I have a shallow well (40', 1 hp 18 GPM pump set at 30', static water level at 9'). This well supplies my house as well as a 3.5 ton open loop geothermal heat pump. The heat pump draws 6 GPM while running. I have to clean the sediment filter and clear plastic water flow meter regularly as they quickly (within a couple weeks during very hot or cold weather) become encrusted with a reddish brown deposit Water has been tested to have 0.1 PPM iron.
I pulled the pump last year to inspect it and found a lot of the same reddish brown deposits around the pump inlet partially blocking it.
I have replaced some of the copper plumbing and found the same deposits in the pipes, in some cases nearly a 1/4 inch thick in some of the 3/4 inch copper.
I am looking for some expertise as to how to best solve this problem.
An iron filter would probably not be too useful due to the high volume of water for the heat pump.
I've been told a new well is my best option, but it is not assured of solving the problem due to the shallow water table.
The only other option I have been told about is to install a dry pellet chlorinator at the well head followed by a whole house backwashing sediment filter. As I understand it the chlorinator causes the iron to precipitate out, the well services as the retention tank, and the sediment filter removes the chlorine and precipitated iron.
Any thoughts as to which option might be best? I really haven't heard much at all about how well the dry pellet chlorinators work for situations such as this.
I pulled the pump last year to inspect it and found a lot of the same reddish brown deposits around the pump inlet partially blocking it.
I have replaced some of the copper plumbing and found the same deposits in the pipes, in some cases nearly a 1/4 inch thick in some of the 3/4 inch copper.
I am looking for some expertise as to how to best solve this problem.
An iron filter would probably not be too useful due to the high volume of water for the heat pump.
I've been told a new well is my best option, but it is not assured of solving the problem due to the shallow water table.
The only other option I have been told about is to install a dry pellet chlorinator at the well head followed by a whole house backwashing sediment filter. As I understand it the chlorinator causes the iron to precipitate out, the well services as the retention tank, and the sediment filter removes the chlorine and precipitated iron.
Any thoughts as to which option might be best? I really haven't heard much at all about how well the dry pellet chlorinators work for situations such as this.