A method for reducing the total concentration of barium in a source of ground water, such that the water can safely be returned to the watershed or used for drinking water, is described. The present method includes extracting the water from a source thereof, and contacting the water with an effective amount of sulfuric acid. The method has the additional benefits that it simultaneously reduces the pH of the water as well as reducing the concentration of bicarbonate ions. An example of water often having total barium concentrations too high for release into the watershed, includes water extracted during coal-bed methane production.