Q: I shock chlorinated my two wells a couple weeks ago.
For the first one, a 10 inch diameter, 40 foot deep, 100 gallon water column, I had to add another half a gallon of chlorine because no odour could be detected 24 hours after dumping the initial half gallon of 10 percent chlorine. After the second treatment, I could smell chlorine. However, I had to draw 2,000 gallons to get “relatively” clear water and eliminate the red-brownish color, which I assumed was due to iron. After 3,000 gallons of pumping, the water is now clear.
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For the second well, a five foot diameter, 100 foot deep, 100 gallon water column, I initially poured half a gallon of 10 percent chlorine and that was enough since I could detect a strong odour after 24 hours. However, the water was very red-brownish at first. In a five-gallon, white bucket I could not see the bottom. After drawing about 3,000 gallons (the output is low, about 50 gallons per hour) the water is clearer but still red-brownish. I can see the bottom of my bucket but it is far from being as clear as the water from the first well. I have been wasting a lot of water from that well already and the rainy season is coming to an end.
Is it wise to use the water as is, even if it is red-brownish, or should I draw and lose more water from that well for one or two more weeks?
A: In regards to the second well, stop running the water and let it sit for a day to settle. Then run the water for another two to four hours. After this amount of time you should start to notice the water clearing up.
The well output has dropped, which may be because of the oxidized iron settling to the bottom of the well. This may have slightly clogged the area where the water enters the well.
Continuing to run water will introduce more water into the well, which then should increase your well output.
You may use the water, but I would suggest you install some type of multi media filter to remove the chlorine and the oxidized iron.
Shock chlorination is a Band-Aid solution and most likely the iron and bacteria, if present, will reappear.
Q: Our new home was completed Oct. 31, 2002.
We had our water tested multiple times due to one reason or another. Finally, we shock chlorinated it.
Our water report was fine. We have soft water, except for high iron and sodium. We contacted our local water expert, who installed a carbon filter and a distiller to take out the sodium. But our water was still yellow.
We contacted our water guy again and he installed an iron filtering machine because we have tannins in our water.However, we were still getting yellow water in the toilets.
Our water guy contacted his engineers and they decided we would need a tannin filtering system instead. They removed the carbon and iron filters and installed a tannin filter.
We also had to put in a salt container, for softener salt, that goes with this machine.
We found that this would clean up the water for about a week and then it was yellow again.
Our water guy has been out many times to change settings. This last time he changed the salt to 48 pounds as recommended by his engineers and we are to try this for a week.
However, there is still no change in the water colour. It has even smelled and felt salty at times.
Our water expert isn’t sure what to do next. He has sent our water sample and problem to the tannin filter manufacturer.
Do you have any suggestions for us? We are at our wit’s end.
Our six-month-old toilets, dishwasher, showers and sinks all look like they are 10 years old because they are so stained.
A: We have worked with tannin resin filters and they definitely have limitations. Most of them are designed to work where tannins are low and iron is not present.
I would first have a complete analysis done. I also would have a tannins test done to determine how many colour units you have in the water.
I would suggest you have a complete pre-chlorination filtration system installed, followed by a colour removal membrane system that is solely designed for tannin removal.
I have researched and developed a tannin removal system that has been in existence for the past 10 years and works extremely well in the removal of tannins. The membrane system can also be designed to reduce the sodium in your water to a safe level.
The quality of water produced from a custom designed membrane system can be the equivalent of bottled water. I also hope that your local water company has some type of performance money-back guarantee.
If you have a specific water problem and would like advice, write to the Water Clinic, attention Philip Stadnyk, 850-47th St. E. Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 0X4, e-mail philip@thewaterclinic.com or phone 800-664-2561. Stadnyk is president of the Water Clinic and a member of the Canadian Water Quality Association. His views do not necessarily reflect those of The Western Producer.
