"Tom L. La Bron" wrote in message
...
Jan,

Where have you heard this horse crap. Baking Soda when
added to acidic water will raise the pH to a stabilized
position and hold it there, but it certainly will not
lower pH especially if you pH is already at the 8 level.


Here's a good article on the chemistry of baking soda as a buffer, either
raising or lowering ph

http://www.mnwgs.org/articles/EmptykH.htm

"But how can the bicarbonate act as a buffer to go the other way, lowering
the pH if it is too high? In that case the bicarbonate ion would give up its
hydrogen as an ion, thus adding acid, lowering pH, and becoming a carbonate
ion (C03). HCO3 = C03 + H bicarbonate carbonate + H acid."