While it is not typically considered a health hazard at the concentrations commonly found in well water, it can lead to unpleasant tastes and odors and cause corrosion in pipes and fixtures. It occurs naturally in well water due to the breakdown of organic materials or the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a characteristic rotten egg smell. Furthermore, methane in well water can displace oxygen, creating a risk of asphyxiation in enclosed spaces. In extreme cases, it can even cause explosions when accumulating in confined spaces like basements or well houses. High methane concentrations in well water can pose a fire hazard, as the gas is highly flammable. Methane is an odorless, colorless gas found in well water for various reasons, including natural gas deposits, coal seams, or decomposing organic matter. They may originate from various sources, such as decaying organic matter or specific geological formations. Methane and hydrogen sulfide are naturally occurring gases that can form bubbles in well water. The Presence of Methane Gas and Hydrogen Sulfide As these bubbles are carried through the system and reach areas with higher pressure, they collapse into liquid, causing tiny air bubbles to develop in your well water. This occurs when the pump impeller moves water at such a high velocity that the local pressure drops below the vapor pressure, causing the water to vaporize and form gas bubbles. One of the leading causes of air bubbles in well water is a phenomenon called pump cavitation. You might wonder, “What does my pump motor have to do with air bubbles?” Your pump plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality and consistency of your well water, and it can be a primary culprit behind the presence of air bubbles in your well water. When colder water is drawn from the well and exposed to warmer atmospheric temperatures, the dissolved gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide can no longer remain dissolved, causing air bubbles to form. In well water, temperature fluctuations can cause changes in the dissolved gas content. As the water warms up, these dissolved gasses emerge from the solution, forming tiny bubbles in your water glass. Temperature and Dissolved GasesĮver noticed how a glass of water left standing for a few hours seems to have tiny bubbles forming along the sides? This is because the amount of gas dissolved depends on the temperature of the water.Ĭold water can hold more gas, like oxygen and carbon dioxide, than warmer water. The best thing to do is let it sit in an open container until the bubbles naturally disappear.You might be thinking, “Why do I have well-water air bubbles in the first place?” Before figuring out the best solutions to remove those bubbles, let’s check out why they develop in the first place. Once the water comes out of your tap, the water is no longer under pressure and the air comes out of solution as bubbles (similar to a carbonated soft drink). Water under pressure holds more air than water that is not pressurized. The water in the pipes is pressurized to a degree (which helps to get the water all the way from the water tower to your home). Some of the air that is present is no longer soluble, and comes out of solution.Īlso, water pressure has something to do with it. In the winter, water travels from the reservoir which is very cold and warms up during its travel to your tap. Cold water holds more air than warm water. It usually happens when it is very cold outside because the solubility of air in water increases as water pressure increases and/or water temperature decreases. Cloudy water, also known as white water, is caused by air bubbles in the water. Like any bubble, the air rises to the top of the water and goes into the air above, clearing up the water. After a few seconds it miraculously clears up! The cloudiness might be caused by the water in the pipes being under a bit more pressure than the water in the glass, but is more likely due to tiny air bubbles in the water. Once in a while, you get a glass of water and it looks cloudy maybe milky is a better term.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |