POSTED

Posted by Craig S. Chisesi on 9/30/2011 at 12:16:52 PM
I have a unique well report from a client and am searching for viable treatment options. I have seen hundreds of well reports, but this one has us stumped. The house is located in the mountains of Colorado in an old mining town, elevation about 10,000 feet. The sinks, tubs and toilets are stained orange/red.

RESPONSES

Allen Hurtado: 9/30/2011 12:30:06 PM
With that ratio of Fe to Mn, one would expect the staining to be more brown/black than red/orange. Could the Mn possibly be ug/l? If it's really got that high, Mn in mg/l and the staining is red/orange, you've got a very unique problem.

Also, is this water clear when it pumps from well or is it colored, hazy and with filterable particulate? That knowledge helps segment your treatment approach.

Mark Widdison: 9/30/2011 1:48:37 PM
Use a water softener, a duel alternating would be best.

Craig S. Chisesi: 9/30/2011 1:48:56 PM
I contacted the lab and they verified the 18.8 mg/l was not a misprint, nor a missed decimal. The water appears clear when drawn, but next day samples appear to have a slight filigree and it is cloudy and reddish. I contacted the homeowner concerning the color on the tub and sinks. I was only there once, and that description is what I remembered. Perhaps he has seen other colors. I will let the board know when I hear back from the client.

Gary Schreiber, CWS VI: 9/30/2011 8:18:30 PM
If you use a water softener it would be best to also include one of the workable technologies for removing Fe and Mn first and follow that with an ion exchange softener and include one of the standard resin cleaning chemicals for regeneration.

I agree with the others on the color staining. Also, try having another analysis just for Fe and Mn. A field test on the water for those two on the site would be best.

Jim Wark: 9/30/2011 9:40:33 PM
A really good application for ozone if sized properly. The ozone will oxidize the metals and kill any bacteria, added benefit being that it will naturally increase the pH as a lot of oxygen will be dissolved in the atmospheric tank. The filtration and contact time will be important, but nothing more important than sizing the proper size generator and air prep unit.

rjh2o: 10/1/2011 10:34:50 PM
The pH and alkalinity are low which will interfere with the oxidation process of iron and consequently filtration of iron and manganese and low oxygen levels at that altitude.

That is a lot of iron and the manganese is relatively high but we have very good success removing iron at those levels and Mg at levels six times higher with air injection/filtration.

Suggest calcite/corosex filter to raise pH and air injection system (external compressor for air injection) with either multi-media or birm. Backwash every two days.

Craig S. Chisesi: 10/3/2011 4:03:11 PM
Thanks for all the great input. I was a little surprised at the recommendations for water softeners only. It has been my experience that they will not address high levels of iron, higher than 5 ppm or so. I contacted an ozone manufacturer and an OEM company from the past. Regarding the well report, I did have the Fe and Mn tested separately.

I have forwarded the replies to the client so he can keep abreast of the conversations [and I] received this [response]:

"Hi Craig, I would agree, looking at the other tests, that your result of 18.8 is in milligrams, not micrograms. It does seem that your manganese result is the highest though. The others were 8 to 16 milligrams per litre. As to the staining color on our white porcelain, the family consensus has it — definitely orange/red. Aside from the last runoff season where we had record snowpack, the water always comes out clear and then turns orange after being exposed to the air for a while. It even develops a film on top.

Last spring's runoff was the only time I noticed the water come out orange and cloudy, probably because oxygen-rich runoff water was percolating into the aquifer. As you noticed though, we have sediment buildup in the toilet tanks. Please thank the respondents to the posting. We really appreciate this consensus approach and all of your efforts!"