Well water orange with iron how toilet tanks turning black inside

Loretta Riffle
by Loretta Riffle
Currently trying to battle well water that has a lot of iron ,pretty sure magnesse in it not sure if fracking in my area has made our water worse the Nexus pipeline did go down my street less than a month ago and it continually is getting worse everything staning orange now the back of my toilet tanks have black and it smells like egg my husband removed the water softener because somebody at work told him about this iron filtration system to remove the iron it's just a tank he has me adding soda ash and bleach to once a week when I fill it up with the water I don't know what to do it's running everything it is an older system 1967 the house was if I should call in a well company if my pipes in the ground are just corroded I just don't know what to do anymore husband has been out of town for 4 months and I'm battling this with children who has severe skin problems as it is my son has a very rare skin disease and currently has to shower at my mother's any help please
Ps, this is a new toilet tank in the black stuff in here is new this hasn't happened yet just found this morning when I was cleaning the tank
  14 answers
  • RichandTammy Whiteside RichandTammy Whiteside on Apr 28, 2018

    Oh geez, this brings back horrible flash backs to when we had well water in our first house. We purchased a heavy duty water softener that removed almost everything. I had to rewash pretty much everything that had white with iron out to get the stains out because everything was literally dyed that color. We even had one issue where something somehow got into the well and stirred up all of the sediment which was another mess.


    If I were you, I would put the water softener back in and give everything a good cleaning with bar keeper's friend, zud, the works or anything that has some oxalic acid to clean up the stains without breaking your arm. Good luck!

  • Loretta Riffle Loretta Riffle on Apr 28, 2018

    Thanks so so keep iron filter and add softner

  • Melbrooks Melbrooks on Apr 29, 2018

    You can change out the anode rod in the hot water tank to an aluminum one to get rid of the rotten egg smell.

    Personally, I'd call the city, then contact ODNR.(Ohio dept of natural resources) I had a similar situation when I lived in NE Ohio- my well became contaminated from unmapped old mine shafts. Same characteristics, smell, color, and skin issues. ODNR can determine if this is from the fracking, and if so, someone needs to drill you a new deeper well.

    Check with any neighbors and see if they have similar issues. Strength in numbers...

    Good Luck! I hope it works out for you. It did for me, and my new well was wonderful.


  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Apr 29, 2018

    If you cant read this, I’ll retype it. I’m having trouble get anything to post.

  • Marie Adams Marie Adams on Apr 29, 2018

    We also have the iron in the water and have had for years. A very high end expensive water softener will solve it. The water has been tested and it would be safe to drink, however, tastes horrible. We have cattle, pigs, rabbits and they seem to do fine on it. As for the iron in the tank, it works to add some "Works" to the tank periodically as well as using it to clean the toilet bowl. We do not use it to drink, however, it will cure really bad warts if you can stand to drink. Have had 3 people get rid of serious large warts after drinking 2 gallons of this water.


    Just keep after it, save money for the expensive top of the line softener.

    • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Apr 29, 2018

      Marie, decaying Iron smells horrible. The reason for the foul taste is a byproduct of decay. However, a high end water softener will not remove iron without it being a dual functioning unit. I’d say yours is not dual by your description of the smell and taste. If it removed it, it would be flushed out of the unit outdoors. It needs to be serviced almost weekly until it reads 0 ppm. Then serviced regularly and on a schedule. I would be hesitant to bathe much less eat/drink using your water. And I’ll add you should be too.

  • Diana Diana on Apr 29, 2018

    We had to have the anode rod cut out. Made everything taste disgusting and everything was orange and the house stunk constantly. It always an $80 fix

  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Apr 29, 2018

    I cannot stress enough that water softeners DO NOT remove heavy metals!


    https://www.aquatechnology.net/softenerproandcon.html

  • Nancy Nancy on Apr 30, 2018

    1st have your water tested!

    We have egg smelling well water and it is safe, but we did try bleach and bromide and it turned everything orange and black, quite messing with those. Now I just filter the drinking water for taste and have gotten used to the smell when I shower. We have lived here for 20 yrs now with no ill effects.

    It all depends on where you live.

  • William William on May 02, 2018

    You need to have both connected. A water softener and an iron filter. Hope Wiiliams is correct on all counts.

  • Debbie King Debbie King on May 03, 2018

    Iron is one thing, dig up the pipes and replace them and boil your water but black oil!! That is a fracking situation and dont drink/ use that water. Is your water flammable? That is another fact of fracking. Class action suit against the fracking company if others around you had good water before the fracking was done. Test the well via the EPA is correct. I think moving is a must if you can afford it until this is all . a deeper well would be costly and still be contaminated now or in the near future. Good luck!!


  • Bryan's Workshop Bryan's Workshop on May 03, 2018

    Is this a private well? Is this the first sign of any colors since 1967? You should annually test your well water. There's even DIY kits so you can do it at home. There's no law that says you need to, but you should. You can also call the health department. I love wells! Wells are generally considered the safest water supply for a house. Most people think of wells as gross, when in fact they are far superior because well water is full of minerals and isn't treated with harsh chemicals like the city water. If you see how city water is pulled from rivers and lakes and treated, you'd take the stains in your toilet. Also, those colors in your toilet tank and the egg smell is normal. I'm surprised if you haven't noticed them before. The elements that dissolve in the water make those stains in your toilet tank when the water sits. Testing the water yourself will give you quick answers and if you're worried about the fracking, call the health department, because they'll test the water in a lab. Good Luck!