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Home > Archive > Building and Construction > July 2006 > Water well treatment question
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Water well treatment question
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| jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com 2006-07-12, 9:25 am |
| We just moved into a home in the country that has a water well. The
water has enough sulphur in it to be offensive. The well man
installed a chlorination system that eliminates most(but not all of
the smell). I have heard that aeriation is the best method of
eliminating the smell. It is much more costly($1000+ because it
requires the installation of a separate tank).
I am wondering if it is possible to simply use the well as the
aeriation tank and install an air pump that will discharge air close
to the bottom of the well(but above the water pump). Wouldn't the
air bubble to the top of the water column(in my case about 400 ft.)
and remove most of the smell?
Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
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| Bob Morrison 2006-07-12, 1:25 pm |
| In a previous post jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote...
> We just moved into a home in the country that has a water well. The
> water has enough sulphur in it to be offensive. The well man
> installed a chlorination system that eliminates most(but not all of
> the smell). I have heard that aeriation is the best method of
> eliminating the smell. It is much more costly($1000+ because it
> requires the installation of a separate tank).
>
The sulphur smell is caused by iron eating bacteria in the water. Try
dropping a cup of bleach into the well. You may need to repeat this every
so often. It is best to do this when you plan to use a lot of water for
something other than drinking -- like laundry or watering the flower
garden.
--
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com
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| Chas Hurst 2006-07-12, 1:25 pm |
|
"Bob Morrison" <SpamFighter@junk.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1f1eb9a9a6303b4f989bc6@news.west.earthlink.net...
> In a previous post jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote...
>
> The sulphur smell is caused by iron eating bacteria in the water. Try
> dropping a cup of bleach into the well. You may need to repeat this every
> so often. It is best to do this when you plan to use a lot of water for
> something other than drinking -- like laundry or watering the flower
> garden.
>
> --
> Bob Morrison, PE, SE
> R L Morrison Engineering Co
> Structural & Civil Engineering
> Poulsbo WA
> bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com
I haven't heard this reason for a sulfur odor. Where do the bacteria get the
sulfur?
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| Hershel Roberson 2006-07-12, 1:25 pm |
|
On 12-Jul-2006, jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote:
> We just moved into a home in the country that has a water well. The
> water has enough sulphur in it to be offensive. The well man
> installed a chlorination system that eliminates most(but not all of
> the smell). I have heard that aeriation is the best method of
> eliminating the smell. It is much more costly($1000+ because it
> requires the installation of a separate tank).
>
> I am wondering if it is possible to simply use the well as the
> aeriation tank and install an air pump that will discharge air close
> to the bottom of the well(but above the water pump). Wouldn't the
> air bubble to the top of the water column(in my case about 400 ft.)
> and remove most of the smell?
>
> Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
It's pretty common where I live to have hydrogen sulfide (which is a gas)
dissolved in your well water. When you relieve the pressure, the gas bubbles
out (like C02 in a bottle of pop). My previous house had a well that was
especially bad.
About the only thing you can do is to release the water into a tank, which
allows the gas to escape, then presurize it again with another pump for
service to your house.
-Hershel
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| jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com 2006-07-12, 5:25 pm |
| Thanks, what about the idea of injecting air in the well just above
the water pump.?Wouldn't the bubbling effect of the air pick up and
take the sulphur out of the water? This way you do not have to have a
separate tank. My well holds a 400ft. column of water.
On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:07:41 GMT, "Hershel Roberson"
<hrjunk01@moment.net> wrote:
>
>On 12-Jul-2006, jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com wrote:
>
>
>It's pretty common where I live to have hydrogen sulfide (which is a gas)
>dissolved in your well water. When you relieve the pressure, the gas bubbles
>out (like C02 in a bottle of pop). My previous house had a well that was
>especially bad.
>
>About the only thing you can do is to release the water into a tank, which
>allows the gas to escape, then presurize it again with another pump for
>service to your house.
>
>-Hershel
| |
|
| <jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com> wrote in message
news:44b504b1.99091007@news.so.centurytel.net...
> We just moved into a home in the country that has a water well. The
> water has enough sulphur in it to be offensive. The well man
> installed a chlorination system that eliminates most(but not all of
> the smell). I have heard that aeriation is the best method of
> eliminating the smell. It is much more costly($1000+ because it
> requires the installation of a separate tank).
>
> I am wondering if it is possible to simply use the well as the
> aeriation tank and install an air pump that will discharge air close
> to the bottom of the well(but above the water pump). Wouldn't the
> air bubble to the top of the water column(in my case about 400 ft.)
> and remove most of the smell?
>
> Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
Chlorination does nothing for solid sulfates and/or hydrogen sulfide gas
presence. Just masks the smell. Does not remove the source.
Forced aeration does help eliminate the hydrogen sulfide gas. But, creates
sulphuric acid in the process. There must also exist an air pocket for the
hydrogen sulfide gas to separate from the water where all the water is
forced through this air pocket. This is impossible in a strictly upward
motion of the water.
Air injection just after the wellhead pump is going to force air in a
vertical shaft that may accumulate. Will reduce realized actual water flow
as the reservoir tank will be full of air after using the air injector for
awhile. There is also a problem of metering the air in tandem with water
flow, and how much air as well at the air injection point.
