Manganese Bacteria In Well Water

These bacteria form redbrown iron or black brown manganese slime in toilet tanks and can clog pipes.

Manganese bacteria in well water.

It is almost impossible to kill all the iron and manganese bacteria in your system. Iron bacteria in the distribution system will cause an increase in chlorine demand. Water coming from wells and springs with high iron and or manganese may appear colorless initially but orange brown iron or black manganese stains or particles quickly appear as the water is. If conditions are right a water softener is the best tool for removing manganese.

Manganese as well as iron bacteria in water can stain drinking water fixtures or even laundry. Iron bacteria may help other organisms grow. Iron is one of the earth s most plentiful resources making up at least five percent of the earth s crust. Iron and manganese are naturally occurring elements in the earth.

If not your water may be contaminated with iron and manganese or worse iron or coliform bacteria. When these minerals come into contact with oxygen from water or air they oxidize. Removing manganese with a water softener. These bacteria can give the water a musty or swampy smell.

The bacteria feed on iron and manganese in water. These non pathogenic non health threatening bacteria feed on iron and manganese in water forming red brown iron or black brown manganese slime often detected in toilet tanks and can clog water systems. The most common approach to control of iron and manganese bacteria is shock chlorination. The softener can handle significant quantities of manganese but it only works well if all the manganese is un precipitated and remains un precipitated.

A problem that frequently results from iron or manganese in water is iron or manganese bacteria. Such bacterial contamination is not uncommon in well water systems situated in areas susceptible to sewage runoff near farms or near deposits of coal peat oil etc. Both iron and manganese are readily apparent in drinking water supplies. Iron and manganese bacteria.

Both impart a strong metallic taste to the water and both cause staining. Periodic shock chlorination of the well and distribution system will control bacteria. These bacteria combine iron or manganese and oxygen to form deposits of rust bacterial cells and a slimy material that sticks the bacteria to well pipes pumps and plumbing fixtures. Iron bacteria should be controlled in the well to prevent fouling of well screens.

Shock chlorination procedures are described inshock chlorination of domestic water supplies. Wisconsin department of. The first step to learn how to remove iron manganese and odor from well water is to understand a little about where iron comes from and the types of iron found in well water. Sources of iron and manganese in drinking water.