IRON BACTERIA IN WELL WATER - Iron bacteria are not known to cause disease. However, they can create conditions where other disease-causing organisms may grow. They can also affect how much water the well produces and may cause clogging issues. To be safe, test the water for nitrate and coliform bacteria. Make sure the well is properly constructed, located, and maintained. May be more noticeable after the water has not been used for a while. Yellow, orange, red, or brown stains and colored water. Sticky rusty, yellow, brown, or grey slime. Only place disinfected water in a well for drilling, repair, or priming pumps. Never use water taken from a lake or pond. Make sure the well casing is capped, watertight, and extends at least 1 foot above ground. Disinfect the well, pump, and plumbing after repairs.

................................................................................................................................................................

Iron Bacteria in Well Water
Well Management Program

Minnesota Department of Health

Iron bacteria are small living organisms that naturally occur in soil, shallow groundwater, and surface waters.

These bacteria combine iron (or manganese) and oxygen to form deposits of “rust,” bacterial cells, and a slimy material that sticks the bacteria to well pipes, pumps, and plumbing fixtures.

Iron Bacteria May Help Other Organisms Grow

Iron bacteria are not known to cause disease. However, they can create conditions where other disease-causing organisms may grow.

They can also affect how much water the well produces and may cause clogging issues.

To be safe, test the water for nitrate and coliform bacteria. Make sure the well is properly constructed, located, and maintained.

How to Detect Iron Bacteria

Tastes and Odors

·          Swampy, oily or petroleum, cucumber, sewage, rotten vegetation, or musty.

·          May be more noticeable after the water has not been used for a while.

Color

·          Yellow, orange, red, or brown stains and colored water.

·          Rainbow colored, oil-like sheen.

Red Slimy Deposits

·          Sticky rusty, yellow, brown, or grey slime.

·          “Feathery" or filamentous growths (especially in standing water).

You can confirm that it is iron bacteria by having the water tested at a laboratory.

Prevent Iron Bacteria

Iron bacteria are in most soils in Minnesota. Drilling, repair, or service work can also introduce iron bacteria into a well or water system.

Here are some ways to prevent iron bacteria from entering your well:

·          Only place disinfected water in a well for drilling, repair, or priming pumps. Never use water taken from a lake or pond.

·          Make sure the well casing is capped, watertight, and extends at least 1 foot above ground.

·          Avoid placing pumps, well pipes, and well equipment on the ground when doing repairs.

·          Disinfect the well, pump, and plumbing after repairs.

Treatment to Address Iron Bacteria

Some treatment techniques may remove or reduce iron bacteria.

Eliminating iron bacteria can be difficult and expensive. Sometimes treatment techniques may only be partly effective.

Contact a licensed well contractor or water treatment professional to determine the best approach for your situation.

Physical Removal

Physical removal is usually the first step in very infected wells. A licensed well contractor will:

1.    Remove and clean the pumping equipment.

2.    Scrub the well casing with brushes.

3.    The next step is usually chemical treatment.

Chemical Treatment

This is the most common treatment technique for iron bacteria. There are three groups of chemicals people use for this:

·            Disinfectants are the most common chemicals used to treat for iron bacteria. The most common disinfectant is household laundry bleach, which contains chlorine.

Contact a licensed well contractor to disinfect your well, or use the instructions on the Well Disinfection webpage.

·            Surfactants are detergent-like chemicals, such as phosphates. Surfactants are generally used with other chemical treatment.

It is important to use a disinfectant (such as chlorine) if phosphates are used; bacteria may use phosphates as a food source. Only trained professionals should do a surfactants treatment.

·            Acids can dissolve iron deposits, destroy bacteria, and loosen bacterial slime. Acids are typically part of a series of treatments involving chlorine and sometimes bases.

Only trained professionals should do an acid treatment. Be very careful you properly use and dispose of these chemicals. Never mix acid and chlorine.

Pasteurization

Pasteurization injects steam or hot water into the well to keep the well water temperature at 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 30 minutes. Pasteurization can be effective, but expensive.

Chlorine

Chlorine is cheap and easy to use, but it may not always get rid of iron bacteria. You may have to treat with chlorine more than once.

Both the concentration of chlorine and how long the chlorine solution is in contact with the bacteria are important.

Some people have used continuous chlorine injection into the well, but the Minnesota Department of Health does not usually recommend this.

The continuous chlorine injection may hide other bacterial contamination and cause corrosion problems.

Shock Chlorination

"Shock" chlorination is the process of using a strong chlorine solution to disinfect the well and system. The chlorine concentration should be close to but not greater than 200 parts per million (ppm).

A concentration greater than 200 ppm reduces how effective the disinfection is. Before adding the chlorine solution, the well should be pumped until clear or physically cleaned.

Should I test my well water for anything besides iron bacteria?

Yes. Both natural sources and human activities can contaminate well water and cause short-term or long-term health effects.

Testing your well water is the only way to detect most of the common contaminants in Minnesota groundwater; you cannot taste, see, or smell most contaminants. Minnesota Department of Health recommends testing for:

·          Coliform bacteria every year and any time the water changes in taste, odor, or appearance. Coliform bacteria can indicate that disease-causing microorganisms may be in your water.

·          Nitrate every other year. Bottle-fed infants under six months old are at the highest risk of being affected by levels of nitrate higher than 10 milligrams per liter in drinking water.

·          Arsenic at least once. About 40 percent of wells in Minnesota have arsenic in the water. Drinking water with arsenic in it for a long time can contribute to reduced intelligence in children and increased risks of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and skin problems.

·          Lead at least once. The well and water system may have parts that have lead in them, and that lead can get into drinking water. Lead can damage the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. Lead can also slow development or cause learning, behavior, and hearing problems.

·          Manganese before a baby drinks the water. High levels of manganese can cause problems with memory, attention, and motor skills. It can also cause learning and behavior problems in infants and children.

Other contaminants sometimes occur in private water systems but less often than the contaminants listed above. Consider testing for:

·          Volatile organic chemicals if the well is near fuel tanks or a commercial or industrial area.

·          Agricultural chemicals commonly used in the area if the well is shallow and is near cropped fields or handling areas for agricultural chemicals or is in an area of geologic sensitivity (such as fractured limestone).

·         Fluoride if children or teenagers drink the water.

ttps://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wells/waterquality/ironbacteria.htm