-a series of SIX VIDEOS about safe and effective water systems.

Tape #6

Sulfur

MRC Catalog #75707

This VIEWER REFERENCE GUIDEis yours to keep!
DO NOT RETURN ITwhen you return the tape.

What kinds of sulfur are commonly found in drinking water supplies?

Hydrogen sulfide gas
This is a naturally-occurring gas produced by sulfate reducing bacteria that live in some wells and plumbing systems. These bacteria are not known to cause disease.

Sulfate
This is a naturally-occurring mineral in some soil and rock formations that contain groundwater

What are some symptoms of hydrogen sulfide and sulfate?

Hydrogen sulfide
There is a musty or rotten egg odor and flavor in the water.
There is plumbing system corrosion, perhaps leaking.

Sulfate
There is scale build-up in the plumbing system.
The water has a laxative effect on young livestock and humans who are unaccustomed to sulfate in their drinking water.
NOTE-With time, people and livestock often become acclimated to sulfate, and the laxative effect disappears.

How can SULFATE be removed from water?

-The option that you choose depends mainly on how much water you need to treat.

TWO methods for SMALL amounts of water (drinking and cooking only)

1-Distillation
Water is boiled to form steam which is then cooled and condensed to form pure water.
Minerals, such as sulfate, do NOT vaporize with the steam, and are left behind in the boiling chamber.

2-Reverse osmosis
Tiny pores in a reverse osmosis membrane permit water molecules to squeeze through, leaving minerals such as sulfate behind.

For LARGE amounts of water
Anion exchange
Works much like a water softener.
Ion-exchange resin, contained inside the unit, absorbs sulfate.
When resin is loaded to full capacity with sulfate, treatment ceases; then resin must be "regenerated" with salt brine solution before further water treatment can occur.

Are there ways to prevent HYDROGEN SULFIDE from forming?

Shock chlorination
This treatment reduces, but does not eliminate, the sulfide-producing bacteria.
Place strong chlorine bleach solution into the well.
Open taps to draw chlorinated water into all parts of the plumbing system.
Leave in system for several hours or overnight.
Flush out excess chlorine.

NOTE-get publication Pm-899, Shock-ChlorinatingSmall Water Systems, from your county Extension office.

If odor is associated mainly with HOT water system
Try replacing magnesium corrosion control rod in the water heater with one made of aluminum or other metal: this may reduce the odor somewhat.

NOTE-This may affect heater warranty. Contact manufacturer's representative for details.

If I can't stop hydrogen sulfide from forming, are there ways I can remove it from my water?

For removing low levels of hydrogen sulfide
Install an activated carbon filter.
The filter must be replaced periodically to maintain performance. Frequency of replacement will depend on daily water use and concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the water.

TWO methods for removing higher levels of hydrogen sulfide

1-Install an oxidizing filter (same as iron filter).
This filter contains sand with a manganese dioxide coating which changes sulfide gas to tiny particles of sulfur. Sulfur particles are trapped inside the sand filter. The sand filter must be backflushed regularly, and treated with potassium permanganate to maintain the oxide coating.

OR

2-Inject an oxidizing chemical (such as chlorine) and use a separate sand filter.
First inject chlorine into the water. The resulting sulfur particles can be removed using sand filter. An activated carbon filter may be necessary to remove excesschlorine.

-other sources of information-

Your local county or community environmental/health sanitarian.

Iowa Department of Public Health, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319-0075 (515-242-6340)

University of lowa Hygienic Laboratory, Oakdale Hall, lowa City, IA 52242 (319-335-4500)

Geological Survey Bureau lowa Department of Natural Resources, 123 North Capitol, lowa C City, IA 52242 (319-335-1575)

National Sanitation Foundation, 3475 Plymouth Rd., P.O. Box 1468, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 (313-769-8010)

Water Quality Association, 4151 Naperville Rd, Lisle, IL 60532 (708-505-0160)

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Extension Service, under project number 89-EWQI-1-9108

Ames, lowa 50011

AE 3063 July 1991

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