A method for treating dialysate solutions used in dialysis wherein dialysateis treated inan early part of a dialysis treatment session by external infusion ofbicarbonate solution intothe dialysate circuit to eliminate the need for bicarbonate requirements inconcentrates usedfor preparation of precursor dialysate (priming) solutions and/or for a solidbicarbonate layerin a sorbent cartridge. Dialysate is treated in a latter part of a dialysistreatment session byintroduction of sterile dilution water to reduce sodium concentration in thedialysate. Themethod provides a more efficient and reduced use of dialysate fluids,electrolytes, sorbentcartridge materials, equipment scale, or any combinations of these, whilemaintaining puritystandards and applicable physiological ranges for bicarbonate, sodium, andother dialysatesolution components over the course of a dialysis treatment session.
