Iron Bacteria: Should You Be Worried About Iron Bacteria in Your Water?

In the U.S., about 15 million households drink from a private well. People choose wells for various reasons, including taste and freshness. Some households also have property too far away to be hooked up to the city’s water source.

When it comes to public drinking water, the government has strict regulations. However, with well water, you do not have to follow the government’s rules. Instead, homeowners control the safety of their water. While some contaminants can pose a hazard to your health, others may compromise the taste of your water, such as iron bacteria. Fortunately, there are solutions for this common contaminant.

What Is Well Water?

If you own a private well, you do not have to settle for poor-tasting or poor-quality water. In the U.S., there are two different types of common wells:

• Driven wells
• Drilled wells

To create a driven well, contractors drive a pipe into the ground. Driven wells have a casing and only reach 30 to 50 feet deep. They obtain water from nearby aquifers and may become contaminated quickly.  This type of well is rarely used for potable water but is sometimes used for irrigation.

On the other hand, the drilled wells can reach thousands of feet deep. To construct a drilled well, you need a rotary drilling machine. Drilled wells have the lowest risk of contamination because they require continuous casing.  This is the standard type of domestic water well in the U.S. and Canada.

Is there Iron in Your Well Water?

Soil and rocks can contain high amounts of iron. Additionally, iron and steel casings may corrode, causing iron to dissolve in the well water. Generally, people do not suffer harm from iron ingestion; in fact, we require certain levels of this metal to survive.

Unfortunately, our bodies have a difficult time absorbing iron from the water, so drinking it has no positive benefits, either. Moreover, some harmful organisms feed off the iron and may infect your water when it is present.

Ways to detect iron include sight and taste. It has a metallic taste that may affect the taste of your food and drinks. It can also leave red, brown, and yellow stains on your dishes. Iron may be especially alarming to coffee and tea drinkers because it turns the beverages a dark color.   Additionally, home test kits are available.

Signs of Iron Bacteria in Water

Detecting iron bacteria in your water can be straightforward if you know what to look for. One of the most common signs is the presence of reddish-brown deposits and slimy coatings on surfaces that come into contact with the water.

You may also notice an oily sheen on the water's surface, a telltale sign of iron bacteria. The water may have a bad taste and odor, often described as similar to rotten eggs or sewage. These bacteria can produce a range of odors, from a mild, earthy smell to a strong, unpleasant stench.

Iron bacteria can also cause clogging issues in pipes and plumbing fixtures, resulting in reduced water pressure and flow. This clogging can cause significant inconvenience and may require costly repairs. Additionally, the presence of iron bacteria can contribute to the corrosion of equipment and infrastructure, further escalating maintenance costs.

Regular testing and maintenance are crucial for detecting and preventing the growth of iron bacteria in water systems, especially in areas with high levels of dissolved iron. By staying vigilant and addressing these signs early, you can maintain the quality and safety of your water supply.

What Are Iron Bacteria?

Iron bacteria are tiny living organisms that naturally occur in soil and groundwater. They were given the name because they feed on iron. When in nature, you may spot the bacteria as red-brown masses on the bottoms of streams and lakes. They create rust bacterial cell deposits by mixing iron and oxygen. As they feed, they secrete a slimy, sticky substance that can interfere with pumps, plumbing fixtures, and pipes.

Iron bacteria test kits are available.  You can also look in your toilet flush tank to see if there are bubbles in the water and slimy, hairy-like structures growing out from the walls of the flush tank.

Are Iron Bacteria Dangerous?

These iron-eating microorganisms do not pose a direct threat to human health. However, they are a threat to your plumbing system. Water contaminated by bacteria may have a distinct smell, similar to sewage or rot, and a corresponding taste. Your point-of-use treatment devices are less effective, and your water develops an oily sheen.

The bacteria can cause premature corrosion of your plumbing components as the slimy rust buildup affects the filters, toilet tank,s and well casing. Furthermore, while iron bacteria contamination itself may not pose a direct threat to your health, it also creates an environment that allows other bacteria to thrive. Some of these bacteria and pathogens can cause illness in humans and animals.

