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roys
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« on: August 31, 2008, 10:04:28 AM » |
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For the water at my place I have a pump, which is drawing its water from an underground stream about 10 feet below the surface. System works well. Anyway when we have a shower or bath there is always a light blue residue left on the side of the bath or on the shower tray. It also has an interesting effect on my wifes hair turning her blonde highlights a rather fetching green. Could maybe make my fortune by bottling it and sell it to the old dears for their blue rinse.
Anyone any ideas what could be causing the blue residue?
PS When we got the place SEPA did test the water for bugs and it passed.
Cheers Steve
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renewablejohn
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« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2008, 10:11:06 AM » |
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Roys
All I get is brown rust due to the iron content
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billi
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« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2008, 10:21:25 AM » |
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Copper perhaps
Are you in a potatoe growing area ?
Billi
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Guinness no Grid comes near
1.6 kw and 2.4 kw PV array , Outback MX 60 and FM80 charge controller ,24 volt 1600 AH Battery ,6 Kw Victron inverter charger, 1.1 kw high head hydro turbine as a back up generator , 5 kw woodburner, 36 solar tubes with 360 l water tank, 1.6 kw windturbine
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roys
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« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2008, 10:30:59 AM » |
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Not seen much potato growing in the area.
Cheers Steve
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SteveH
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« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2008, 11:00:38 AM » |
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Sounds like you are in a Soft water area & water is acidic... We had a similar situation when on spring water at our last house in rural Carmarthenshire... We had the water tested & it was OK to drink... I suggest you get yours tested too... The blue coulor is copper sulphate & is a product of the acidic water reacting with the copper pipe... be warned it will eat the pipe away with time... I had to replace the 15mm section that ran from the pump to the storage tanks as it became thin enough to crush with my thumb... I don't know how long this had been in place so I don't know what time scale this happened over... I replaced with plastic... The water is great for preventing fungal infections though...  Steve... |
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Preveli, South Crete.
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roys
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« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2008, 11:05:05 AM » |
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Hi Steve
Cheers for that, sounds good, so soft water is acidic. Had the water tested for bugs and it was OK Wonder how long copper pipe is good for?
Cheers Steve
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MR GUS
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« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2008, 11:24:43 AM » |
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go & have a look at a basic alkalinity / acidity scale & make some googling via a simple dip measurement as to possibities.
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Austroflamm stove & lot's of Lowe alpine fleeces, & a tiny pen15 ..if we're comparing solar set ups!
Noli Timere Messorem
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roys
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« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2008, 12:07:13 PM » |
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Just had a thought after reading your reply, I have some PH paper somewhere, mmm now where is it.
Cheers Steve
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MR GUS
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« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2008, 01:21:27 PM » |
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If you have any doubts as to the floating around ph paper, then get some from a local garden centre / aquatic centre take it again for validation.
(cheap enough)
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Austroflamm stove & lot's of Lowe alpine fleeces, & a tiny pen15 ..if we're comparing solar set ups!
Noli Timere Messorem
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oliver90owner
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« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2008, 02:30:43 PM » |
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Steve,
If it is copper, remember that copper is a necessary trace element but toxic in excess. Your levels may be approaching or exceeding drinking water limits if it is standing in the pipes for any length of time. Best to get it checked out.
Lead pipes suffered the same problem in that water fresh-flowing was OK but if water was drunk from the tap without 'flushing' the pipework, lead poisoning could occur.
Moderate lead poisoning is easier to deal with than copper toxicity
Regards, RAB
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SteveH
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« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2008, 05:29:11 PM » |
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Good point RAB,
I still do this if we have been away from home for a couple of days... you don't know what has got into the water supply wile you have been away... Quite often used to get brown water here after they had repaired a ruptured water main...
Even more important if you use storage tanks for your drinking water supply, as we had on our pumped spring supply...
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Preveli, South Crete.
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