How to Treat Iron Bacteria in Well Water

Iron bacteria wreak havoc with well water distribution, often plugging up the mechanism. The sooner it is diagnosed, the quicker it can be treated to prevent costly maintenance and repair. Checking for iron bacteria is simple. It only takes a sample of well water allowed to sit for about 48 hours. When iron bacteria is present, an orange/red material is exhibited within the water. Iron bacteria can be treated one of several different ways.

Things You'll Need

• Steaming mechanism
• Bleach
• Acid treatment
• Large bucket
• Hand tools (for removing well parts)
• Chlorine
• Hose

Instructions

Disinfecting the Well

1. Pasteurize well water by forcing steam or very hot water into the well. For this to be effective the temperature must be over 140 degrees Fahrenheit and heat must be sustained for 1 to 2 hours.

2. Disinfect the well with bleach, using about 4 quarts for every 500 gallons of water. In cases of a light case of iron bacterial infection caught early, this may be sufficient.

3. Acid treat iron bacteria. While bleach may kill the bacteria, it does not dissolve the iron like acid will.

4. Remove and replace any affected well parts. In some instances cleaning will be sufficient, although it can be time consuming and expensive. This is especially true if any or all of the parts need replacement. Even then, it is often best to follow this procedure with a chemical treatment as well.

Chemically Treating Iron Bacteria

1. Prepare the chlorine treatment according to the instructions provided on the product purchased (like Hylex). Be sure to choose one that is approved for use in your type of well.

2. Put the solution into the well. Pour it in evenly to make sure it is adequately distributed.

3. Connect a hose and wash down the well walls. Then submerge the hose into the well, allowing the water to circulate with the chlorine.

4. Open all of the faucets attached to the well and let them run until you can smell the chlorine. Then close them immediately.

5. Let the chlorine stand in the well for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours.

6. Purge the system of all chlorine by continuing to run the water until the chemical can no longer be smelled. It may be necessary to repeat this process multiple times before all iron bacteria is eliminated.

Mechanically Treating Iron Bacteria

1. Shock the water with chlorine to kill any active bacteria following the instructions on the shock treatment product that you purchased. Iron removal is addressed in Step 2.

2. Insert an iron filtration system appropriate for the type of iron present. Operate as instructed with the system.

3. Follow-up the mechanical treatment with a disinfectant treatment if iron bacteria appears to still be present.

4. Follow the above with a chemical treatment if disinfecting the well did not work.

Treating with Ultraviolet Light

1. Install the ultraviolet lights, placing them in position as recommended by the system purchased. Make sure the lights surround the entirely of the well and cover every nook and cranny of water.

2. Turn the lamps on for the period of time recommended. Exactly how much time will be required will vary based on the number of lamps used, their overall strength, the amount of area that must be covered, the size of the well itself and the depth of bacterial infection.

3. Retest the water periodically while continuing to run the ultraviolet lights. Do not turn the lamps off until test samples no longer indicate iron bacteria are present.

4. Retreat the well periodically to prevent the re-growth of bacteria.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your eye out for clues that iron bacteria might exist. These include an unusual odor like that of rotten food or must; a brown, orange, red, or yellow stain on anything with which the water comes in contact; and a metallic taste. It may also produce a rusty colored slime.

• Pasteurization can be effective; however, the process may be expensive.

• Chemical disinfectants like bleach may not be strong enough to kill iron bacteria that have taken hold.

• There are several different types of chemical treatments used for treating iron bacteria. They include acids, biocides, disinfectants, oxidizers and surfactants. However, acid, chlorine and iodine are among the most common.

• Consider hiring a professional to do a chlorine treatment.

• Never mix acid and chlorine together.

• It is recommended that trained professionals accomplish acid treatments.

• High amounts of chlorine can have an impact on appliances that come in contact with chlorinated well water.

References

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• American Ground Water Trust
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Resources

• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service