Well contaminated. Options ?

T

Tubbs

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We decided to get my parent in-laws well tested as the water started to smell of rotten eggs.

It turns out that there is a reading of E-Coli from the results and that the water is unfit for human consumption and must be boiled before use. (This is not related to the rotten egg smell apparantly)

This was quite shocking.
The advice from was to disinfect the well and re-test.

The well is covered and housed with no chance of animal or human waste or water run off going down the hole. So the reasons for the infection is not obvious.

What are their options if disinfecting the well doesn't work long term ?

Any idea of what options are out there and the costs involved ?

Would they have to consider digging another well ?
 
Was the tester unable to suggest a cause of the problem?
If its a local problem caused by groundwater pollution I would expect this to be showing up in other private wells and you could research this.

I am totally flummoxed by the tested suggesting that the rotten egg smell was unrelated to the water purity problem.
While sulphide gas may not be produced by e.coli it could indicate a possible industrial source for the pollution.

Its sounds like omething has gotten into the well, whether an animal that is decomposing, or groundwater pollution.
You need to consider the causes before you go digging more wells.

How long has the smell been there? Is this linked to any new activity in the area - new industries, road works, river flood abatement works, new farming practices on adjoining land, new industries in the locality, particularly those producing effluent?

For the record I'm not any kind of expert in this field, but I know of people who are, Golders, for example, formerly ERML in Naas.
A medium sized locla engineering firm should be able to either provide a service or point you to someone who can assist.
In the meantime, I'd be very wary about drinking that water - boiled or not - and I'd get a full set of tests done on it.

FWIW

ONQ.
 
Thanks onq

Tester was not able to tell us the cause of the e-coli reading but was suggesting farms nearby, dead animals, human waste etc are possible causes and that it is likely we will never know the exact cause of the problem.

They kept pushing us along the road of disinfect the well first and retest the supply - they said this is usually all that is necessry to fix the problem with these type of readings.

But if that fails they mentioned that the water from well may need to be purified on a permanent basis.

Obviously the risk (even with some purifier??) is that some e-coli ridden water will get through into the water supply - and I wouldn't fancy giving my kids a glass of water (boiled or not). I prob wouldn't leave them there for baby minding by in-laws either - baths etc

The tester said the rotten egg smell was probbably not related to the e-coli reading and the second part of the test (chemical analysis - results pending) may give us more info on that.

The egg smell has been there on and off since I have known in-laws but recently has got quite bad and is constant. (in-laws believe it is due to the natural content of the land).

We will disinfect the well for in-laws and re-test (and also look for causes) and then prob also look to install some filter system.

I guess I am looking for info on water purifiers and what would be involved in installing one etc and whether they will get rid of e-coli specifically.

Will need to talk to the experts but just wondered if anyone has gone through this process before we get the wheels in motion.

Thanks
 
onq said:
I am totally flummoxed by the tested suggesting that the rotten egg smell was unrelated to the water purity problem.
While sulphide gas may not be produced by e.coli it could indicate a possible industrial source for the pollution.
Click to expand...

Rotten egg smell in well water is almost certainly caused by H2S Hydrogen sulphide gas.

OP,

Is the well a deep bored well of modern construction or is it an old style shallow well? Does the sample tested relate to your kitchen tap or was it taken at the well itself.? The contamination may be occurring after the well but before the water reaches your house. Are there any other old wells or surface supplies connected? What was the level of e.coli and total coliforms present? e.coli is a potentially very dangerous pathogen and any waters containing it should not be consumed unless boiled.

Your well can be "shock chlorinated" - this will zap the bacteria on a once off basis but the contamination may return after a period.

You could consider a UV lamp sterilization system but you should take steps to protect the source first.

In any event you should get your well water tested by a reputable independent laboratory (one that has no ties to any water treatment contractors). You should test for Bacteria, General Water Chemistry and Metals.

You should show full set of results to a number of reputable water treatment contractors and get them to quote to bring the water up to standard.
 
ajapale said:
Rotten egg smell in well water is almost certainly caused by H2S Hydrogen sulphide gas.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying that ajapale - I'm aware of the chemical composition of the source, but my point was that in and of itself it may cause a health problem, disregarding the e.coli issue for a moment.

H2S + O2 in excess = H2SO4 which is Sulphuric Acid - even in dilute qualtities this ia not suitable for drinking.

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education2/78-hydrogen-sulfide.htm

I think the depth of the well, which you raised as a consideration, is worth exploring, as a lined well passing through the problematic strata to a deeper aquifer may solve the problem.

However if it is possible to identify the source of what appears to be the contamination of the "economical" well depth strata, this should be reported to the proper authorities.

FWIW

ONQ.
 
Apart from the potential for H2S to form H2SO4, H2S itself is a toxic gas.
 
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Apart from flammability, and not to unnecessarily worry anyone, H2S can cause instant death in sufficient concentrations. It's when you stop smelling the distinctive odour that you need to worry in these cases.

What about the tester though - was this a reputable individual/firm?

I seem to recall lots of alarmist charlatans going around trying to convince people to part with lots of money for various corrective 'systems' :rolleyes:
 
Contact your local Public Analyist's Office in the HSE which provides a free water testing service to the public. Also the Environmental Health service can advise re/ contaminated well water
 
OP here.

It was the HSE (Environmental Health) that carried out the test on the sample we provided - at the cost of €148.00
 
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