Clean water is the basic need of human beings. What if water gets contaminated with iron bacteria? The result is poor quality of water, making it unfit for drinking purposes as well as for other uses. The reason for the presence of iron bacteria in water could be many, which we discuss in this blog, along with its solution. Though it is a matter of concern, it has not been proven so far that iron bacteria can cause disease. In this blog, we discuss the signs of the presence of iron bacteria and whether vinegar can effectively kill iron bacteria.
Signs of the Presence of Iron Bacteria in Water
Change in Colour of the Water: When bacteria are present in small amounts, it is usually not visible in water, but when bacteria start to feed off iron, you can detect iron bacteria in the water. When iron is present in the water and reacts with oxygen, rust-colored iron oxide is formed, which changes the colour of the water. The changed colour helps detect the presence of iron bacteria.
Slimy Material in the Water: When iron oxide is present in water for prolonged periods, it releases reddish or brownish slimy material in the water. This indicates the presence of iron bacteria. These bacteria are commonly seen in toilet tanks in the form of a slimy coating along the walls of the tank. If bacteria remain in the tank for a prolonged period, deposits start floating in the water. Then, you will have to empty the water from the tank completely.
Oily Sheen on the Water Surface: To test whether the oily sheen is caused by iron bacteria, take a stick and swirl it around. If the oily sheen breaks, there’s a possibility of the presence of iron bacteria.
Other Indications: Some of the other signs are the smell of a rotten egg, sewage-like odour, sweet smell or smell of rotten vegetables.
Can Vinegar Remove Iron Bacteria From the Water?
Whether vinegar can remove iron bacteria from water or not is a debatable topic. Vinegar contains acetic acid between 4% and 18% and acids are used to treat iron bacteria. The presence of acid in vinegar dissolves the iron deposit, loosening the bacterial slime and even killing bacteria. Vinegar is known to remove iron bacteria, but the level of effectiveness is a subject of debate. The reasons are that it’s not approved by the EPA as a disinfectant, and it may not effectively remove some bacteria and germs. Here are some of the factors on which the effectiveness of vinegar depends:
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Presence of Organic Matter(Dirt): It reduces the effectiveness of vinegar.
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Type of Water (Hard or Soft Water): Presence of hard water reduces the effectiveness of vinegar, just like the presence of organic matter.
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Duration of Use: The amount of time spent in treating water with vinegar also impacts the extent of removal of iron bacteria.
How to Prevent Iron Bacteria From Entering Into Well?
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Always use disinfected water in a well for drilling or repair. Water taken from the pond should be completely avoided.
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Ensure the well casing is watertight and 1 foot above the ground.
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While performing any repair work, avoid placing well equipment or pumps on the ground.
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After repair work is done, disinfect both the well and the pump.
Method to Use Vinegar to Kill Iron Bacteria From Well Water
The first thing to note is that always use vinegar along with other solutions, but don’t mix vinegar and chlorine directly. It is advisable to first disinfect the well under professional supervision. The process involves:
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Pump the well and let the water run for some time.
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Based on certain laid-out criteria, decide the amount of vinegar and chlorine to use.
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Prepare a vinegar and specified amount of water solution and add chlorine to the solution.
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The last step is to pour the solution into the well and wait for a couple of hours. Afterwards, flush out the system.
Another Method to Treat Iron Bacteria
Disinfect
Though there are several varieties of disinfectant (ozone, chlorine and hydrogen peroxide), the most affordable and easily available one is chlorine, as you can fetch it from the kitchen. Simply pour chlorine into the water.
Retention
The next step is retention, when you should retain water in which chlorine was poured. This is because it takes time for chlorine to kill bacteria in the water. Let water and disinfectant sit in the retention tank until bacteria are killed.
Filtration
In this step, oxidised metals and bacteria are removed.
| Notes | Despite all your efforts, if you feel that bacteria still persist, seek the help of a professional to effectively remove iron bacteria. |
Conclusion
Whether vinegar can effectively kill iron bacteria is debatable, but vinegar is used to remove iron bacteria. It is not used directly, but chlorine is added in a fixed proportion. The effectiveness varies with the hardness of water and the presence of organic matter in the water.
