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Sat 3 Apr, 2004 01:37 pm
Mr. Noddy is celebrating Daylight Savings Time by checking the batteries in the smoke detectors and the pressure in the fire extinguishers. He's also cleaning the humidifier.
For the first time in 12 years he's found deposits of a powdery substance--which I assume is some sort of lime or calcium--on the humidifier filters. The water in the humidifier comes from our own well. This has been an exceptionally wet year, but we've had rainy years before, but never with a powdery buildup.
About 15 miles south of us--on the other side of a mountain--a throughway bridge is disappearing in a sinkhole, but I doubt that that is the connection. The overpass is in limestone country. Our well is dug in clay and shale.
There has been no new construction in the immediate neighborhood (approximately .5 to .75 miles in each direction).
Can anyone tell me what's going on with the well water?
Noddy, I can not remember if you are in Canada or the US but you should check with your state os provincial Environmental Protection Agency and see what the source of water for your aquifer is. Also have your water checked. If there is increased calcium in your water there might (I emphasize might) be other things and you might want to know about that.
Is it possible the acidity of the water has increased, causing more lime to be disssolved? That's the first thing that came to mine. There's probably better explanations.
WELL WATER
my neighbour is a retired microbiologist/water quality control specialist. he has done a fair bit of consulting re. water contamination. he's told me that wells can become contaminated even after they have been tested as "clean" for many years. he has also told me that testing in many cases is insuffient to detect possible contamination. you can read one of his articles here and decide if you think you should have some water testing done. hbg >>>
WATER TESTING
my guess is ,that, based upon where you live , you are experiencing gypsum precipitation in your well . As I recall your geology is near the Triassic redbeds. This area is famous for Sulfate rich water and, if the concentration gets sufficiently high, and the dissolved Oxygen is low, SO4 will precip as a Calcium salt.
OR, if you have a pH problem, and you are using a dolomite filter , your humidifiers arent always on , so you could precip lime from your own water treatment system.
Both of these are reasonable guesses without further information.Im more partial to the gypsum theory
Acquiunk, Roger, hamburger, farmer man--
Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I see a water tester in the future.
Hold your dominions.
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