acid injection installations, we highly recommend a contact tank.

After acid is injected, the water needs adequate mixing and contact time so the acid can react evenly with the water. A contact tank helps stabilize the finished-water pH and reduces rapid fluctuations as household flow changes.

• Provides additional mixing time for the acid and water.
• Helps produce a more stable finished-water pH.
• Reduces short-term pH fluctuations.
• Provides additional retention time before downstream treatment equipment.

You can find our contact retention tanks here.

Should I Use a Static Mixer?

An inline static mixer can improve the rapid mixing of the injected acid with the incoming water. Install the static mixer after the acid injection point and before the contact tank.

A static mixer does not replace a contact tank. The static mixer provides rapid initial mixing, while the contact tank provides additional mixing and retention time to help stabilize the pH.

You can find our inline static mixers here.

Example Acid Injection Setup

The diagram below shows a typical J-PRO-38 chemical injection installation. For an acid system, the yellow solution tank contains the properly diluted acid solution rather than chlorine.

3 Ways to Set Up Your J-PRO-38 Acid Pump to Turn On Automatically

Detailed installation instructions are included with each order. There are three common ways to control when the J-PRO-38 acid pump operates.

Option 1: Wire to the Well Pump Pressure Switch

This is the lowest-cost method for many conventional well systems. The J-PRO-38 is electrically connected so it operates whenever the well pump operates.

With this configuration, the acid injection point is installed before the pressure tank. Whenever the well pump turns on, the J-PRO-38 turns on and injects the preset amount of acid solution.

This method works best when the well pump delivers a relatively consistent flow rate while running.

Option 2: Pre-Wired Flow Switch

A pre-wired flow switch provides an easy way to turn the acid pump on whenever water is flowing without wiring the J-PRO-38 directly into the well pressure switch.

Install the pre-wired flow switch in the water line and plug it into a standard 120V wall outlet. The J-PRO-38 plugs into the electrical outlet on the flow switch.

Whenever water flows, the flow switch turns the J-PRO-38 on. When water flow stops, the acid pump stops.

For this configuration, the flow switch and acid injection point are generally installed before the pressure tank.

Option 3: Proportional-Feed Flow Meter

This is the best choice when you want the acid dosage to automatically follow changing water flow.

Select the proportional-feed pulse water meter option. The flow meter measures water passing through the pipe and sends pulses to the J-PRO-38. The pump then injects a programmed amount of acid solution in proportion to the amount of water being used.

When water flow increases, the J-PRO-38 injects more acid solution. When water flow decreases, it injects less. This helps maintain a more consistent acid dose per gallon even when household water demand changes.

Simply install the flow meter, connect its cable to the J-PRO-38, and plug the metering pump into a standard 120V wall outlet.

NOTE: Unlike Options 1 and 2, the proportional-feed flow meter allows the injection point to be installed after the pressure tank. This can provide greater installation flexibility and is particularly useful when household flow rates vary significantly.

Why Choose Proportional Feed for Acid Injection?

Household water flow can vary dramatically. One faucet may use only a few gallons per minute, while showers, appliances, irrigation, and multiple fixtures operating together can create a much higher flow rate.

A fixed-feed acid pump cannot automatically compensate for these changes. A proportional-feed system can.

More water flow = more acid solution injected.

Less water flow = less acid solution injected.

This provides more consistent chemical dosing over a wide range of household water demands and can make it easier to maintain a stable finished-water pH.

How Do I Set the Correct Acid Feed Rate?

Start conservatively. It is better to gradually lower the pH and make small adjustments than to add too much acid initially.

1. Mix your initial citric acid solution using soft or purified water.
2. Fill the solution tank.
3. Prime the J-PRO-38 according to the instructions.
4. Start with the recommended initial pump setting.
5. Run enough water to completely replace untreated water in the contact tank and downstream plumbing.
6. Test the treated-water pH.
7. Make a small adjustment to the pump setting or acid concentration if necessary.
8. Allow the system to stabilize and test again.

Once properly adjusted, periodically test the treated water because well-water chemistry can change over time.

What Is the Warranty? How Long Does the System Last?

• The system includes a one-year manufacturer warranty.
• System components are serviceable and replaceable.
• Using soft or purified water when preparing the acid solution can help reduce mineral buildup in the pump and tubing.
• Follow the recommended routine maintenance procedures for best performance and service life.

Important: The warranty applies to the equipment according to the manufacturer's warranty terms. Water chemistry varies from well to well, so we cannot guarantee that lowering the pH will produce a particular result or correct an unrelated water-quality condition.

Lowering pH, for example, will not necessarily eliminate a slippery or "slimy" feeling in the water if that condition has another cause.

This acid injection system cannot be returned.

Can I Install This System Myself?

• Yes. The system is designed to be DIY-friendly.
• A plumber or handyman familiar with basic plumbing can also install it.
• Easy-to-follow installation instructions are included.
• The optional Schedule 80 PVC injection tee can make installation of the injection check valve easier.
• If you want to minimize electrical wiring, choose the pre-wired flow switch or proportional-feed option.

Watch: How to Set Up Your Chemical Injector Pump — Step by Step

Not sure how to get your chemical injection pump installed and running correctly? Clean Water Store Technical Support Manager Bryan Bowdle walks you through the setup process — including mounting the pump, connecting the foot valve and injection check valve, priming the system, and setting up manual or proportional operation.

The J-PRO-38 is used for several types of chemical injection. For this product, follow the acid-injection instructions and use the acid solution recommended for your application.

Need Help Determining If Acid Injection Is Right for Your Well Water?

If your well water has a high pH and you are unsure whether acid injection is the correct solution, contact our water treatment specialists.

For the best recommendation, send us a recent water analysis that includes pH and alkalinity, along with any other available water-test results. We can help you determine the appropriate treatment approach and recommend a starting configuration for your J-PRO-38 acid injection system.