Sulfur Eating Bacteria Well Water

Water that contains as little as one part per million of hydrogen sulfide can tarnish copper and silver.

Sulfur eating bacteria well water.

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. The most obvious sign of a sulfur bacteria problem is the distinctive rotten egg odor of hydrogen sulfide gas. Where does the sulfur come from. Sulfur bacteria produce a slime and can help other bacteria grow such as iron bacteria.

It is perhaps more common in areas with shale or sandstone geology. Produced by certain sulfur bacteria in the groundwater well or plumbing system. Many well owners are immediately frightened by the thought of contaminants of any kind entering their water supply. Clothing washed in water that is high in sulfur may also become stained.

It s not very comforting knowing that smelly water is the product of bacteria waste. Hydrogen sulfide typically enters the well water through naturally occurring bacteria. 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. Of the two types sulfur reducing bacteria are the more common.

Iron and sulfur bacteria are two of the most common bacterial contaminants that well owners face. You might imagine tiny bacteria eating sulfur and then producing hydrogen sulfide gas as waste. Chlorination eliminates the sulfur bacteria that cause the odor and combined with an air charger self. Like other minerals sulfur can leave stains in plumbing fixtures such as sinks and toilets.

The slime can clog wells. Additional iron bacteria sulfur reducing bacteria information. Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors. The sulfate reducing microorganisms have been treated as a phenotypic group together with the other sulfur reducing bacteria for.

The biggest problem of sulfur in drinking water is that it stinks. Some types of bacterial contamination are more annoying than harmful. Hydrogen sulfide may also result from wells drilled in shale or water heaters that contain magnesium rods. When coliforms are present the treatment is usually to chlorinate the system.

Iron and sulfur bacteria in water. Bacterial contamination of a water supply doesn t always mean health hazard. Install a chlorine injector system chlorinator on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running. From pollution this is rare.

Produced by sulfur bacteria or chemical reactions inside of water heaters. May help other bacteria grow. 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. Chlorine is toxic to coliforms and is the most common type of water disinfection agent.