Local Government Bayswater Grand Promenade Reserve

Comparison: Hydrochloric Acid ,Airlift & BoreSaver Ultra C & surge

Owner: Local Government Body

Client: Water Bore Redevelopers

Product: BoreSaver Ultra C & IKL Pro

Well: Fibreglass 30 m deep

Timeframe: 2007 -  2009

This well has a history of iron oxide clogging going back at least 12 years. Ten years ago an automated electrolysis device was installed in an attempt to stop iron oxide forming around the pump, the effect was short term and is considered a failure by the parties involved.

Over the past 6 to 7 years, this local government well has seen regular rehabilitation with a surge block and hydrochloric acid.  We were presented with the opportunity to do a camera run just before this years scheduled rehabilitation. After surging the well with HCL there was no detectable increase in specific capacity so the contractor was asked to try again and used air surging.

Again there was no measurable improvement in the specific capacity. By testing the SC at each treatment phase we are able to make direct comparisons between the Phased Treatment System (BoreSaver) and what is a standard industry rehabilitation strategy (hydrochloric acid and air surging).

The Phased Treatment System utilized gentle surging of 20kg of Ultra C along with 20 L of IKL pro. Just one phase was required to achieve a 28% recovery in specific capacity; a substantial increase considering the well had just had two different well treatments in the weeks beforehand.

All three rehabilitation systems removed some of the internal layers of iron oxide from the fibreglass. Only the Phased Treatment System with BoreSaver Ultra C cleaned behind the slots and this is the zone that makes the greatest difference to well production.

CITATIONS AND REFERENCES

[Anaerobic reduction of ferric iron by hydrogen bacteria].

[Article in Russian]

Balashova VV, Zavarzin GA.

Abstract

Ferric iron is a possible electron acceptor for facultative anaerobic processes. A Pseudomonas culture capable of reducing ferric iron with molecular hydrogen has been isolated from marshy soil. The microorganism can grow because of iron reduction. It reduces ferric hydroxide and ferrihydrite, including residues of iron bacteria. The organism reduces also nitrates in nitrites. Reduced iron and nitrite inhibit the growth of the organism, and therefore the concentration of the cells and of reduced iron is not high. The organism can grow with oxygen as an electron acceptor, even at oxygen concentrations below 1%. The organism requires small quantities of yeast extract for growth under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The bacterial reduction of iron with hydrogen may be significant for gaining better insight into processes occurring in flooded soils.

PMID: 502905 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances

LinkOut - more resources

Other Literature Sources

1. 1.1Labome Researcher Resource - ExactAntigen/Labome
   
   

Medical

1. 1.1Iron - MedlinePlus Health Information
   
   

Molecular Biology Databases

1. 1.1HYDROGEN - HSDB
   
   

2. 2.2IRON - HSDB
   

Gold Coast Council IRB Fact Sheet

www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/attachment/iron_bacteria_final.pdf

Bacteria. Iron Bacteria - Get informed. If you've seen a slimy brown residue in your local waterway or drain- it could be iron bacteria, a naturally occurring micro - ...

Journal of the American Water works Association (1945)

Volume: 37, Issue: 10, Pages: 963-984

Abstract

CONDITIONS in water favor the growth of many different microorganisms. Principal among these are algae which require only mineral nutrients from the water and obtain their energy from sunlight. There are also many bacteria, as well as filamentous fungi and protozoa, that grow on organic materials and develop extensi vely in waters containing large amounts of organic matter. Still other bacteria (.in develop in 'water containing little <Jr no organic matter but in which there :lrc ferrous or manganous compounds, m!fides or certain other incompletely oxidized mineral substances which can 1,'(: used by iron bacteria, sulfur bac( uia or other autotrophic bacteria as ''')urccs of energy for growth. The de.. doplllentof algae, heterotrophic mi'::' (.rganisms and autotrophic bacteria ;,;;."y be so profuse in 'Nater supplies ':,! it is necessary to provide a means 'q !,HYent their gTO'.vth and the forma:", n uf their objectionable products.In developing methods of control it is desirable to establish the nature of the organisms causlng the trouble and to know the characteristics and growth requirements of these organisms. The iron bacteria, which are members of the third group, are some of the most important fouling organisms, since they not only produce troublesome accumulations of ceN material but also still greater quantities of ferric hydrate. In addition to the iron bacteria there are various other bacteria, including sulfur bacteria and sulfatereducing bacteria, which are responsible for various transformations of iron. Some bring iron. into solution, others cause its precipitation and, in certain .instances, the bacteria are responsible for corrosion. These reactions may be due to changes in pH, to oxidation or reduction, to production of sulfide, to differences in concentration of CO2 or to the formation and decomposition or organic compounds of iron, an or which (continued in article)

Related research

1. 1.1.Iron Transformations by Freshwater Bacteria
   
   J Gwynfryn Jones in Advances In Microbial Ecology (1986)
   
   

test

Iron bacteria in drinking water

For a free brochure containing the information on this page, contact the nearest DNR office and request publication number WS-004.

Table of contents

1. 1.1.What are the effects of iron bacteria
   
   

2. 2.2.How do I know if I have iron bacteria in my well?
   
   

3. 3.3.How can I prevent iron bacteria from entering my well?
   
   

4. 4.4.How do I treat iron bacteria?
   
   

1. 1.◦Chemical treatment
   
   

2. 2.◦Mechanical treatment
   
   

5. 5.5.More information on iron bacteria in drinking water.
   
