Well Water Treatment

Well Water Treatment

Well water should be tested at least every two years if not once a year. The water test should include a microbiological analysis and a test for heavy metal levels.

The microbiological analysis should include testing for bacteria such as Coliforms and Ecoli. Most testing labs will test for a variety of metals such as Arsenic, Iron, Manganese, Radium and salts (hardness) pH and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).

Here are some possible solutions if your well water fails any of the reading on your water test.

Ecoli/Coliforms

Sanitize the well immediately by shock treating with unscented bleach. Try to determine the cause of the bacteria. It is often from run offs from livestock feces leaching into the well through the well head or ground source. It could also be caused by a leaking septic tank or leaching from the septic field.

Consider installing a UV disinfection system to safeguard against future contaminations. The type and size of the system will depend on the GPM capacity of the water pump.

Arsenic
Arsenic is one of the most challenging metals to remove from water. There are two types of Arsenic. One is easier to remove than the other. Often an under sink reverse osmosis system will reduce arsenic to below acceptable limits.

If follow up tests show the reverse osmosis is not working then oxidizing the water is required to help prepare the arsenic for removal. Greensand filters are very effective in oxidizing the water and will also reduce levels of Manganese, Iron and odours (rotten egg smell) caused by Hydrogen Sulphide.

A new technology, Titanium Oxide is proving to be very effective in reducing Arsenic by literally absorbing the Arsenic out of the water. The Titanium Oxide media does need to replaced with frequency based on Arsenic levels and water usage. This technology is about double the cost of using reverse osmosis with a greensand filter but will remove it from the whole home instead of just drinking water.

Iron/Manganese
The presence of Iron and Manganese will usually show by staining plumbing fixtures such as sinks, bath tubs and toilets with a brown or reddish colour. Both can be removed from drinking water by reverse osmosis. A whole home greensand system is very effective in removing Iron and Manganese from all water in the home to prevent staining and improving drinking water quality.

Hydrogen Sulphide
The "rotten egg" smell in water is usually cause by bacteria feeding off Hydrogen Sulphide. Regular "shocking treating" the well with bleach will usually get rid of the smell. Installing a Greensand filter will also remove the smell.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Heavy Metals
Reverse Osmosis is the most effective way of removing metals from water. It can remove of to 99% of some metals and can be very affordable. .