An electrochemical cell for the continuous acidification of alkaline water sources and recovery of carbon dioxide with continuous hydrogen gas production, comprising: a center compartment; a first ion permeable membrane adjacent to the center compartment; a mesh anode in direct contact with the first ion permeable membrane or in direct contact with a screen that is in direct contact with the first ion permeable membrane, wherein the mesh anode allows for polarity reversal, and wherein the first ion permeable membrane is a sole active mediator for protons produced at the mesh anode to transfer into the center compartment; a first end block in direct contact with the mesh anode, wherein the first end block comprises channels for a gas escape route behind the mesh anode; a second ion permeable membrane adjacent to the center compartment, wherein the first and second ion permeable membranes are on opposite sides of the center compartment; a mesh cathode in direct contact with the second ion permeable membrane or in direct contact with a screen that is in direct contact with the second ion permeable membrane, wherein the mesh cathode allows for polarity reversal, and wherein the second ion permeable membrane is a sole active mediator for cations in the center compartment that have been displaced by the protons from the anode to transfer into the cathode compartment; and a second end block in direct contact with the mesh cathode wherein the second end block comprises channels for a gas escape route behind the mesh cathode wherein at least the center compartment is configured to be filled with the alkaline water sources, wherein the alkaline water sources comprise carbonates and/or bicarbonates. a center compartment; a first ion permeable membrane adjacent to the center compartment; a mesh anode in direct contact with the first ion permeable membrane or in direct contact with a screen that is in direct contact with the first ion permeable membrane, wherein the mesh anode allows for polarity reversal, and wherein the first ion permeable membrane is a sole active mediator for protons produced at the mesh anode to transfer into the center compartment; a first end block in direct contact with the mesh anode, wherein the first end block comprises channels for a gas escape route behind the mesh anode; a second ion permeable membrane adjacent to the center compartment, wherein the first and second ion permeable membranes are on opposite sides of the center compartment; a mesh cathode in direct contact with the second ion permeable membrane or in direct contact with a screen that is in direct contact with the second ion permeable membrane, wherein the mesh cathode allows for polarity reversal, and wherein the second ion permeable membrane is a sole active mediator for cations in the center compartment that have been displaced by the protons from the anode to transfer into the cathode compartment; and a second end block in direct contact with the mesh cathode wherein the second end block comprises channels for a gas escape route behind the mesh cathode wherein at least the center compartment is configured to be filled with the alkaline water sources, wherein the alkaline water sources comprise carbonates and/or bicarbonates.