Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / July 28, 1994, edition 1 / Page 13
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The Most Frequent Question: How To Improve Irrigation Water Quality I have received many questions recently regarding irrigation water quality. The most frequent question concerning irrigating water quality concerns the staining of piant fo liage, concrete or home siding. Often the culprits in well water causing the stains arc compounds of iron or manganese. These minerals cause reddish-brown or black stains on clothes, household fixtures, con crete, plant material, or an other thing that the water contacts. If con sumed, these minerals will not harm you but will often impart an un pleasant smell or taste to the water. Iron and manganese compounds arc generally not found in public drink ing water because most public water supplies are treated to remove these minerals The Environments! Pro tection Agency regulates the amount of 1-nnHmin-r;!-. s!!CVr*Cd piib lie water supplies. The four forms of iron commonly found in drinking or irrigation water arc ferrous, ferric, organic and iron bactcria. Ferric and organic forms of iron will color water when first ex posed to air. Ferric iron precipitates or settles out of the water, creating reddish -brown, solid particles that then settle out as ferric oxide. In well water, insoluble iron oxide is converted to a soluble form of fer rous (dissolved) iron. Ferrous iron is colorless but when in contact with the air, it oxidizes to solid particles that then settle out as ferric oxide. This is the "stuff" in your irrigating water that turns your sidewalk, house, trees, leaves or whatever brown! Manganese is similar to iron but forms a brownish-black precipitate and stain. Organic iron does not set tle out but tends to turn the water rusty-reddish brown. Iron bacteria are harmless bacteria that occur in soil, groundwater, and surface water. Iron bactcria appear as a mucous-like substance suspend ed in fresh water and may be col ored brown, red or white. These nor mally brownish-slimy bacteria can usually be found on the inside sur face of nearly any toilet tank or un derneath any dripping outdoor faucet. If you have well water that us causing severe staining, a water analysis should be done to detect the source and scope of the problem. Special steps must be taken to prop erly sample drinking water, so it is good idea to consider a reputable water treatment company for testing dissolved or oxidized iron or man ganese. North Carolina Cooperative Ex tension with the N.C. Department of Agriculture offers an irrigation wa ter testing for $4. Call your county extension office for more informa tion. The extension home economist in your county can give you addi tional information about water test ing and treatment if this is a problem in your home. Treating irrigation water for iron or manganese can be very expen sive. In general, five treatments are generally recognized for water treat ment for removal of iron and man ganese contaminants. The treat ments arc water softeners, aeration, oxidizing filters, chlorination and filtration, and complexation. A wa ter softener (cation exchange), oxi OUR JULY mm AA SUPER 7 7 SAVER J whif only... tssr Tote 6* Cooler Holds 6 cans plus refreeze bottle (in lid). Handle locks lid in place. Stain and odor resistant interior. o8oso4-26i r >> SOMERSETT'S HARDWARE Opan Man -S* 7 AM-6 PM Sun 10-5 PM Hwy 904 EM. Qnssattown 579-6006 1 WE SfUNT Bbctor C. BRUCE WILJL1AMS TfrnftpcUktl dizing filters, chlorination. and com plexation arc not generally good ways to inexpensively treat the large volumes of water required for plant or lawn irrigation. These systems are fine for treating household water needs but arc often impractical land scape irrigation. Aeration is the process in which air is mixed with water in such a way to cause the iron or manganese to precipitate out of the water. Farmers have long known that well water containing high concentra tions of iron or manganese is best directed to a pond or open holding tank before it is pumped through the irrigation system to the crop. Dissolved iron and manganese in the well water are easily oxidized to a solid form by mixing with air. This method adds no chemicals to the water and is most effective in warm climates. For additional information on wa ter quality, contact your county co operative extension office for the publication "Your Water Supply ? Well Construction and Protection AG -469" or "Iron and Manganese in Household Water- HE- 394. " Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting information or a reply. Send your gardening or comments to the Plant Doctor, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia NC 28422. TT g*\ IV J|f7 O "CUSTOM DESIGN & BUILD HOMES nvJlVJLI!sO We bu*J accorting to your set of plans or design & bmid according to your ideas, desares & budget -REPAIRS. AD0IT10NS & RENOVATIONS g XJ U11UC1 Complete home service expert noeitfriAr -TECHNICAL ADVISE & CONSULTATION ue signer on any home project Ed. Wong N.C. Lie. #24980 - S C. Uc. ? 1 1 535 (910)457-5743 or (910)457-5324 CENTIPEDE SOD Gressette Sod Farms 1-800-444-2993 FLORENCE. SC SLICED FREE >ACKED WHO! BACON LOINS mbui CHOICE BOJVELJ SIRLOEV TIP R OAST ST EL FRESH PORK CHOPS CENTER LOIN CUT CUT 1/2 GALLON
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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July 28, 1994, edition 1
13
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