How Can You Deal With Iron Bacteria in Your Well?

In many cases, the bacteria occur naturally in the soil, so well contamination does not necessarily mean that you did anything wrong. Sometimes, well repair, installation, drilling, and other service work can introduce bacteria into your system.

To keep your water fresh and uncontaminated, there are two key considerations: prevention and treatment.

Prevention of Iron Bacteria in Wells

• Avoid introducing contaminated water.
  Never add lake or pond water to your well system unless it has been properly disinfected. This includes water used for priming pumps or during repairs.
• Keep equipment clean.
  Don’t lay well parts or tools on the ground. Soil contact can transfer bacteria. After repairs, always disinfect the well, pump, and plumbing system.
• Ensure proper casing protection.
  Your well casing should be capped, watertight, and extend at least 12 inches above ground to help prevent surface contamination.

Treatment Options for Iron Bacteria

Iron bacteria can be difficult to remove completely and often reappear. You may need a combination of treatments or ongoing maintenance to maintain a safe water supply.

A. Chemical Removal

• Surfactants, similar to detergents, are commonly combined with other chemical treatments.
• Phosphates may require a disinfectant, as bacteria can feed on them.
• Acids help kill bacteria, dissolve deposits, and loosen slime, but require professional handling due to the danger of chemical burns and improper disposal.
• Disinfectants like laundry bleach kill bacteria but can be hazardous if mixed or handled incorrectly.

⚠️ Never mix chlorine and acid—this can release dangerous gases.

B. Physical Treatment

• Remove and clean pumping equipment.
• Thoroughly scrub the well casing.
• Pair physical treatments with chemicals to ensure all bacteria are eliminated.

C. Chlorination

• Shock chlorination with bleach can kill iron bacteria once, but it doesn’t prevent regrowth from groundwater.
• A chlorine injection system paired with a contact tank allows for continuous treatment.
• Water is chlorinated, then sits in the tank, and passes through an iron filter to remove rust, sediment, and any remaining chlorine.

  

D. Pasteurization (Heat Treatment)

• Involves injecting steam or hot water into the well to maintain temperatures above 140°F for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Effective but rarely used due to high costs.

Testing for Iron Bacteria

There are four common levels of iron bacteria testing:

• Observation:
  Look for orange, red, or brown stains, rainbow sheen on water, and slimy or feathery deposits.
• DIY Test Kit:
  Confirms observations and is ideal for home use before pursuing advanced solutions.
• Laboratory Testing:
  A sample is sent to a certified lab to test for nuisance bacteria and potential water corrosiveness.
• Comprehensive Testing:
  Especially useful if your water is mineral-rich or you want to rule out other contaminants and corrosion risks.

What Are Possible Well Water Contaminants?

Water can carry a variety of contaminants. We all need water, but when it becomes contaminated, it can expose many people to illness and other health risks. Private wells may serve fewer people than public ones, but you still need to take the health and safety of your water supply seriously.

Iron bacteria is not the only problem that can occur in well water. Other possible contaminants can be broken down into various sources.

Test for a wide variety of contaminants with one of our Well Water Lab Tests.

Microorganisms

Iron bacteria is just one of many microorganisms. Microorganisms refer to bacteria and viruses, as well as single-celled parasites and other lifeforms. You can find all kinds of microorganisms in the ground and in human and animal waste. When it rains and snows, the runoff can contaminate private wells.

While many are harmless, certain organisms can lead to gastrointestinal problems or other health issues.

Clean Up Your Well With the Clean Water Store

Iron bacteria can cause significant damage to your well water system. While it does not itself spread illness, it can create an environment that encourages the growth of harmful bacteria and cause damage to your well equipment.

Once you detect it in your water supply, it is time to remove it. At Clean Water Store, we are happy to answer any questions you have about well water and safety. Learn more about how we can help your well perform better and the steps you need to take to rid yourself of all bacteria.

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/iron-bacteria

https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wells/waterquality/ironbacteria.html

https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/potential-well-water-contaminants-and-their-impacts

https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/learn-about-private-water-wells

https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wells/waterquality/iron.html