Iron water problem

[hondoman]

Had water tested told iron was 1.2ppm. Had a Demand I/S Filter installed with a Fleck 5600 control valve. Water is still discolored and when we take a sample of the bypass water and the in-service water there is not much of a difference in the color of water between the two. The tech is advising that there may be an accumulation of iron in the pipes causing the problem. Tlhe filter has been running for 7 days. Any ideas or advice would be appreciated.

[ion_avenger]

What color is it - yellow, red, brown etc... ?
Does the system have3 a bypass ?
What kind of media is in the tank ?

[hondoman]

Thanks, ion-avenger for the reply...the water is a light brown in color...you can see through it but when put in a white container it is light brown,,,the system does have a bypass which when used, the water is slightly darker, but not much...the take is I believe green sand which has to have potassium added in a smaller tank...

[greg-cws]

I don't see an "iron accumulation in the pipes" causing this.

Did they do any testing for tannins/lignins in your water ?

If you have no tannins, and your hosehold plumbing is fine, I would think that you most likely have a bleedthrough between the distribution riser and the control valve, which would allow untreated water to bleed through.

In the week that the system has been running, has it used any permanganate at all ?

Did they do any other water tests, is so please post the results here so that we all can take a detailed look.

[hondoman]

Thanks Greg-cws for the info,,,I'm going to have the water tested again and will post the results in the first of the week....everyone has been helpful,

[hondoman]

Will get results of water test late next week... company came and installed a 5micron filter after the greensand tank and the water is still slightly discolored. You can really see the problem when the washer is filled, not clear. Leaves stains on tub and toilet. Could my shallow well or point be the problem. thanks, fellas for the help.

[greg-cws]

Will get results of water test late next week... company came and installed a 5micron filter after the greensand tank and the water is still slightly discolored. You can really see the problem when the washer is filled, not clear. Leaves stains on tub and toilet. Could my shallow well or point be the problem. thanks, fellas for the help.



Fill a glass with water, and let it stand for 48 hours. See if it clears at all.

What color are the stains, and do they wipe off easily ?

Is your iron filter using any permanganate at all ?

[hondoman]

Got the glass of water, will check on Monday,,, the stains are brown in color on the tub, toilet. Wipes off pretty easy...filled the hot tub and the micro-filter is brownish, never had that before. As for the perm. I don't know how much was in the container when it was installed. I took the top off and see the pile of perm. will check in a couple of days.

[hondoman]

let the water sit for 2 days and it didn't clear up...filter is using perm. saw it go through the line at 2:30am...water test will not be back until the 17th...water looks clear but when put in a container that is white u can see the discoloration....

[greg-cws]

Very interesting, I'm excited to hear the test results on the 17th.

[hondoman]

sorry for the delay as the water testing company updated their equipment. The water tested from the kitchen sink is water that is coming through a green sand filter. The iron results are 0.296 and the copper was 0.020. The company that installed the green sand filter now want to install a Chlorination type of device. Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated.

[greg-cws]

0.296ppm of iron is definitely enough to cause staining. - That's a problem.
If your inlet is only 1.2, there certainly seems to be a problem with the iron filter. I might begin to suspect a crossover in the plumbing, bypass, or even on the system riser o-ring that separated treated water from untreated water.



Have they opened the iron filter to be sure that the seals are intact and have they checked for bypass/household plumbing crossovers ?

Also, is there any other test data available, like hardness, pH, TDS etc... ?

[hondoman]

Thanks for the reply,,,I don't believe that they have checked the items that you have suggested. Today they came and installed a Chem Tech pump for chlorine. When I got home, I ran water and you could immediately smell the chlorine and the water in the washer was still discolored (a light green). Out of the sink water also could taste the chlorine. Tech via phone suggested to turn chlorine dial to #40 and wait the weekend to see if the water clears up. At this point I'm ready to have the equipment removed and start over with another company.

[greg-cws]

Without besmirching the other contractor, their methodology certainly seems strange...

What state are you in ?

[hondoman]

Thanks, I live in upstate NY just below the Adirondack Mtns. From what I was told was a simple iron problem that the greensand filter would solve now has turned into the filter, with a 5micorn inline filter, and today addition of the chlorine device. The agent is labled as a CWS-V.

[greg-cws]

That definitely is a curious situation, especially with a CWS-V on the case.

Have they ever given you any other test data ?
Have you made them check for an internal bypass on the iron filter ?

If you'd like a 2nd opinion on the water test results, email two water samples (treated & untreated) to my attention at Intermountain's main office address.

[hondoman]

Thanks, I will suggest to the agent the items you suggested to check...The only test that they have done is the initial test when he came to the house to discover that it was an iron problem. The other tests are tests that I have had done to try to help solve the problem and to have as evidence in the event that this goes to small-claims court. Do you suggest to have the untreated water (from the shallow well) tested and if so what to have them give me results on. A full panel costs around $125.00. The only tests that I have had done is coliform which turned out neg.-- Iron (treated .296) and copper (treated .020) Your help is appreciated and will not be forgotten.

[greg-cws]

Situations like this are never fun. I hope you can find an amicable resolution to it. - And especially a solution that gives you clean water.

The minimum screening that I perform when selecting inorganic iron treatment equipment is as follows:-

1. Hardness
2. Iron (ferric & ferrous)
3. pH
4. Total Alkalinity
5. TDS
6. Well pump maximum delivery flow rate available to filter
7. Well pump maximum delivery pressure available to filter


I would have an influent sample (untreated water) and an effluent sample (treated water) tested by the same facility to compare the water quality difference.

[hondoman]

the agent sent his tech men here today (good people) and they felt that the problem is in the pipes. After checking the turning off the water and checking the micro-filter and other things we turned back on all of the faucets and the water came out rust color. Tonight I have to turn on the bypass of the greensand filter and pump 80% choloring in the pipes and let sit overnight. Tomorrow clear out the lines, reset to 40% to see if the water is any clearer. Will keep you posted on how this works.

[ion_avenger]

Dude, you should retain a lawyer. This looks like a serious case of negligence.
Start documenting everything they do and make sure they document every service call in writing - what they did and why. Have them do a field test for iron each time. Watch them do it and make them write the results down. CYA !

[hondoman]

Thanks Ion man...I have documented every thing from phone calls to visits and have records from them on what they have installed or done each time. I also have pictures of the items they installed, I have filled the washer and taken pictures of the water before the first installation and after each visit. I work for the prison system and record keeping is vital so this is what I have done each time.

[hondoman]

Gettin a second opinion in a day or two...unhooked the chlorine,..smell and harshness to our bodies was too much. Water looks good except for a slight discoloration,,,,will keep you posted what the 2nd guys says. P.S., this guy is recommended by the town engineer.

[hondoman]

Well, back to the start...the company was draggin their feet so I asked to settle the dispute by returning the equipment. They agreed and came and removed the greensand filter, and the chlorine tank. Water is still slightly cloudy. Not quite clear. The tech, not the csw, thinks that the pipes have an accumulation in them. Gotta start over, any advice, like in the past, will be appreciated.

[greg-cws]

I'm impressed that they gave you your money back & took it all out. :)

Start with some testing and information gathering:-

1. Hardness
2. Iron (ferric & ferrous)
3. pH
4. Total Alkalinity
5. TDS
6. Well pump maximum delivery flow rate available to filter
7. Well pump maximum delivery pressure available to filter

That will help with choosing an appropriate/lasting solution

[ion_avenger]

hondoman-what happened, is your water good now?