Inverter/Battery Question (Round 3 well pumping & storage tanks) [RE-wrenche

[Windy Dankoff]

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Darryl,

Your inspector is right, and that is the official attitude. Well  
water often does contain soil bacteria that can grow in the tank. The  
tank must be open (however slightly) to atmosphere in order to fill  
and empty without bursting and collapsing, so it also draws in  
airborne particles that can include bacteria and other organic matter.

Government regulations for potable storage tanks require sanitizing.  
Most commonly, chlorine is applied through an automatic system so a  
small amount is maintained continuously.

Based on long-traditional use of storage tanks, it is my impression  
that significant pathogenic bacteria problems are very rare. But,  
even benign bacteria can be a nuisance. In extreme cases it can cause  
a thick jelly-like slime or a black septic condition, especially in a  
system that sits unused for long periods.

I haven't personally heard of these problems forming in a well water  
tank but I know Ray W has had some bad experiences -- Ray?

A good minimum preventive measure is to drop a small amount of bleach  
into the tank periodically, at least during warm weather or before a  
period of low usage.

I've had two solar pump / storage tank systems at two homes now,  
totaling almost 10 years of use. I have a high count of soil bacteria  
in my current well, but I've had no problem in my tank. The tanks in  
both cases are buried polyethylene. They stay cool in summer, and  
they have smooth surfaces. The tops have a gasket seal that's fairly  
tight, and I installed a vent pipe to rise out, capped with an  
improvised air filter to keep out dust and bugs.

If a tank has large voids around its lid, especially near ground  
level, then bugs and debris will enter. This gives bacterial  
something to eat and multiply from. My understanding is that  
pathogenic bacteria (unlike common soil bacteria) need a "warm body"  
environment so they are very unlikely to be a problem except in the  
tropics -- but that's theory and general experience, not government  
policy.

In cases where a storage tank is required for fire prevention, the  
question is -- should it be a normal part of the water supply, or  
only an emergency holding tank. There are advantages to using it as a  
normal part of the supply. In case of fire, the water can be released  
through the normal plumbing with less likely necessity to start an  
emergency pump, turn valves, etc. We're getting out of my field here,  
so I'll appreciate more feedback.

FYI -- Terminology:  Storage tank = holding tank.  Cistern generally  
refers to rain catchment tanks

Windy


> Subject: Re: Inverter/Battery Question (Round 2 well pumping) [RE- 
> wrenches]
>
> HI windy and others
> In Minnesota I was not allowed to use a cistern "tank"
> in excess of the pressure tank.  The inspector argued
> the well water has "bacteria" which can grow as the
> water warms, and long storage tank time constant
> allows them to become a concern.  Any comment?
> Darryl

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