jim wrote:
On 5 Apr, 18:15, "Clot" wrote:
jim wrote:
On 18 Mar, 23:11, "Clot" wrote:
jim wrote:
possibly OT but I intend to DIY the follow-on system so:-

Anyone know what I should expect to pay for a laboratory drinking
water anaylsis on our spring water? Seems we have acidity and Iron
at the least........
NB We're in West Yorks.

Spring water is different from well water. Springs can be shallow
and subject to variable quality as a result. This is particularly
relevant for bugs, coliforms and E Coli are the standard indicator
organisms. A one-off test on a spring is just that - the water
quality was what it was at the time of the test.

if the spring is shallow beneath grazing land then bugs from cattle
and sheep could be an issue.

Also, looking at the chemical aspects, nitrates could be an
issue.pH is usually undertaken as a standard test. Really more
details of the situation are required before one can recommend a
suite of analysis. Only then can the cost be estimated.

I can't recall now whether it was W Yorks or S Yorks EHOs that used
to be quite well informed about the quality of private supplies in
their areas. Has your supply ever been tested by the local
Authority EHO. They are responsible for this.

sorry for delay - been away!

Well, (no pun intended) the land above the spring is farmland with a
couple of horses, further up are some cows on rotation with other
fields, no chemical fertilising that I am aware of, and that's about
it. Of course the water may equally well come from anywhere in the
hillside..and the story would be the same as reagrds livestock and
land use - so your comments on bugs are apt.

We already have a UV system and sediment filters so hopefully (as
long as I keep changing the tube) that aspect is covered.

Keep changing the tube - that is important!



Locally, iron is very common in springs and streams, some very
bright orange out-flows can be seen around the valley usually from
old mine workings here and there - (clay, coal). In the primary
tanks up the hill above us, there is always a layer of
orangey/brown sediment coating the tanks and pipes, it is easily
disturbed and from my researches I would expect that to be soluble
iron salts that have reacted with aeration of the water and the
resulting insoluble salts have dropped out of solution. Our
sediment filters trap a lot of this and at rainy times of the year
our water can taste a bit metallic and in flood can be a little
hazy too. We generally switch to (previously) bottled until after a
day or so all is clearer and taste improves once again.

Aah, just as I suspected. I used to work for a water utility. Years
ago, it had quite a few springwater sources serving rural
communities. Due to the variation in water quality with the seasons
and weather, we closed these sources down to protect consumers from
the risk of being served with bacterially unsatisfactory water.
Despite the use of the uv tube, under the adverse weather conditions
you describe I think that you could be at risk and your precaution
in using bottled water at those times is wellfounded.

Also, due to the cessation of pumping out many of the former mines,
groundwater levels are rising and quality of water could be
compromised. In some areas, the Coal Authority is now putting in
treatment systems to remove the iron prior to water being discharged
to surafce water, (you could look this up on their website). I'm
sure I saw something there about this - could have been in an annual
report.

You would most likely find out if iron is an issue in the house by
discoloration of clothing in the washing machine!



As regards testing by EHO, not in the 7 years we have been here
altho the spring does have a number as mentioned in the deeds. When
we bought it we had a respected water treatment firm round who did a
"briefcase" test, he was surprised at the quality and sold us only
the UV and sediment filters! House is 200+yrs old and has always
been supplied by the same spring, until we came there was one
'candle' filter !!

I think it could be advisable to have a word with the EHO - again
try their website - probably under Environmental Health. They are
charged with the responsibility of monitoring private supplies like
this. Are there others nearby using springwater - the EHOs should
know and again should know if there are issues due to any monitoring
they carry out or queries that have been raised.



The apparent pH issue (blue rings in baths and SWMBO's highlights
turning green in bath) is the one I am hoping to address in due
course now.

Scaling in the bath could actually be copper - being dissolved in
the hot water cylinder tank.



Hope this helps,

Clot

thanks that is all very interesting.

especially
You would most likely find out if iron is an issue in the house by
discoloration of clothing in the washing machine!

as we have never had any bother with discoloured washing.....perhaps
the iron issue is not as bad as I expected..

Blue rings in bath & green highlighted hair:-
So far I am fairly certain the cause is copper from the pipes
dissolving in the periodically acidic water, especially exacerbated by
the heat in the (copper) DHW cylinder - could it be anything else?


It is the most likely cause.

Regards

Clot.

PS. Feel free to ask, I will help if I can.