Rusty (Yellow and Orange) Water coming from water storage Tank

[QuincyDowling09]

Hi Folks,

I am at wits end with this strange situation. I apologize for the long post but I wanted to give some history on this. Any help or guidance would be the best Christmas present ever.

Water Issue:

• When I run water bypassing radon thus not using storage tank used to hold water after radon is taken out the water is crystal clear.
• When water runs through the radon system I see yellow and orange rusty water coming into the system.
• The water in AIRadar tank that supplies water to storage tank is crystal clear on all occasions.
• Note: Rusty water will come out for a minute or two then clear.

Current Water System flow

1. House pipes are copper
2. Submerged Well pump outside (pump is ½ hp Aermotor)
3. Well-X-Trol water storage tank
4. Aquabubble water softener
5. AIRaider Water Radon System
6. Countyline water storage tank (pump is ½ hp Pentair)

When did Problem Start

• 12/3/15 – Original Motor on water tank after Radon System died and was replaced
• Within a couple months noticed rusty color water in back of toilet (yellow water to start then orange toilet). Did not think much of it at the time. Cleaned toilets but it kept coming back.

Attempts to fix Timeline

• 5/31/15 – Replaced 12 + year old Hot water heater thinking rust could be there but rusty water still occurred
• 8/13/15 – Replaced old water storage tank after the radon system. It was old so thought it might have broken bladder causing water to rust. Rusty water continues
• 10/7/16 – Had Water Service company test to water samples:
  • Water directly from well bypassing softener and radon (no iron was detected, 2.87 magnesium)
  • Water after it was treated by softener and radon (.04 iron was detected, .04 magnesium)
• Note: I believe water sample taken after radon system was not when water first turned on. I think the guy let faucet run for a bit before taking sample therefore iron or bacteria might have been flushed.
• 11/25/16 – Cleaned all toilets and ran water bypassing radon system for 3 weeks and water is crystal clear.
• 11/25/16 – Noticed hose connecting radon system and pump on to top of storage tank had rust on it and there was little water droplets. It looks like seal was not tight letting air in.

My Root Cause Theory:

• The poor connection of hose to pump let air into pump and corroded the new motor put in on 12/3/15. That poor connection was that way for over 1 year.
• Rusted pump and possibly Iron Bacteria

New Pump Installed - 12/9/16

• Had radon guy come and take pump off to examine. It was rusty with some red slime on inside.
• He installed a new pumped and cleaned fittings that had red on it with bleach water and re-assembled.
• We believed the root cause was now fixed since tight hose connection and new pump.

12/10/12 - Issue is NOT Resolved

• Water coming from water tank after Radon system is again yellow with bursts of orange. After 2 minutes it appears to clear.
• Water in AirRaider before storage tank is still crystal clear.

HELP Needed:

• Do you think the supply hose from radon tank to pump and the new storage tank are corroded with iron bacteria?
• If so how would I remediate it? Do I need to replace the tank, hoses, fittings, etc…?
• I am in central Massachusetts. Any idea who I need to call next? Plumber, water specialist, etc....
• I don’t understand how the water in the AIRaider is crystal clear and when it gets in storage tank in gets contaminated.
• I have added bleach to AIRaider tank to feed bleach into storage tank. Let sit for 4 hrs then I drain tank and always get rusty water. I have done this 3 separate times in an attempt to flush tank and hoses.

 

[Reach4]

6. Countyline water storage tank

That is a galvanized tank? I did not find anything that could not be explained by that tank rusting. I would go to a plastic tank if you can. I could have missed something.

Timing-wise, the galvanized tank comes with a zinc protective layer, but that gets consumed with time. So the pump change may have been coincidental timing.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index....izing-extra-attention-to-4-inch-casing.65845/ is my writeup on well and plumbing system sanitizing. I am not thinking this is a sanitizing problem, however.

I am not a pro.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[QuincyDowling09]

That is a galvanized tank? I did not find anything that could not be explained by that tank rusting. I would go to a plastic tank if you can. I could have missed something.

Timing-wise, the galvanized tank comes with a zinc protective layer, but that gets consumed with time. So the pump change may have been coincidental timing.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index....izing-extra-attention-to-4-inch-casing.65845/ is my writeup on well and plumbing system sanitizing. I am not thinking this is a sanitizing problem, however.

I am not a pro.

The County Line

That is a galvanized tank? I did not find anything that could not be explained by that tank rusting. I would go to a plastic tank if you can. I could have missed something.

Timing-wise, the galvanized tank comes with a zinc protective layer, but that gets consumed with time. So the pump change may have been coincidental timing.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index....izing-extra-attention-to-4-inch-casing.65845/ is my writeup on well and plumbing system sanitizing. I am not thinking this is a sanitizing problem, however.

I am not a pro.

My mistake on dates above I replaced the Countyline water tank on 08/13/16 not in 2015. That was 8 months after I had the pump originally replaced. That tank is only 4 months old. Not sure how a galvanized tank could rust out that quickly.

 

[Reach4]

That tank is only 4 months old. Not sure how a galvanized tank could rust out that quickly.

I don't know how either. Yet there is rust. It is possible that some kind of anode system could protect that. If you can run wires into that tank, we could discuss how you could make a DYI anode. Ideally the powered anode would use a non-reactive metal such as titanium or platinum. Titanium wire is available at moderate prices. You would want a power supply that would put out a few volts of DC current. Around 3 volts.

Usually you would expect the softener to have removed iron from its output water, unless you have a fair amount of iron.

 

[QuincyDowling09]

This blue water storage tank is cold water. From there it feeds hot water tank. Runningwires is way out of my league. Note, i have had my water tested straight from the well and there is no iron in it. The only iron in the system would be the cast iron pump on top of the tank and the steel blue tank. Both are brand new. That is why I was thinking that when I had the pump replaced originally the guy did not seal the hose tight enough therefore letting air into pump. I definitely found a leak in that connection. Could that have caused iron bacteria to form somehow? The new pump is 2 days old so I am not sure if there is rust slime on the walls or bottom of the 4 month tank. I continue to flush this tank every couple hours but the yellow water seems to always come back. I am now lengthening my intervals. If by tomorrow say 15 hours from now I am getting yellow or orange water I may have to call a plumber or water company. I am out of options.