Sulfur Reducing Bacteria In Well Water

Water softeners provide a convenient environment for these bacteria to grow.

Sulfur reducing bacteria in well water. Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors. Install a chlorine injector system chlorinator on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running. Iron and sulfur bacteria are an annoyance more than a health hazard but they can be incredibly damaging to the plumbing systems that they grow in. When coliforms are present the treatment is usually to chlorinate the system.

The slime can clog wells. Sulfur reducing bacteria which use sulfur as an energy source are the primary producers of large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur reducing bacteria which use sulfur as an energy source are the primary producers of large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. These bacteria chemically change natural sulfates in water to hydrogen sulfide.

Sulfur reducing bacteria live in oxygen deficient environments such as deep wells plumbing systems water softeners and water heaters. Sulfate reducing bacteria are responsible for significant corrosion of equipment. Removing the sulfate can be accomplished by using a dealkalizer a system similar in operation and cost to a water softener. The two most common species of these bacteria known scientifically as desulfovibrio desulfuricans or desulfotomaculum nigrificans can be the cause of severe pitting corrosion even on stainless steel components.

A salt loving bacteria that uses sulfates as an energy source may produce a black slime inside water softeners. Sulfur reducing bacteria which use sulfur as an energy source are the primary producers of large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. Produced by sulfur bacteria or chemical reactions inside of water heaters. Hydrogen sulfide gives water a nuisance rotten egg smell and taste.

Odor in the cold water that goes away after water flows. Sulfur reducing bacteria live in oxygen deficient environments such as deep wells plumbing systems water softeners and water heaters. Often keeps odors away for 1 2 months. These bacteria chemically change natural sulfates in water to hydrogen sulfide.

Chlorination eliminates the sulfur bacteria that cause the odor and combined with an air charger self. In this scenario the most likely source of the hydrogen sulfide is sulfate reducing bacteria srb s. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that is produced naturally by decomposing organic material and sulfur reducing bacteria. Iron and sulfur bacteria in water.

Produced by certain sulfur bacteria in the groundwater well or plumbing system. Because objectionable stains tastes or odors may be due to other causes including sulfate hydrogen sulfide or other nuisance organisms like sulfur bacteria proper identification of chemical substances and microorganisms in well water is the first step and should be done by a state certified laboratory. Chlorine is toxic to coliforms and is the most common type of water disinfection agent. The smcl for sulfate in drinking water is 250 milligrams per liter parts per million as established by the epa.