The Alberta Government estimates 75% of water wells have microbial contamination. The good news is most of these wells can be corrected by Biostel water services. Biostel water services are CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) approved, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, no negative after-effects, non-caustic, safe, and the average service time is 2 – 4 hours. Our regular maintenance program will keep your well pure, fresh, and SAFE, year after year.
Concern for our environment and our health has us all thinking green but we should also be thinking clean. Our water supply is our most precious resources, and used by all living organisms to sustain life. It is constantly put in jeopardy! We take this precious commodity for granted and, too often, it can lead to dire consequences. Many researchers feel the chemicals added to make water safe are actually contributing to our health problems.
Country water wells are exempt from the protocols of urban water systems—this could be a blessing in disguise, as the rural water sources have not been treated with chlorine. It also could be a serious determent to our health. The concern is to provide a safe drinking source for both humans and animals. Rural wells require regular testing and regular treatment to eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens. Almost all wells have some degree of contamination as many of these microorganisms occur naturally in the aquifer. Others may be introduced by surface water flooding or seepage into the well or aquifer.
Water well quality can be categorized into the following topics; bacteria and pathogens, biofilm, quantity and flow, and mineral content. Mineral content denotes the elements found in the water. Consumers are usually aware of the calcium (hardness) of the water resulting in possible white scale. Taste and odour can be affected by excess iron. Filter systems can typically deal with most mineral issues successfully. Quantity, flow rate and mineral content are aquifer dependant. What users can control are the bacteria, pathogens, and biofilm.
Bacteria commonly found in rural water wells includes iron bacteria, identified by a red/brown tinge and an unpleasant taste and odour. Sulphur reducing bacteria is easily recognized by the rotten egg smell. Slime bacteria can increase to such extremes that pumps and lines can be compromised. The coliform content is tracked and analyzed because these are your most harmful bacteria, such as E.Coli, Salmonella and Legionella. All of these microorganisms (bacteria) attach themselves to a water-surface interface and immediately start to colonize with multiple other bacteria species resulting in a living organism called biofilm—a gel-like substance that feeds, houses, and protects the bacteria. Biofilm is best visualized as the slime on the rocks in a stream, but can form on any submerged surface. Biofilm is very difficult to eliminate because of its protective gel-like properties. High concentrations of chemicals generally have little or no effect on Biofilm and are often not used because they render the water unfit for short term consumption.
The quality of well water usually deteriorates over time even with regular conventional treatments because the Biofilm repopulates bacteria into the water/well, which in turn develops more biofilm downstream in pipes, tanks filters and screens. Water quality and flow rates can be reduced by biofilm. Methods of treating these well systems have been limited and mostly ineffectual until now.
Enter Ivo Wachter and Denis Kennedy of Biostel Water Services; a new Rural Alberta service, based out of Innisfail. They have imported technology from Europe and developed a rural water well treatment system that attacks the Biofilm, as well as the harmful bacteria.
Biostel Water Services uses patented technology from Switzerland involving a multi-step process that is safe, environmentally friendly, bio-degradable, and non-corrosive. It does not create hazardous components or waste. “This process is currently being used throughout Europe as the main sterilent in food processing and bottling plants–reducing hazardous waste, costly chemicals and high energy costs.” said Kennedy. “The average well can be treated within two hours, leaving no strong odours or taste residues and enabling immediate safe human and animal consumption. No more livestock going off water for hours or days” says Wachter.
Kennedy notes that “we have worked with numerous agencies including Ag Canada Lethbridge Research Centre and Alberta Agriculture Airdrie facility to test the basic efficacy of the product. We are now in a position to offer this sanitization process to people who rely on their own rural water supply.”
Wachter goes on to say that “many people ask if this new treatment will affect other water treatment systems such as filters, reverse osmoses, water softeners etc. The answer is that this tool fits into the overall water treatment process very well and supports existing tools to improve the water quality. It controls the bacteria in the water source thus preventing the buildup of Biofilm which stresses and restricts the other systems.”
For more information on the Biostel water treatment contact Ivo Wachter 403-227-2757 or email at ivo.wachter@biostel.ca
