Water Quality problem

Sunbeam lodge · 05-02-2010, 06:18 PM

Just returned from Fla. to discover I have very dark rust colored water with some granite chips and muddy looking sediment. I knew we had iron in the water but not this bad. The pump is pumping 10 gal per minute but it is very muddy looking. I ran the pump at full force for about an hour but it did not clear it up. We have very little pressure at the faucets even though I cleaned some of them. I also have Rheim Instant hot water system that is not delivering what it should Is it possible to have Culligan or integrated water systems install something that would clear up my water. Or better yet can you recommend someone who can fix the problem.
Thanks

fatlazyless · 05-03-2010, 08:15 AM

By attaching a $65, 1/6-hp utility pump and garden hose from the lake to a garden hose faucet on the outside of the house, it will send a water stream down the water well supply pipe in the opposite direction, and hopefully purge the system of any particulate matter like granite tailings that clogged up the intake screen, down the bottom of the well.

Plus, it will immediately get all bathroom and kitchen faucets running with clear LAKE water.

At least it's an el cheapo, quik fix before you pull the trigger on a big-bucks, professional water well repair?

Plus, Lowe's has an easy return policy, so if you save the box and the receipt, it can be returned within 90 days.

Sunbeam lodge · 05-03-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

By attaching a $65, 1/6-hp utility pump and garden hose from the lake to a garden hose faucet on the outside of the house, it will send a water stream down the water well supply pipe in the opposite direction, and hopefully purge the system of any particulate matter like granite tailings that clogged up the intake screen, down the bottom of the well.

Plus, it will immediately get all bathroom and kitchen faucets running with clear LAKE water.

At least it's an el cheapo, quik fix before you pull the trigger on a big-bucks, professional water well repair?

Plus, Lowe's has an easy return policy, so if you save the box and the receipt, it can be returned within 90 days.

I can always count on you, the ultimate professional. Thanks, but if I turn on the water faucet to allow the lake water into the pipes how does it overcome the 60 lb water pressure in the holding tank in order to reverse the flow?

Rattlesnake Guy · 05-03-2010, 02:36 PM

It won't. There is a check valve behind the pump so that the water does not flush back down the hole when the pump stops. I don't think it's a good idea to send organics and bacteria from the lake into your well. You have enough issues already.

Grady223 · 05-03-2010, 02:49 PM

Sounds like you need the help of a professional.

Eagle · 05-03-2010, 03:42 PM

I think what you have is iron bacteria and the only way to get rid of it is with chlorine shock treatment which should be done by a professional.

This happened to my well a few years ago and I guess it's fairly common if the pump has not run for a long time.

RLW · 05-03-2010, 07:20 PM

Check out this site it may help you with out going to the expensive professionals.

Irrigation Guy · 05-03-2010, 07:37 PM

Call Terry Morerod of Lakes Region Pump and Irrigation(603-455-2419). He has helped many people around the lake(several I've referred to him) and works at more reasonable prices as compared to many of the others in the business. He does pumps, irrigation, filtration systems, and is very knowledgeable.

wifi · 05-04-2010, 03:13 AM

By all means, if you are getting granite chips coming out your faucet, don't run the pump. It will grind up the innards quicker than the swish of a cats tail.

If this is a submersible pump, new, they have a fine screen on them, so the chips would be ore like dust, jet style pumps have a courser screen. In any event, if you feel like monkeying it, all you might need to do is yank the hose up a few feet to bring the end out of collected silt. This very thing happened to me.

I also went thru "the heartbreak of iron bacteria", and running bacteria thru the water heater will produce a smell you won't forget.

Good luck

05-02-2010, 06:18 PM	#1
Sunbeam lodge Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith/Naples Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 135 Thanked 50 Times in 26 Posts	Water Quality problem Just returned from Fla. to discover I have very dark rust colored water with some granite chips and muddy looking sediment. I knew we had iron in the water but not this bad. The pump is pumping 10 gal per minute but it is very muddy looking. I ran the pump at full force for about an hour but it did not clear it up. We have very little pressure at the faucets even though I cleaned some of them. I also have Rheim Instant hot water system that is not delivering what it should Is it possible to have Culligan or integrated water systems install something that would clear up my water. Or better yet can you recommend someone who can fix the problem. Thanks

05-03-2010, 08:15 AM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,749 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	By attaching a $65, 1/6-hp utility pump and garden hose from the lake to a garden hose faucet on the outside of the house, it will send a water stream down the water well supply pipe in the opposite direction, and hopefully purge the system of any particulate matter like granite tailings that clogged up the intake screen, down the bottom of the well. Plus, it will immediately get all bathroom and kitchen faucets running with clear LAKE water. At least it's an el cheapo, quik fix before you pull the trigger on a big-bucks, professional water well repair? Plus, Lowe's has an easy return policy, so if you save the box and the receipt, it can be returned within 90 days. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

05-03-2010, 07:20 PM	#7
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	Check out this site it may help you with out going to the expensive professionals. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

05-03-2010, 07:37 PM	#8
Irrigation Guy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 484 Thanks: 89 Thanked 138 Times in 72 Posts	Call Terry Call Terry Morerod of Lakes Region Pump and Irrigation(603-455-2419). He has helped many people around the lake(several I've referred to him) and works at more reasonable prices as compared to many of the others in the business. He does pumps, irrigation, filtration systems, and is very knowledgeable.

05-03-2010, 02:36 PM	#4
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	It won't. There is a check valve behind the pump so that the water does not flush back down the hole when the pump stops. I don't think it's a good idea to send organics and bacteria from the lake into your well. You have enough issues already.

05-03-2010, 02:49 PM	#5
Grady223 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hope, PA & Barndoor Island Posts: 465 Thanks: 93 Thanked 24 Times in 18 Posts	Sounds like you need the help of a professional.

05-03-2010, 03:42 PM	#6
Eagle Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 48 Thanks: 24 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	I think what you have is iron bacteria and the only way to get rid of it is with chlorine shock treatment which should be done by a professional. This happened to my well a few years ago and I guess it's fairly common if the pump has not run for a long time.

05-04-2010, 03:13 AM	#9
wifi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 1,321 Thanks: 282 Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts	By all means, if you are getting granite chips coming out your faucet, don't run the pump. It will grind up the innards quicker than the swish of a cats tail. If this is a submersible pump, new, they have a fine screen on them, so the chips would be ore like dust, jet style pumps have a courser screen. In any event, if you feel like monkeying it, all you might need to do is yank the hose up a few feet to bring the end out of collected silt. This very thing happened to me. I also went thru "the heartbreak of iron bacteria", and running bacteria thru the water heater will produce a smell you won't forget. Good luck