Manganese Bacteria In Well Water

Wisconsin department of.

Manganese bacteria in well water.

The bacteria feed on iron and manganese in water. If not your water may be contaminated with iron and manganese or worse iron or coliform bacteria. Most drinking water has traces of dissolved iron and manganese. Shock chlorination procedures are described inshock chlorination of domestic water supplies.

If conditions are right a water softener is the best tool for removing manganese. These bacteria can give the water a musty or swampy smell. Removing manganese with a water softener. Iron and manganese are naturally occurring elements in the earth.

The softener can handle significant quantities of manganese but it only works well if all the manganese is un precipitated and remains un precipitated. When these minerals come into contact with oxygen from water or air they oxidize. Iron bacteria should be controlled in the well to prevent fouling of well screens. The most common approach to control of iron and manganese bacteria is shock chlorination.

Iron bacteria in the distribution system will cause an increase in chlorine demand. Iron is one of the earth s most plentiful resources making up at least five percent of the earth s crust. Manganese as well as iron bacteria in water can stain drinking water fixtures or even laundry. Both impart a strong metallic taste to the water and both cause staining.

Iron can tint water and things it comes in contact with such as fixtures red and manganese can. Nebguide g96 12800 a drinking 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. Sources of iron and manganese in drinking water.

These bacteria form redbrown iron or black brown manganese slime in toilet tanks and can clog pipes. Periodic shock chlorination of the well and distribution system will control bacteria. Iron and 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 bacteria may help other organisms grow. It is almost impossible to kill all the iron and manganese bacteria in your system. A problem that frequently results from iron or manganese in water is iron or manganese bacteria.