Sulfur Eating Bacteria Well Water

Clothing washed in water that is high in sulfur may also become stained.

Sulfur eating bacteria well water.

The slime can clog wells. Hydrogen sulfide may also result from wells drilled in shale or water heaters that contain magnesium rods. Of the two types sulfur reducing bacteria are the more common. Produced by certain sulfur bacteria in the groundwater well or plumbing system.

Often keeps odors away for 1 2 months. May help other bacteria grow. The sulfate reducing microorganisms have been treated as a phenotypic group together with the other sulfur reducing bacteria for. In some cases the odor will only be.

Hydrogen sulfide typically enters the well water through naturally occurring bacteria. As with odors caused by iron bacteria the sulfur smell may only be noticeable when the water hasn t been run for several hours. Chlorine is toxic to coliforms and is the most common type of water disinfection agent. Many well owners are immediately frightened by the thought of contaminants of any kind entering their water supply.

The most obvious sign of a sulfur bacteria problem is the distinctive rotten egg odor of hydrogen sulfide gas. Produced by sulfur bacteria or chemical reactions inside of water heaters. From pollution this is rare. Water that contains as little as one part per million of hydrogen sulfide can tarnish copper and silver.

Where does the sulfur come from. Iron and sulfur bacteria are two of the most common bacterial contaminants that well owners face. Sulfur bacteria produce a slime and can help other bacteria grow such as iron bacteria. Bacterial contamination of a water supply doesn t always mean health hazard.

When coliforms are present the treatment is usually to chlorinate the system. Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors. Chlorination eliminates the sulfur bacteria that cause the odor and combined with an air charger self. You might imagine tiny bacteria eating sulfur and then producing hydrogen sulfide gas as waste.

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. It is perhaps more common in areas with shale or sandstone geology. Some types of bacterial contamination are more annoying than harmful. It s not very comforting knowing that smelly water is the product of bacteria waste.

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. Install a chlorine injector system chlorinator on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running. The enzyme dissimilatory bi sulfite reductase dsrab ec 1 8 99 5 that catalyzes the last step of dissimilatory sulfate reduction is the functional gene most used as a molecular marker to detect the presence of sulfate reducing microorganisms. Additional iron bacteria sulfur reducing bacteria information.