Have you ever felt a metallic taste when drinking the well water? No, it’s not a witticism; but it is the iron bacteria in well water that changes the taste and sometimes the color of the water. Aren’t iron bacteria good for our body? Iron is required by the body but with a certain limit. If it exceeds the normal range, it can cause serious problems.
Moreover, the change of color and taste are not the only problems, but
So, if you think your well water contains iron, or you want to check, read this article, and learn all you need to know about iron bacteria in well water.
Starting with, you should know where the iron bacteria comes from and why they end up in well water. If you are able to detect a source, it may help you stop iron from getting in the well.
What causes iron bacteria in well water?
The iron bacteria are microorganisms that are present in high amounts in the earth’s crust. They are found naturally in soil and surface water. In addition, if surface water or soil is allowed into a well, bacteria can be introduced and may begin to flourish under the right conditions.
What are the effects of iron bacteria?
While iron bacteria may not directly cause health problems, they may create conditions where other disease-causing organisms can thrive. Besides the health issues, the presence of iron can result in slime, biofilm production, and creating an oily layer on the surface. It also leads to clogging issues affecting water flow and pressure.
Affecting the plumbing system, the presence of iron in wells is considered a major problem, and well owners remain conscious about this at all times. Aside from this, the presence of iron also causes:
- Bad odor and unpleasant taste
- Reduce well water supply
- Rust formed in pipes, sinks, and all other plumbing fixtures
- Corrosion
- Increased infestations of other forms of harmful germs such as coliform
- Create hindrance in disinfection and chlorination
- Affects the well’s lifetime and make the maintenance difficult
Wells are mainly drilled to provide you clean, pure, and uninterrupted water supply, but the iron bacteria can result in creating so many problems that many of the well owners end up looking for alternative water sources.
But not many of us know that if we can detect the presence at an early stage, we can get rid of iron easily. Treatment of these problems is much easier if they are treated early on, and it’s only possible when you can detect them timely.
So, let’s find out how you will get to know about the presence of iron bacteria in well water.
How to detect iron bacteria in well water?
Iron contamination is easy to detect since it tells itself through different means such as taste, odor, and color. Iron contaminated water will taste metallic and produce a foul odor like petroleum or rotten veggies. Plus, it will change the color to yellow or brown.
Other than that, you will see slimy deposits, corrosion, and rusting on plumbing fixtures and in water lines.
If you want to check the contamination level, laboratory testing is the most authentic method to check. Not only will it confirm the iron, but it will also disclose if water is contaminated with any forms of bacteria or not. Remember that testing is necessary, and it helps you determine the type of treatment you need for iron removal from well water.
How much is iron safe in drinking water?
Iron plays a big role in the development of our bodies, especially those of children. But, as mentioned earlier, if it exceeds a certain limit, it creates problems not only for the health but also for the plumbing system.
This led us to determine the safe level of how much iron is good in drinking water.
For iron in water, the maximum acceptable limit is 0.3 mg/l (ppm). If it exceeds this number, you will start noticing the signs such as offensive odor, change in color, etc.
Testing from the certified laboratory can confirm the iron level in your well water, and based on that, you can check on the water quality.
Preventing iron bacteria from well water
Other than the treatment, is there any way we can avoid having an excess amount of iron in well water? Not precisely as iron can be there naturally, but there are prevention techniques following which you can stop iron germs from entering well water.
Starting with the construction, you should make sure that it is properly planned and constructed as per the standards. As long as the minimum casing depth requirement is met, it is possible to reduce high iron levels by changing the screen or casing depth of the well.
Similarly, if you are doing some repair work or reconstructing the well, you need to be a bit extra careful. Do not place the equipment, any parts, or pipes on a polluted surface and if you are priming a well pump, do it with disinfected water. Disinfect the wells or the parts once you are done with repair work.
In case iron gets in well water and exceeds the limit, there are many ways to remove iron from well water that include aeration, filtration, use of water softeners, and reverse osmosis system. You can also look for a low cast
Conclusion
Well water naturally contains iron bacteria, and they are acceptable within limits, but if there is an excessive amount, it generates a lot of problems that require you to find another water source or invest in water treatment. The important point to note here is that you should only drink water that is safe, pure, and clean. For this, testing is necessary as it reveals all properties.
So, get the test done, and make sure the iron bacteria in your well water are not at a dangerous level.