Well Water - Help!

[adelph]

We are currently living in a house and have well water. We had a North Star Ultra II Automatic Water Conditioner installed. We were told by the plumber who tested the water that it has 65% hardness. Our problem is that we are having to change the sediment filter often, I would say at the least weekly and probably more often. Not only are we having to change it that often, it is disgusting - completely black when we do. We have always lived in the city and had city water so have no idea how normal or abnormal this is but it doesn't seem normal?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Driller1]

We are currently living in a house and have well water. We had a North Star Ultra II Automatic Water Conditioner installed. We were told by the plumber who tested the water that it has 65% hardness. Our problem is that we are having to change the sediment filter often, I would say at the least weekly and probably more often. Not only are we having to change it that often, it is disgusting - completely black when we do. We have always lived in the city and had city water so have no idea how normal or abnormal this is but it doesn't seem normal?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Yes. A well should never pump dirty water, never. You need to have a driller look at this. You could be getting a hole in the casing. Or, the well was never right. You can get lot of information from your local health department and it is free. They also will give you a list of drillers.

It is called different things in some areas. Someone in your county building will know.

[Gary Slusser]

We are currently living in a house and have well water. We had a North Star Ultra II Automatic Water Conditioner installed. We were told by the plumber who tested the water that it has 65% hardness. Our problem is that we are having to change the sediment filter often, I would say at the least weekly and probably more often. Not only are we having to change it that often, it is disgusting - completely black when we do. We have always lived in the city and had city water so have no idea how normal or abnormal this is but it doesn't seem normal?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

A North Star is the same as a Kenmore or other big box store branded softener and sold by plumbers.

Hardness is stated in grains/gallon (gpg) or ppm or mg/l, not a percentage. And if that 65 is gpg, your North Star is probably way undersized.

Sediment can be many things and disposable cartridge filters are a poor choice for filtering sediment. A backwashed filter is best. The vast majority of sediment is not harmful. It could be from shale, H2S gas, or sediment in the bottom of the well and the pump is stirring it up every time it starts etc. etc.. And your dept of health is not a good place to get information on that type problem. And be very careful of well drillers, they sell new wells and expensive 'fixes' for things like this sediment.

You don't say if the black is particles or just causing the filter cartridge to be discolored. If there are no particles, you don't have anything like a hole in the casing of the well etc., it will be a water quality problem and the best choice for help is an online or local water treatment dealer, not a well driller.

[Driller1]

A North Star is the same as a Kenmore or other big box store branded softener and sold by plumbers.

Hardness is stated in grains/gallon (gpg) or ppm or mg/l, not a percentage. And if that 65 is gpg, your North Star is probably way undersized.

Sediment can be many things and disposable cartridge filters are a poor choice for filtering sediment. A backwashed filter is best. The vast majority of sediment is not harmful. It could be from shale, H2S gas, or sediment in the bottom of the well and the pump is stirring it up every time it starts etc. etc.. And your dept of health is not a good place to get information on that type problem. And be very careful of well drillers, they sell new wells and expensive 'fixes' for things like this sediment.

You don't say if the black is particles or just causing the filter cartridge to be discolored. If there are no particles, you don't have anything like a hole in the casing of the well etc., it will be a water quality problem and the best choice for help is an online or local water treatment dealer, not a well driller.

What HARM would it do to talk to the health department? It is free.

Of course Gary is the guy who posts a picture of an expensive motor home and claims it is his. The truth all came out.

His is a 1999 ho-hum model.

[Driller1]

Keep slapping the make up over those pimples honey.

[Andy CWS]

Yes. A well should never pump dirty water, never. You need to have a driller look at this. You could be getting a hole in the casing. Or, the well was never right. You can get lot of information from your local health department and it is free. They also will give you a list of drillers.

It is called different things in some areas. Someone in your county building will know.

I agree with the advice here. Your well should provide clear water. If this well or other attempts to clear up the water fail, a more approriate piece of equipment may be required.

A health dept. test can provide basic guidelines and warnings for a limited number of health hazards but a local professional in water treamtnet may be able to help with general water treatment like excessive sediement.

Can you describe the filter type/size and condition (slimey, etc.) you are changing often?

I would agree that the softener is not a quality unit. 65% hardness is inaccurate a measurement. It could be either 65 grains per gallon or 65 ppm calcium carbonate. That would be a big difference.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II