Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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 first option for odor is a self-contained sulfur filter which uses air injection directly in the filter to oxidize the sulfur out, and then passes the water through a mixed bed of filtration media specifically designed to remove odors from water. This is an automatic backwashing system that rinses out the media once every night or two nights in order to keep the media clean as well as maintain a head of air for the oxidation.

The second option uses either chlorine injection with the use of a metering pump, which provides extra strength oxidation for strong odors and high levels of iron and manganese (which can be linked with sulfur odors). This system also provides disinfection, providing you with clean water, void of bacterial contamination. The hydrogen peroxide or chlorine would then feed into either a contact tank or an inline mixer to provide enough time and contact for the solution to react with the sulfur, iron and bacteria in the water, and then it could go through a non-backwashing carbon filter to take out the oxidized particulate matter.


Option 1:


Air Charge Sulfur Filter

Iron / Sulfur Air Filter Includes:
  • Eliminator Plus 115v control valve
  • - ¾” pipe connectors with bypass valve
  • - 1.5 Cubic foot of Centaur carbon filter media


Dimensions:
  • Filter tank diameter: 10 inches
  • Height including control valve 61 inches

How the system works:

The AIO air filter maintains an “air pocket” in the top of the tank while the system is in service. As water passes through the air pocket, iron and sulfur are oxidized. The Nelsen AIO filter media bed then removes the oxidized iron and sulfur from the water. Additionally, dissolved oxygen is added to the water. By utilizing a patented piston in the control valve, the AIO Sulfur filter is able to put the whole oxidation process inside one tank, keeping maintenance costs and down time to a minimum.

http://www.cleanwaterstore.com/CF002460.html



Option 2:

45MHP-10 Metering Pump & Solution Tank
45MHP10 Stenner  w/ 15 gal tank 220V

Stenner Pump with 15 gallon heavy-duty polyethylene solution tank; Pump output 0.5 to 10.0 gallons per day (1.9 to 37.9 liters per day); voltage 115 or 220V; 60 Hz. This is a complete system that comes with everything you need: solution tank; metering pump; tubing; fittings; and injection check valve.

Excellent Warranty: 1 Year on the metering pump

https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/CS000340.html#tab=tab1



40 Gallon Contact Tank


The CT-40 tank is a durable easy-to-install retention tank designed to provide optimum contact time during chemical treatment. These lightweight seamless totally non-corrosive retention tanks are ideal for new and replacement installation where durability is at a premium. 100% non-metallic polymer materials. Impervious to chemical attack. Comes with 1-1/4 inch inlet.

2 sizes to choose from, same price Either 16”Diameter x 58”Tall or 21” Diameter x 36” Tall

http://www.cleanwaterstore.com/T2000690-p-contact-tank.html

Excellent Warranty: 5 Years from date of installation.



Vacuum Breaker, ½” mpt.

Vacuum Breaker Relief Valve 1/2"
Vacuum breaker relief valve Watts 1/2" male 200 PSI maximum. Required for contact and retention tanks to prevent vacuum in system and avoid imploding vessel.

http://www.cleanwaterstore.com/V3000820-p-contact-tank.html



Catalytic Carbon Filter 165 1.5CF (10x54)

Carbon Filter Plus 1.5 CF
Includes 1.5 cubic feet of catalytic Carbon filter media; and Digital 165 control valve.

All the filter media you need for the system is included. Excellent for use in de-chlorinating water, taking out hydrogen peroxide and removing many tastes and odors.
Much longer life and higher flow rates than carbon filter cartridges.

Excellent Warranty: 5 Years on Control Valve & 10 years on the media tank.

http://www.cleanwaterstore.com/CF002700.html








Below are some diagrams that may be helpful to understand how the entire systems work.




Please let me know if you have any questions regarding these recommendations. These are just a few ways of going about it, but really there are many other alternative methods of treatment worth looking into if you would like to discuss other options.