The two standard methods for removal of hydrogen sulfide gas are a holding
tank with subsequent pump, and an air injection tank with intermittent flush
system. The former is much more expensive. 1000 bucks is cheap regarding
that method. The latter method is much cheaper, requires a french drain for
the sulphuric acid/water flush, reduces the water flow somewhat. Either
method located after the wellhouse's reservoir tank.
--
Jonny
| |
| beerguzzler50@yahoo.com 2006-07-13, 1:25 pm |
| I had the same problem with my well over a year ago. I tried the
bleach/shocking method and poor results were what I got. I did some
research and found that an effective solution (and maint. free) is to
install a backflushing pyrolox filter.
Basically it is a cylinder that you put on after your well pressure
tank and all your water flows through it. It contains marble and
pyrolox. It automatically backflushes (timer) every few nights and is
supposed to last 20+ years before needed additional pyrolox.
There are several brands, i got mine from www.budgetwater.com and they
call it terminox. They were very helpful and I have great water now.
Jonny wrote:
> <jplasater@NOSPAMjuno.com> wrote in message
> news:44b504b1.99091007@news.so.centurytel.net...
>
> Chlorination does nothing for solid sulfates and/or hydrogen sulfide gas
> presence. Just masks the smell. Does not remove the source.
>
> Forced aeration does help eliminate the hydrogen sulfide gas. But, creates
> sulphuric acid in the process. There must also exist an air pocket for the
> hydrogen sulfide gas to separate from the water where all the water is
> forced through this air pocket. This is impossible in a strictly upward
> motion of the water.
>
> Air injection just after the wellhead pump is going to force air in a
> vertical shaft that may accumulate. Will reduce realized actual water flow
> as the reservoir tank will be full of air after using the air injector for
> awhile. There is also a problem of metering the air in tandem with water
> flow, and how much air as well at the air injection point.
>
> The two standard methods for removal of hydrogen sulfide gas are a holding
> tank with subsequent pump, and an air injection tank with intermittent flush
> system. The former is much more expensive. 1000 bucks is cheap regarding
> that method. The latter method is much cheaper, requires a french drain for
> the sulphuric acid/water flush, reduces the water flow somewhat. Either
> method located after the wellhouse's reservoir tank.
> --
> Jonny
| |
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| http://www.budgetwater.com/Sulfur_Filters.htm
Kinda scary to me. They don't address sulfates (solids) or hydrogen sulfide
gas. 2 different animals. They lump it together as a smell. Chlorine
injection noted in the first filter noted is, in my opinion, totally
ignorant. Particularly regarding preventing damage to copper pipe and
electric water heater anodes isn't addressed.
--
Jonny
<beerguzzler50@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1152807495.142107.85240@35g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>I had the same problem with my well over a year ago. I tried the
> bleach/shocking method and poor results were what I got. I did some
> research and found that an effective solution (and maint. free) is to
> install a backflushing pyrolox filter.
>
> Basically it is a cylinder that you put on after your well pressure
> tank and all your water flows through it. It contains marble and
> pyrolox. It automatically backflushes (timer) every few nights and is
> supposed to last 20+ years before needed additional pyrolox.
>
> There are several brands, i got mine from www.budgetwater.com and they
> call it terminox. They were very helpful and I have great water now.
>
> Jonny wrote:
>
| |
| beerguzzler50@yahoo.com 2006-07-14, 9:25 am |
| Actually they do if you scroll down a bit...and look at the terminox
filter.
"Removes iron, sulfur, manganese, dirt, turbidity, taste, odors, and
even stronger chemicals like chlorine and chloramines."
My suggestion is call their 800 number for info if nothing else....they
were very helpful and I learned quite a bit.
Jonny wrote:[color=darkred]
> http://www.budgetwater.com/Sulfur_Filters.htm
> Kinda scary to me. They don't address sulfates (solids) or hydrogen sulfide
> gas. 2 different animals. They lump it together as a smell. Chlorine
> injection noted in the first filter noted is, in my opinion, totally
> ignorant. Particularly regarding preventing damage to copper pipe and
> electric water heater anodes isn't addressed.
> --
> Jonny
> <beerguzzler50@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1152807495.142107.85240@35g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
| |
|
| My point being is if their chlorine injection system is used, and obviously
not smart for the purpose they stated, it leads me to question any other of
their products.
--
Jonny
<beerguzzler50@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1152879481.633319.88950@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
> Actually they do if you scroll down a bit...and look at the terminox
> filter.
>
> "Removes iron, sulfur, manganese, dirt, turbidity, taste, odors, and
> even stronger chemicals like chlorine and chloramines."
>
> My suggestion is call their 800 number for info if nothing else....they
> were very helpful and I learned quite a bit.
>
>
>
> Jonny wrote:
>
| |
| beerguzzler50@yahoo.com 2006-07-17, 9:25 am |
| I get your point, but I think they are giving you an inexpensive option
which will most likely clear up the smell issue. I agree that it isn't
optimal, but it is an option for people who don't/can't spend the
money.
Jonny wrote:[color=darkred]
> My point being is if their chlorine injection system is used, and obviously
> not smart for the purpose they stated, it leads me to question any other of
> their products.
> --
> Jonny
> <beerguzzler50@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1152879481.633319.88950@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
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