How to Treat Sulfur Odors and Black Residue in Well Water in Our New Home

Hello, 

We just moved to a home with a well and the water has sulfur in it which we'd like to filter out due to the odor and black staining on appliances. We had two onsite water tests from local companies within one day of each other, and I listed both results below. No manganese was detected.”

Thanks, 
Cathy

Dear Cathy,

We can make two separate suggestions to consider: using a non-chemical backwashing air charge sulfur filter system, or using a chemical injection system, with either chlorine or hydrogen peroxide. I am going to go ahead and make two separate recommendations:

The Top Two Best Types of Filter Media for Iron Bacteria Removal

In October of 2012 I purchased a Fleck 7000SXT filtration system with the Enpress 10x44 Vortec tank.

I recently installed a chlorine injector to treat the water and I would like to know which media would be best for this tank to filter out the iron bacteria once the water has been injected with the chlorine.

Appreciate your help,

- Robert French

Robert,

When using chlorine injection, the top two most effective filter media to use after chlorination is either Manganese Greensand or Pro-Ox Manganese Dioxide filter media. 

How to Backwash an Iron Filter With Filtered Well Water

“Hi,

I'm installing a chlorinator system and storage system, integrating my Mang/Ox Filter as well as Softener. The diagram provided by Clean Water Store is titled "CL-ST_CT_IF-MO_SOF_STOR_CWB".

This illustration shows a solenoid valve after the storage tank booster pump and leading to a tee upstream of the MangOx/Carbon, and Softener Trio. Question is, how do I open this Solenoid? Is there a control system output on the Fleck controllers when it is time to backflush, so they can open the solenoid valve for clean water? Or do I need to put a timer on the solenoid valve?

Thanks

- Brian, Penngrove, CA”

Brian,

The solenoid valves for the clean water backwash line are controlled by an auxiliary microswitch which can be installed on the control valve. 

How to Remove Iron from Shallow Well

“Dear Sir,

I bought an old lake house with a shallow well.  Water is high in iron and you can smell it.  I'm debating filtering water versus digging a deeper well. I don’t know where to start, should I test the water first?  If so, what test do you recommend?

- Fred

Dear Fred,

As this is well water and you don’t currently have any filtration in place I’d recommend testing the water first so that we have a good understanding of the contaminant levels.

One particular kit comes to mind includes tests for Hydrogen Sulfide, Bacteria, along with many other contaminants as well.  This includes Free Shipping within the continental U.S. you along with shipping back to us!  A discount toward a system purchase is included as well.

Whole House Nitrate and Sulfate Reduction for Well Water

Hello,

I am interested in sorting out a water issue with a house I am hoping to purchase.  The house currently has a water softener and a neutralizer, though they have not been serviced properly. The house has an RO system already.  We would like to get the nitrate levels lower, and need advice about that.  The sulfates are also high.  Water test results are attached.

- Mr. Weston

The calcium hardness is low, though, so your softener is quite possibly functioning just fine.  It’s hard to know for sure without seeing some analysis for your untreated water too. Are you looking to have the nitrates and sulfates completely removed from all of your household water, rather than just the drinking water? 

How to Boost the Iron Removal Capacity of Birm Iron Filters with Air Injection

Dear Sir, 

I have a Birm iron filter I bought from a local water treatment company.  It has never worked very well and we still get rust stains.  I have 5.0 ppm of iron, and our pH is about 7.  My well guy says that iron filters for water wells need aeration.  I need to put in an aerator, to put some air in the water.  Do you have those, and how do those work? 

- Bill S.Utah

Hello Bill, 

Yes you can boost the iron removal capacity of your current Birm filter system by adding an air injector followed by an air tank with a vent on top. Birm filter media requires some dissolved oxygen in the water for the iron to be removed properly.  

Finding a Contractor or Plumber to Install Your Well Water Filter

Hello,

I am interested in ordering a water treatment system online from yourCleanWaterStore.com website.  I don’t want to install it myself, do you havesuggestions on how I can hire a contractor, or where to find one to installit?  


I was looking at the Pro-OX manganese dioxide mangox iron water filter, andthe calcite neutralizer.  I have acidic well water, as well as some iron inthe well water.


- Sharif, New Jersey


We recommend the resource below to find a contractor:

http://wellowner.org/finding-a-contractor/contractor-lookup/

You would just enter your zip code and it will give you a list of accredited

companies that you can contact that can hopefully handle the installation:
easily.  We provide full installation instructions which you can check out here and we have full technical support over the phone during the startup procedures too.

Using Manganese Dioxide to Remove Soluble Iron in Well Water

Question:  

Thank you in advance for your assistance.  How much soluble fe will Manganese Dioxide remove per ft3?  On the service, let's say its 15 ppm, does that mean if I get a 2 ft3 unit, it will remove up to 30 ppm of fe?  

Thanks again!”

It’s a good question, but no, it doesn't quite work like that. Besides the total amount of iron removed per cubic foot before the iron filter needs to be backwashed, we also have to consider the flow rate.  This is how fast the water is flowing through the filter. 

Water Treatment for Well Water High in Odor and Hardness

Dear sir,

I have an old well that recently developed foul odors.  There always used to be a slight odor to it, but recently we have had gas and oil rigs drilling in our area and the odor has gotten much worse.

My wife wants to me do something about it. She also has always complained the water is hard, and we want to see about getting a water softener at the same time.  She does NOT want chlorine.  What do you suggest?

- James S., Pennsylvania

Dear James,

We recommend a two stage approach.  The first stage is an Air Charger Sulfur Filter.  This removes odors without the use of chemicals by using natural aeration combined with powerful filter media to remove hydrogen sulfide and other odors in well water.  The system is fully automatic, and requires no routine maintenance.

How To Treat Acidic Well Water and Remove Coliform Bacteria

Dear sir,

See attached water test report.  We have “2 homes with

5 Bathrooms total.  Our well water is acidic (pH 5.5) but we also have high levels of hardness. We want to protect fittings from acid 1st and foremost.  Would like to drink water if reasonable.  What do you suggest?  Our well pump can pump about 7 gallons per minute.

- Steve

Hello Steve,

Thank you for contacting us through our website and including your water analysis.   

For such a low pH in conjunction with very high hardness, we would always recommend treatment with soda ash injection.  A backwashing calcite type of neutralizer generally can’t raise the pH up very well when hardness is already very high, and besides- a neutralizer system works by increasing the hardness a great deal, and you can’t really afford to raise it.