Conference vmszoo::new_hampshire

    You used to be able to call the state and get a kit sent out to you.
    You then follow the instructions and mail the sample back in the
    container provided.  I am not sure if this is still available, since
    it's been years, but I remember it as being reasonably priced, relative
    to the private firms.
    
    Linda Cotter-Cranston

    
    
    I believe you can get them right at Home Depot.
    
    

    Watertest of Manchester got top ratings from Consumer Reports a couple
    of years ago.
    
    					Steve

    
    My understanding is Watertest is not around anymore or not doing their
    own testing.  I tried to use them again back in August and was told
    they don't do their own testing they now send it out.
    
    8^(
    
     - b
    

 >    My waters smells like sulphur (very strong) in the last few months.
 
 Assumption: You have your own well.

 Sulfur smell is a common problem. You don't need a test kit. Your nose
 has already verified the problem.

 Before you have a water company come out and install a filter system
 to remove the contaminants you may wish to try shocking the well first.

 The entire procedure will take anywhere between 6 and 12 hours depending on
 whether you shock the pipes as well.

 If after the well (and pipes) have been shocked (sanitized) and flushed,
 the smell is still present, you will need a filter system to clear the water.

 Doug.

    
    
      shock the system??  I've never heard of this.  how is it done?

    Boy I'm an expert on this.  Get a quart of clorex, well I'm not real
    sure of the amount you would have to check that.  Put it in your well
    and run the water out of all the possible faucets in your house.  Run
    it until tou can smell the clorex.  Leave the water system alone, run
    no water, for 12 hours.  Then run water out of all faucets until you
    cannot smell the clorex.
    
    PJ

    When I clorinate my water buffalo (250 gals) so that it can be used for
    drinking water, I use about 1/2 cup of clorox.
    
    Steve

Somewhere in this conference is a good note on bleaching wells, computing the
amount of clorox to use, washing down the sides of the well to get everything
etc.

    Of course if the problem is sulfur in the water I don't see how
    shocking the well is going to do any good.  Shocking kills bacteria it
    doesn't remove minerals.

    PJ

If I remember correctly, the idea is to kill bacteria that convert relatively
odorless sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide (which stinks!).

>If I remember correctly, the idea is to kill bacteria that convert relatively
>odorless sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide (which stinks!).

Correct. If the odor is a relatively new issue, its cause may be
bacterial.

the quick list:

1) Shut the water supply off to the house.
2) dump a bunch of clorox down the well (i use a gallon)
3) run the water into the well through a garden hose.
   Let the water run into the well for 45 minutes to circulate the
   chlorine. Then wash down the sides of and everything inside the well.
  
4) if you want to sanitize your plumbing, remove the screens on the faucets,
   turn on the house water supply and run water to all faucets until you 
   can smell clorine from each one. Then shut off the supply again.

5) let the water sit for 4 hours.

6) run the water through the garden hose until chlorine smell is gone.
   This can take many hours, when it doubt, let it run. 
   Don't be alarmed if the water is VERY DIRTY for quite a while.

7) If you sanitized the house plumbing, open up the supply and flush the
   hot water tank with a garden hose. Then flush all the faucets until
   chlorine smell is gone. 

   Better to overflush than not.

   Note: bypass any filtration equipment when doing this. Sanitize them
   separately with tiny amounts of chlorine.

   Time will tell if the sulfur smell returns.

   Doug.
   

    
    This shocking method sounds exactly what was recomended to us, and
    we used successfully when we had a well in Illinois.  The problem
    with the sulfur odor was the worst following extended wet weather
    patterns.  Like this "winter" in New England.
    
    Oh, and I would go ahead and do the house pipes while you are at
    it.      

re .9:

"This conference" is 12DOT2::HOME_WORK, which is what I thought I was reading.
Anyway, .12 is pretty much what I remember.

    Be careful with the hot water heater. Most times the valve to drain it
    has not been opened in a long time if ever. Many times you cannot get
    it open. Other times it will not completely shut off.
    
    Steve

    As one who recently had to replace a 330' artesian well with a new
    400' well - Don't assume that the "sulfur" smell is bacteria.
    Our new well has a very high iron and manganese content. The cold water
    doesn't smell but the hot water - especailly the shower does.
    Our well was shocked by the well driller last fall when it was
    drilled
    
    You may want to get it tested first - either the state or one of many
    private companies. We had good luch with the State of N.H. with our
    other well (dug, by the swimming pool - not fit for drinking due to
    bacteria) but the well driller (Tasker Well of Norhtwood N.H.) used a
    private water testing company. The test results may be consistent with
    the odor, and save you the bother of chlorinating the well.
    I know that high iron and manganese is very common in N.H. deep wells.
    
    Bill
    

>Don't assume that the "sulfur" smell is bacteria.
>You may want to get it tested first.

The whole purpose of shocking the water first is twofold.

First, it's cheap, and has the added benifit of sanitizing the well, which
should be done periodically anyway.

Second, it prevents the potential mistake of installing a filtration
system that may not be needed.

As for testing, that should be done periodically as well (and not the cheap
EPA regulated tests either).

BTW: The advice above comes from a well drilling company official. When a 
new problem appears, alway shock the well first as this will elliminate 
90+% of them.

With that said, there are quite a few filtration companies that will come
to your home and test your water for free, with the intent of selling 
you whatever they can. I invited 5 different companies over inside a week.
They all had similar but different results.

Solutions ranged from $1500 to $3200. I corrected the problems for under $500.


Doug.

Just a note of caution as a result of the last time I did this to my well...

Wait a few days before washing your clothes!  Even after I thought the well
was thoroughly flushed of the chlorine there was still a sufficient amount
in there to bleach a couple of loads of laundry!

Dan

    
    That is a common problem when the hot water tank doesn't get flushed
    completely.
    
    
    It can also make you prematurely blond in the shower :-)
    
    Doug.

    And of course if you let a lot of chlorine flow through your pipes down
    the drain - it will kill the good bacteria in your septic system.  So
    the garden hose method is a good idea for flushing.