caretaker

Congratulations on finding oil on your land! Do you think all the money will spoil you?

mandymoochops

I know we are on well water Piff but that's about the depth of my knowledge on this issue. If there's a problen then hubby or f-i-l will sort it

Although ours turns everything red after a while (we shocked it last year when it got smelly and it solved the problem).

Wouldn't drink it straight out of the tap though it's ok for bathing / boiling etc.

MB-Realtor

If your neighbor has the same problem it is probably the water source that is the problem.

After you have shocked the well, if the problem persists, take a sample to a lab for a full water test (not just bacteria) and at least then you will know what you have to deal with, and will have the information a professional can use to solve the problem.

Piff Poff

Erm...I'll give it a go

I'm already spoilt

Not even using ours for boiling atm, I was until it turned black, but now it's just a bit to worrying.

That's the plan I think. I would like a fairy godmother to wave a wand and solve all the little issues and unpack for me please, I've had enough stress now thank you.

We were aware we would have some issues with the house, water wasn't something we had thought about more than, we'll get a nice system put in to make yummy tap water oh well. Ha well

AlexInBC

Is it still black??

We have a similar situation (~240' deep well with no chance of contamination out here (back of beyond, in the mountains) but with far too much naturally occurring iron, which causes the ideal environment for the relatively harmless but pretty unpalatable "sulphur-reducing" bacteria (which is what produces that slight eggy smell.) We've been drinking the water for 7 years (we put it through a Brita filter for taste only - no UV or any other purification) and we're still fine.

We do notice that after the well hasn't been used for a while (which is only after an extended power cut as there is another family who share the well, so it's still in use while we're away) we do get black sediment coming through, in suspension, out of the taps, but it's only for a very short while - not days, that's for sure!

MikeUK

One quick way to look at is to put it in a glass and see what happens overnight

If it settles to the bottom, it may be a mineral contamination (mud or other)

If it forms thin strands then its possibly a sulphur bacteria, you might also find this in toilet tanks etc (long thin strands)

if its goes transparent but is still dark, then you may have reduced iron in solution, or organic material dissolved in the water (like a tea)

none of these are better or more meaningful than a lab test and that will give you the key answers that will help resolve the problem

this may be a help http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs...-puits-eng.php

Piff Poff

I have commented to OH this evening that the water isn't as dark this evening and the smell is not as choking as it has been (I even rinsed my toothbrush in the stuff today and I'm not dead), he agreed and said he was going to say the same to me, there are also no black particles in the bottom of the bath and washing up bowl today. Scheduled shocking of well should take place on Friday evening - as long as we're brave enough, quite concerned that if we take the well cap off the well will fall apart or something, seeing as this is the house of horrors

GavinR

The iron bacteria can also be down to air pockets in your pipes and issues with the hot water tank. Is it black for certain actually coming out of the well?

Piff Poff

I have no ideaHow would we check that?

GavinR

There may be a tap before the riser from the pump goes into your water pressure tank. Failing that there's almost always a tap coming directly off the pressure tank, suggest you try those first.

Piff Poff

OK we will have a looky loo.

kingdavid2012

It is obviously unsafe.You should make a deep drill did you get the clean water.Usually 80-100 feet in depth.advice you to consult some local geologists

Piff Poff

Err - do you know what your talking about? Smelly water is not uncommon here.

mandymoochops

lol in rural properties i'd say it's the norm lol.

Hows it going any news yet?

Piff Poff

Well, erm I forgot to buy more bleach, so we have to reschedule the shocking It will be interesting to see if a day of heavy rain affects the water tomorrow, if it does we know we have a bit of a problem. The water has remained smelly but no longer black, if it's black again tomorrow, I'm moving