   

What are the effects of iron bacteria?

Common effects of excess iron in water are a reddish-brown color, stained laundry and poor tasting coffee. An equally common but less well understood problem is infestation of water supplies with iron bacteria. Iron bacteria are a natural part of the environment in Wisconsin and most other parts of the world. These microorganisms combine dissolved iron or manganese with oxygen and use it to form rust-colored deposits. In the process, the bacteria produce a brown slime that builds up on well screens, pipes, and plumbing fixtures.

In Wisconsin the dramatic effects of iron bacteria are seen in surface waters as brown slimy masses on stream bottoms and lakeshores or as an oily sheen upon the water. More serious problems occur when bacteria build up in well systems.

Iron bacteria in wells do not cause health problems, but they can have the following unpleasant and possibly expensive effects:

1. 1.•Cause odors
   
   

2. 2.•Corrode plumbing equipment
   
   

3. 3.•Reduce well yields (clog screens and pipes)
   
   

4. 4.•Increase chances of sulfur bacteria infestation.
   
   

Detecting iron bacteria

There are certain indications that your well may have an iron bacteria problem. These are:

1. 1.•Red, yellow, or orange color to the water
   
   

2. 2.•Slime on the inner walls of the toilet tank
   
   

3. 3.•A smell that may resemble fuel oil, cucumber, or sewage.
   
   

1. 1.1.(This smell may be noticeable only in the morning or after other periods of non-use. If a disinfectant is used in the toilet tank, this sign of iron bacteria might not be apparent.)
   
   

4. 4.•If you have reason to suspect an iron bacteria problem, you may wish to try shock (or "batch") chlorinating the well, as described later, before having a water sample tested by a laboratory.
   Water samples can be tested at private laboratories or the State Laboratory of Hygiene (465 Henry Mall; Madison, Wis. 53706; phone 608-262-1293). Interested well owners will receive a test kit, and analysis results will be reported within two weeks. Owners should be aware that concentrations of iron bacteria constantly change as they are shed from pipes and fixtures. For this reason, faucet samples for testing should be collected in the early morning when the water system has been inactive for several hours.
   
   
   

5. 5.•Preventing iron bacteria
   Because it is difficult to get rid of iron bacteria once they exist in well systems, prevention is the best safeguard against accompanying problems.
   For well drillers, prevention means disinfecting everything that goes into the ground with a strong (250 ppm) chlorine solution. Iron bacteria are nourished by carbon and other organics, and it is essential that these are not introduced into any part of the well system during the drilling process. Tools, pumps, pipe, gravel pack material, and even the water used in drilling should be disinfected. Use of a tank that circulates chlorinated water instead of digging a mud pit will help avoid contamination from soil. When the well is completed, it should be purged, shock chlorinated (using 1000 ppm solution), and then pumped.
   For owners of new wells in places where iron bacteria have been a problem, the best prevention is to be especially alert for signs of their occurrence. If the well driller and pump installer are scrupulous in keeping the new well "clean," iron bacteria even in such areas can be avoided.
   For owners of wells with previous iron bacteria infestation, chlorination is the best way to prevent it from reoccurring. Owners can periodically clean wells by shock chlorination as described in the next section, except using a weaker solution 2 quarts of 5.25% chlorine bleach in 100 gallons of water (or 1.25 qts. of 10% chlorine bleach). Another possibility is to install a chlorination unit, a method generally not adopted unless other problems also exist. Prior approval by the DNR is required for these units; well owners considering them should contact the DNR statewide office in their area for further information.
   
   
   

6. 6.•Treating iron bacteria problems
   Although there are both chemical and mechanical methods for treating iron bacteria problems, private well owners should expect to use the former until further study establishes the effectiveness of heat or other means to disinfect smaller wells. Since bacteria tend to build up again a few months after treatment, well owners should try to control rather than completely "cure" the problem.
   
   
   

7. 7.•Chemical treatment
   For several reasons, routine chemical disinfectants that effectively wipe out other bacteria are only modestly successful against iron bacteria. Iron bacteria build up in thick layers forming a slime that keeps disinfectants from penetrating beyond the surface cells. In addition, miner iron dissolved in water can absorb much of the disinfectants before they reach the bacterial cells. Also, because chemical reactions are slowed at the cool temperatures common in wells, bacterial cells need a long exposure to the chemical for treatment to be effective. Even if chlorine kills all the bacterial cells in the water, those in the groundwater can be drawn in by pumping or drift back into the well.
   Because of these factors, thoroughly treating an iron bacteria infestation requires more than simply dumping chlorine into the well. The following steps are recommended:
   
   

1. 1. 1. 1.■For problem cases, a more complex process involving shock chlorination followed by introducing a strong acid and salt solution has proven effective. This process should be done only by a licensed well driller or pump installer, and requires prior DNR approval.
         
         

8. 8.•Mechanical treatment
   In addition to chemical treatment, other methods are available to control iron bacteria in community water systems. Stagnant water conditions can be avoided by looping dead-end plumbing lines and periodically flushing low-flow lines to reduce bacteria. Forcing hot water or steam into a well to disperse the slime and kill the bacteria has also worked well. In addition, flushing large quantities of heated water into the aquifer has been found successful in field tests.
   More information
   For additional information on iron bacteria and related problems, contact the water supply specialist at the DNR statewide office in your area or DNR Bureau of Water Supply, Box 7921; Madison, Wis. 53707-7921.