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Iron Bacteria

tub with scale and iron stainsscale and iron in toilet tank

Iron Bacteria is a bacterium that is not harmful to ingest when it has infected a potable well (fit to drink).  However it can become a very big nuisance for the homeowner.  This bacteria grows as a slime and  has bio-film which can reduce the inside diameter of pipe.  It can also cause problems in filters,water heaters and give off a smell.  It can cause iron stains and the iron can seep through the water softener.

We do chlorinations for $375.00

E. H. Renner is not responsible for any problems you may encounter when chlorinating yourself.

To treat Iron Bacteria a proper chlorination must be performed.  To have proper chlorination, a few things need to be determined first.

1) What is the depth of the well.  There is a web page on the Minnesota Department of Health website call The County Well Index that can help you determine the depth. For example: 100' well 20'  water level = 80' of water in well.

2) Determining the volume of water in well. Measure the inside diameter of your well.  Back to above example : we measure it being 4" looking at below table I we take 80' of water in the well and multiply by .65 = 52 gallons of water in well.

3) Estimate the volume of water needed in the rest of the home's system.  If the well tank holds 40 gallons and the water heater holds 80 gallons and the plumbing in the home and line between house and well lets estimate (80 + 40+80= 200 gallons) That is 200 gallons in the home's system.

4) Determine the amount of water in the entire system.  Adding the home and well together.  (52gal from well + 200gallons in home= 252 gallons needed minimum)

5) Determine the amount of chlorine product required for a 200ppm solution. See table II

for our example:  Lets use household bleach we have 252 gallons of water / 100gallons because of table.  is 2.52 multiply by 3pints. Gives us 7.56 pints or round up 7 1/2 pints used in 250 gallons.  (252/100=2.52,   2.52*3= 7.5pints for 252gallons)

6) Introducing the water into the well. Turn power off to well!!!

Begin pouring water down well or siphoning it at a constant rate. Do not turn well back on until all water is down well. If you don't have a big enough container for 250 gallons we do.  A chlorination is $375.00 we have tanks ranging from 300 gallon, to 1800 gallons if necessary. 

We do chlorination for $375.00

7) Prepare home for disinfection. by pass water softener and all filters. Remove all filters if needed, they will plug up later. Turn ice maker off. Turn off sprinkler system.  Remove all screens from sinks and keep off till final flush.

8) Disinfecting the home. Turn power back on. Bring the chlorinated water into home by running facets into home. Wait until you can smell the chlorine and then turn facets off for 12 -24 hours.  Hot water will take longer to fill the water heaters.  Try to only allow a minimal amount of chlorine down the septic since the chlorine will stop the good bacteria growth in that system. Do not use the water until fully flushed.

9) Next day flushing. Turn on a garden hose for 4-6 hours to flush the well of the mineral build up and chlorine residue. Do Not Use Sprinklers to flush, they will plug up.  Then turn on the fixtures in the home again after the 4-6 hours, for the final flush. After the water has cleared up and no mineral chunks or flakes are coming through you may insert the screens into sinks, replace filters turn on ice maker, turn on sprinklers and put softener into service. 

New and old wells must be treated.  New wells should be treated by the driller or pump installer.  However each time a well is worked on chlorine should be used to prevent unwanted bacteria from growing.

A Chlorination treatment is an easy and inexpensive ($375.00) treatment and recommend regularly (every 5-10 yrs). 

There is some caution when doing a chlorination yourself:

  1. Electrocution from the wires at the top of the well (220volts).

  2. Plugging the softener, water heater, and screens on faucets.

  3. Dropping things down the well and getting the pump stuck later.

  4. Plugging the pump up with crude from the well.

  5. Deterioration of well casing, pipe and pitless adapters.  (Which can be very expensive later)

See this web site for other information on Iron Bacteria http://www.scalefighter.com/hardwhy.htm

Table I. Volume of water contained per foot of well depth.
Well casing diameter (inches) Water volume per foot of
water depth (gallons)1
4 0.65
6 1.47
8 2.61
10 4.08
12 5.88
18 13.22
24 23.50
30 36.72
36 52.87
1Volume of water calculated as the volume of a cylinder multiplied by 7.48 gallons/cubic foot.
 

Table II. Amount of chemical required to create a chlorine concentration of about 200 ppm.
Chemical name Amount per 100 gallons of water a
Liquid Laundry Bleach (5.25% NaOCl) 3 pints
Commercial Strength Bleach (12-17% NaOCl) 1 pint
Chlorinated Lime (25% CaOCl2) 11 ounces
Dairy Sanitizer (30% CaOCl2) 9 ounces
High-test calcium hypochlorite b (65-75% Ca(OCl)2) 4 ounces
aWell water containing iron, hydrogen sulfide, or organic substances may require more chemical to create a 200 ppm solution. Chlorine combines readily with these materials, making some of the chlorine ineffective as a disinfectant.
bHigh-test hypochlorite is available as a powder and as a tablet.

 

Chlorine Solution Calculation Worksheet
Calculate volume of water in well: Example: Your well:
1. Depth of casing: (See Figure 1) 100 feet __________feet
2. Depth to water: (See Figure 1) 20 feet __________feet
3. Total depth of water: (#1 - #2) 80 feet __________feet
4. Diameter of well: (Measure inside diameter) 4 inches __________inches
5. Volume of water per foot: (Table I, column 2) .65 gallons __________gallons
6. Total volume of water in casing: (#3 x #5) 52 gallons __________gallons
7. Volume of water in the system: 200 gallons __________gallons
8. Total volume of water:(#6 + #7) 252 gallons __________gallons
Calculate Amount of Chlorine Product for a 200 ppm Solution:
Chlorine product used: Liquid Laundry Bleach
9. Product needed per 100 gallons:
(Table II )		 3 pints __________pints
10. Total product needed:
(#8/100 x #9- circle the correct units)		 7.56 pints __________pints

 

Free Iron and Hardness Water Tests

References : Shock Chlorination of Domestic Water Supplies

 

 

15688 Jarvis St. NW - Elk River, MN 55330
Phone: (763) 427-6100 Fax: (763) 427-0533

E-Mail: rerenner@ehrenner.com

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