CHEMICAL/RADIATION WELL TREATMENT

IRON AND SULFUR BACTERIA ARE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF BIO FOULING OF WELL SCREENS, PUMPS, TREATMENT AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT, AND IN EXTREME CASES, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS ARE HIGH-PUMPING COST, RAPID PUMP AND VALVE DETERIORATION, CORROSION OF ALL FERROUS MATERIAL IN CONTACT WITH THE WATER, INCREASED DISEASE RISK (SHIELDING, NURTURING MEDIA), AND BAD TASTE ODOR AND COLOR. THE PROBLEM VARIES FROM ONLY A NUISANCE TO ELIMINATION OF THE ONLY REASONABLE SOURCE OF WATER IN SOME AREAS. IT IS WORLD-WIDE BUT FOLLOWS SOME PATTERNS OF INTENSIVE CONTAMINATION. TREATMENT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. GENERALLY , THE COMMON METHODS (CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL) ARE ONLY EFFECTIVE FOR SHORT PERIODS WHEN CONTAMINATION IS SEVERE ANDCOVERS THE AREA. CONTINUOUS CHLORINE TRICKLE INTO THE WELL OR DOSING WITH EACH PUMP CYCLE TEND TO PROLONG THE EFFECTIVEPERIOD OF TREATMENT BUT ARE STILL NOT PERMANENT IN MOST SEV SEVERE CASES. A MEANS IS NEEDED TO STERILIZE THE WELL AND SURROUNDING AQUIFER AND TO RETARD GROWTH OR MAINTAIN THE K KILL. RADIATION OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE BOTH OBJECTIVES, SAFELY. AT DOSES LESS THAN COMMONLY USED TO PRESERVE POTATOES, FISH, AND GRAINS, STERILIZATION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. EXISTING TECHNIQUES WILL ALLOW TRIPLE ENCAPSULATION OF ACTIVE MATERIALS, INSURING NO LEAKS, NO CONTACT WITH THE WATER OR AQUIFER AND, THEREFORE, NO RADIOACTIVE MATTER OUTSIDE THE SHIELDED ROD. LAB FACILITIESARE IN PLACE AT GEORGIA TECH FOR A TEST OF STERILIZING SEWAGE SLUDGE.