Iron Bacteria presents many problems, so determining its presence is crucial to appropriate treatment. Iron Reducing Bacteria (IRB) causes aesthetic problems with the water, such as taste, odor, and staining of laundry and fixtures. The most common indication of iron bacteria in the water supply is a reddish-brown or yellowish gelatinous slime in water tanks, faucets, toilet tanks, and plumbing. These nuisance bacteria may cause corrosion to treatment equipment, clog screens and pipes, and have a foul odor. Here are a few of the common problems associated with Iron Reducing Bacteria:

TASTES AND ODORS - Iron bacteria often produce unpleasant tastes and odors commonly reported as: "swampy," "oily or petroleum," "cucumber," "sewage," "rotten vegetation," or "musty." The taste or odor may be more noticeable after the water has not been used for some time. Iron bacteria do not produce hydrogen sulfide, the "rotten egg" smell, but do create an environment where sulfur bacteria can grow and produce hydrogen sulfide.

COLOR - Iron bacteria usually cause yellow, orange, red, or brown stains and colored water. It is also sometimes possible to see a rainbow-colored, oil-like sheen on the water.

RED SLIMY DEPOSITS - Iron bacteria produce a sticky slime that is typically rusty but maybe yellow, brown, or grey. A "feathery" or filamentous growth may also be seen, particularly in standing water such as a toilet tank.

The characteristics listed above are typical of iron bacteria. However, objectionable stains, tastes, or odors may be due to other causes including iron, sulfate, hydrogen sulfide, manganese, or other nuisance organisms such as sulfur bacteria.

SULFUR REDUCING BACTERIA

Sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB) live in oxygen-deficient environments. They break down sulfur compounds, producing hydrogen sulfide gas in the process. Hydrogen sulfide gas is foul-smelling and highly corrosive. Of the two types, sulfur-reducing bacteria are the more common. The most obvious sign of a sulfur bacteria problem is hydrogen sulfide gas's distinctive "rotten egg" odor. As with odors caused by iron bacteria, the sulfur smell may only be noticeable when the water hasn't been run for several hours. In some cases, the odor will only be present when hot water is run; this could indicate that SRBs are building up in the water heater. The blackening of water or dark slime coating inside the toilet tank may also indicate a sulfur bacteria problem.

Hydrogen sulfide gas produces an offensive "rotten egg" or "sulfur water" odor and taste in the water. Sometimes, the odor may be noticeable only when the water is turned on or when hot water is used. Heat forces the gas into the air, which may cause the odor to be especially offensive in a shower.

One of the many troubles with hydrogen sulfide is its strong corrosiveness to metals such as iron, steel, copper, and brass. It can tarnish silverware and discolor copper and brass utensils. Hydrogen sulfide also can cause yellow or black stains on kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Coffee, tea, and other beverages made with water containing hydrogen sulfide may be discolored, and the appearance and taste of cooked foods can be affected. High concentrations of dissolved hydrogen sulfide can also foul the resin bed of an ion exchange water softener. When a hydrogen sulfide odor occurs in treated water (softened or filtered) and no hydrogen sulfide is detected in the non-treated water, it usually indicates the presence of some form of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the system. Water softeners provide a convenient environment for these bacteria to grow. A "salt-loving" bacteria that uses sulfates as an energy source may produce a black slime inside water softeners.

Sulfur-reducing bacteria, which use sulfur as an energy source, are the primary producers of large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. These bacteria chemically change natural sulfates in water to hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur-reducing bacteria live in oxygen-deficient environments such as deep wells, plumbing systems, water softeners, and water heaters. These bacteria usually flourish on the hot water side of a water distribution system. Hydrogen sulfide gas also occurs naturally in some groundwater. It is formed from decomposing underground deposits of organic matter, such as decaying plant material. It is found in deep or shallow wells and can enter surface water through springs, although it quickly escapes into the atmosphere. Hydrogen sulfide is often present in wells drilled in shale, sandstone, near coal, peat deposits, or oil fields. Occasionally, a water heater is a source of hydrogen sulfide odor. Many water heaters' magnesium corrosion control rods can chemically reduce naturally occurring sulfates to hydrogen sulfide.

Treating water containing IRB and/or SRB can be easily accomplished, but you must first determine if you have SRB and IRB and in what concentrations BART is the Solution:

• BART stands for Biological Activity Reaction Test

• With BART, you can monitor for Iron Related Bacteria (IRB) and Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB)

• The BART Biodetector requires no microscope, laboratory, or incubator!

• The test is done at room temperature in your office or treatment room, on a desk, shelf, or in a cupboard, and is viewed daily.

• Different microorganisms like to grow at different heights in a column of water to which nutrients have been added.

• BART biodetectors contain nutrients in the base of a column and a ball.

• The ball restricts the amount of oxygen entering the water column so that aerobic organisms grow around the ball and anaerobic organisms grow deep down in the water column.

• By changing the nutrients in the base of the column, different organisms are encouraged to grow.

• BART determines presence and activity levels.

Easy to Analyze

The time taken for a color change (reaction) to occur gives a measure of the population size and activity. A color change occurs in the BART tube as a result of the oxygen gradient diffusing from the bottom upward. The change of color indicates the presence of bacteria within that sample. Interpretation is provided with the kit.

The Test

Full instructions for the use of BART biodetectors are included with your purchase. Each individual test consists of:

Test vial with media and BART ball

Outer tube for spill containment, odor control, disinfection, and disposal

Field Tests

BART Iron-Reducing and Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Test

Field Test Kit