Water Treatment Advice (IRON)

[Kevin R]

Hello,

I'd like some advice on how to treat the water result findings. This is a recreation property that I am looking to build a house on in the next year or so. I currently have a small cabin on the property. I believe the important parts have been placed in bold, but I'm new to this. There was an existing house on the property, which I tore down. The well was fairly new and had a water treatment system on it, but I don't know what it was. The management company removed it. Additionally, the well wasn't in a perfect state of repair. (Older lady) So I suspect that is the reason for the coliform. When I initially powered up the well, the water was a serious rust orange. So I pumped it for a week straight prior to these results. Additionally, I shocked the well after the results came back, but haven't retested for bacteria yet.

When I inspected the septic pipes of the house there was tremendous amounts of iron sediment in the pipes. Easily 1-2 inches of build up, that I'd like to avoid that in the new house. I'm not near the location so additional tests are easily obtained. So I'd like to have suggestions based on these results.

I tested the PH with this mail out test, digital meter, litmus paper, and pool drops... So I'm fairly confident that it's close to accurate.. (Less than 5PH).

Flow Rate out of the well close to the pressure vessel is 10.5 GPM.

There is a big of an egg smell, and toilet is quick to build up a film. So I expect there is also Iron and/or Sulfur Bacteria.

Ideally whatever system that I put in place, I'd like to minimize the maintenance and reoccurring costs, but I'm aware that nothing is free.

I've contacted numerous companies an the suggestions are all over the place, so I'm asking here for an impartial opinion.

Thanks for your time.

Aluminum, total 0.06 mg/L
Barium, total 0.05 mg/L'
Calcium, total 18.0 mg/L
Iron, total 10.1 mg/L
Lithium, total 0.06 mg/L
Magnesium, total 8.7 mg/L
Manganese, total 0.416 mg/L
Potassium, total 0.7 mg/L
Sodium, total 8.0 mg/L
Sulfur, total, by ICP 35.7 mg/L
Zinc, total 0.29 mg/L
Bacteria, total coliform Positive
Chloride 2.7 mg/L
Hardness 81 mg/L (as CaCO3)
Hardness (gpg) 4.7 grains/gallon
PH 4.7 S.U.
Silica 42.3 mg/L
Sulfate 112 mg/L
Turbidity 7.18 NT
Tot. diss. solids, estimated 181 mg/L

 

[ditttohead]

Water treatment should be fairly straightforward but maintenance will be required.

You have several options for proper treatment but I would lean toward the following solution.

Sodium hydroxide injection to bring pH up to above 7

Sodium Hypochlorite injection and a baffled contact tank to control iron and bacterial issues.

Backwashing catalytic carbon system to remove any missed iron, possibly add a Katalox light system to aid in the reduction of the Manganese.

UV or Quantum filtration system as redundant sanitizer.

This should work, the manganese tends to be hit/miss with carbon so the KL may be needed to reduce the Manganese to trace levels.

Do you have an atmospheric tank, cistern, or just a pressurized tank?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Kevin R]

Just the pressure tank, nothing else. I'm assuming the sodium hydroxide is an alternative to soda ash injection, but stronger? (Caustic soda?) I've been offered soda ash as a possible solution to raise the PH. In addition to a Chlorine injector as an oxidizer..

I'd like to purchase the minimal viable product, with the option to upgrade parts.. As in your example adding the KL system.

Do you think I'd need the chlorine injector? Is soda ash viable?

 

[Reach4]

Bacteria, total coliform Positive

I think most positive coliform tests from deep wells (you don't say) is due to improper sampling or inadequate sanitizing of well and plumbing.
For any bacteria test to be meaningful, you have to follow proper sampling techniques including sterilizing the faucet. If you care about the coliform test results, care needs to be taken in sampling. There are variations on suggested sampling techniques, but they have some other things in common:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/331-225.pdf
https://www.anra.org/divisions/wate...nking_Water_Samples_for_Coliform_Analysis.pdf
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/Bacteria-Testing.aspx
https://www.digbydistrict.ca/559-water-testing-sample-taking-procedure/file.html
https://servitechlabs.com/Services/Water/WaterSamplingProcedures/tabid/128/Default.aspx
These all describe methods to avoid contaminating the sample.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index....izing-extra-attention-to-4-inch-casing.65845/ is my write up on sanitizing bottom feeding deep wells.

 

[ditttohead]

Soda ash is fine.

Do you have a local company you are considering? I would highly recommend that so that if the treatment does not work the liability can be put on them. Local companies will usually know the water conditions and treatment methods that work in your area better then DIY.

 

[Kevin R]

Only one local company and they wanted 8.5k USD and no guarantee plus a monthly service fee...

So I'm on the path to do it myself...

 

[Kevin R]

I think most positive coliform tests from deep wells (you don't say) is due to improper sampling or inadequate sanitizing of well and plumbing.
For any bacteria test to be meaningful, you have to follow proper sampling techniques including sterilizing the faucet. If you care about the coliform test results, care needs to be taken in sampling. There are variations on suggested sampling techniques, but they have some other things in common:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/331-225.pdf
https://www.anra.org/divisions/wate...nking_Water_Samples_for_Coliform_Analysis.pdf
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/Bacteria-Testing.aspx
https://www.digbydistrict.ca/559-water-testing-sample-taking-procedure/file.html
https://servitechlabs.com/Services/Water/WaterSamplingProcedures/tabid/128/Default.aspx
These all describe methods to avoid contaminating the sample.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index....izing-extra-attention-to-4-inch-casing.65845/ is my write up on sanitizing bottom feeding deep wells.

Well is at least 100ft deep. I lowered a piece of string with a nut tied to it.

I tried to be safe with the sample, but it could have been mishandled. I'm planning to do a RO for drinking water and/or a UV.

Looking for the most cost effective minimal maintenance option to take out the iron and raise the PH. I'd rather add on later if I need something else, than to buy what I don't need now. I just want to make sure that I have that option without having to replace/toss what I'm looking to purchase now.