xquercus
New Member
A year ago I purchased a place with well water with high iron content. A water analysis is available via PDF here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26841058/water-test-results.pdf if anyone is interested (couldn't attach it as it's over 19.5kB). It shows 5.1 mg/L of iron. I've attached two pictures of a pint glass drawn from my pressure tank. It sat for 18 hours before photographing and became redder over time. I don't use the water for drinking but I'm looking to treat the objectionable iron taste so I can do so. Currently, I use the water for other domestic uses after going through a (likely failing) water softener.
I noticed that a film of sorts has formed on top of the water after it sat for 18 hours. This film is visible in the attached pics. It's been suggested by an online water treatment company (based on my description alone) that this is a sign of iron bacteria. I'm going to have a test done for iron bacteria but I'm also wondering what people here think. Maybe it's iron bacteria. Maybe it's something else. If it's something else, what should I be looking at? I can certainly get the water tested for iron bacteria, but am wondering if it's a sign of something else as I don't really have any of the other 'symptoms' of iron bacteria in my well water.
As an aside, the water was originally non-potable due to the presence of coliform. The well was shock chlorinated a year ago when I purchased the property as a condition of the lender. This may be something which requires ongoing treatment but it may very well be due to critters falling down the well casing because of the horrible cap which was on the well head. I'll be retesting and we'll see.
I've also included info on my general well setup and some pics just for the heck of it -- even though it doesn't really have anything to do with the question of "what is this film that forms on top of my water".
Type of pump?
Submersible_Some type of Submersible
Two wire (no control)_Yes
Three wire (control box)_No
Wire Size_________ Wire Length________
or
Jet Pump (above ground)_________
One or two pipes down the well____
Size of Pump?
Motor Horsepower?_Unknown
Pump Model #_Unknown
Date Pump Installed_Unknowns
Pumping from?
Cistern tank_No
Pond, lake, river_No
Water Well_Yes
Depth of well_Unknown
Depth to water_Unknown
Pump Setting_Unknown
Pipe Size_Unknown
Drop Pipe Material -- I don't know what a drop pipe is.
PVC_Unknown
Steel_Unknown
Poly_Unknown
Well Recovery Rate_Unknown gpm
Well Casing Diameter_6â€
Rock Well__________ Sand Well__________ Other_Unknown
Date Well Drilled_Unknown
Well Casing Material
PVC_No Steel_YES Other_No
Pressure Tank?
Bladder or diaphragm tank (one pipe to tank)_Yes
Size or model of tank_Amtrol Well-X-Trol WX-202
Air charge in top of tank, with pump off and water drained_Unknown PSI
(check with car tire gauge)
or
Plain Hydro Pneumatic tank (two pipes to tank, one in and one out)_________
Size of tank________________
Pressure Switch Setting?
On 30, off 50 _YES
On 40, off 60_no
Other_____________
Pump Control Method?
Cycle Stop Valve model #_NO
Variable speed control #_No
Pump Start Relay (sprinkler timer, no tank)_Just a Square D pressure switch, I guess
Manually turned on and off____________
Pump Protection
Cycle Sensor_Unk
Pumptec_Unk
Low pressure cutoff switch (lever on side)_I don't believe so
Other_______________
Filters or Softeners_Water Softener
Before or after pressure tank_After pressure tank
Type of filter_
Bypass available_Yes
Water Used For?
House Use_Yes, 1 person Number of baths_One Number of People_One
High Flow Showers_None gpm?
Plus/Or
Irrigation with timers_None
Irrigation with hoses_None
Heat Pump_None gpm?
Problems Experienced
No Water_________________ N/A
Water only part time________ N/A
Water at all times but weak_____ N/A
Air in water_______________ N/A
Pressure surging___________ N/A
Water Hammer (noise)______ N/A
Too Much pressure_________ N/A
Other_Poor water quality
Pump makes clicking or buzzing sounds_No
No Sounds_No
Pressure gauge reading________psi
Other____________________________________
Do you have, and know how to use
an Ampmeter and Voltmeter_Yes
Describe Problem_Poor Water Quality
I noticed that a film of sorts has formed on top of the water after it sat for 18 hours. This film is visible in the attached pics. It's been suggested by an online water treatment company (based on my description alone) that this is a sign of iron bacteria. I'm going to have a test done for iron bacteria but I'm also wondering what people here think. Maybe it's iron bacteria. Maybe it's something else. If it's something else, what should I be looking at? I can certainly get the water tested for iron bacteria, but am wondering if it's a sign of something else as I don't really have any of the other 'symptoms' of iron bacteria in my well water.
As an aside, the water was originally non-potable due to the presence of coliform. The well was shock chlorinated a year ago when I purchased the property as a condition of the lender. This may be something which requires ongoing treatment but it may very well be due to critters falling down the well casing because of the horrible cap which was on the well head. I'll be retesting and we'll see.
I've also included info on my general well setup and some pics just for the heck of it -- even though it doesn't really have anything to do with the question of "what is this film that forms on top of my water".
Type of pump?
Submersible_Some type of Submersible
Two wire (no control)_Yes
Three wire (control box)_No
Wire Size_________ Wire Length________
or
Jet Pump (above ground)_________
One or two pipes down the well____
Size of Pump?
Motor Horsepower?_Unknown
Pump Model #_Unknown
Date Pump Installed_Unknowns
Pumping from?
Cistern tank_No
Pond, lake, river_No
Water Well_Yes
Depth of well_Unknown
Depth to water_Unknown
Pump Setting_Unknown
Pipe Size_Unknown
Drop Pipe Material -- I don't know what a drop pipe is.
PVC_Unknown
Steel_Unknown
Poly_Unknown
Well Recovery Rate_Unknown gpm
Well Casing Diameter_6â€
Rock Well__________ Sand Well__________ Other_Unknown
Date Well Drilled_Unknown
Well Casing Material
PVC_No Steel_YES Other_No
Pressure Tank?
Bladder or diaphragm tank (one pipe to tank)_Yes
Size or model of tank_Amtrol Well-X-Trol WX-202
Air charge in top of tank, with pump off and water drained_Unknown PSI
(check with car tire gauge)
or
Plain Hydro Pneumatic tank (two pipes to tank, one in and one out)_________
Size of tank________________
Pressure Switch Setting?
On 30, off 50 _YES
On 40, off 60_no
Other_____________
Pump Control Method?
Cycle Stop Valve model #_NO
Variable speed control #_No
Pump Start Relay (sprinkler timer, no tank)_Just a Square D pressure switch, I guess
Manually turned on and off____________
Pump Protection
Cycle Sensor_Unk
Pumptec_Unk
Low pressure cutoff switch (lever on side)_I don't believe so
Other_______________
Filters or Softeners_Water Softener
Before or after pressure tank_After pressure tank
Type of filter_
Bypass available_Yes
Water Used For?
House Use_Yes, 1 person Number of baths_One Number of People_One
High Flow Showers_None gpm?
Plus/Or
Irrigation with timers_None
Irrigation with hoses_None
Heat Pump_None gpm?
Problems Experienced
No Water_________________ N/A
Water only part time________ N/A
Water at all times but weak_____ N/A
Air in water_______________ N/A
Pressure surging___________ N/A
Water Hammer (noise)______ N/A
Too Much pressure_________ N/A
Other_Poor water quality
Pump makes clicking or buzzing sounds_No
No Sounds_No
Pressure gauge reading________psi
Other____________________________________
Do you have, and know how to use
an Ampmeter and Voltmeter_Yes
Describe Problem_Poor Water Quality