Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry odd color in spring water?

The spring running down a hillside of my pasture has an odd color to it. It looks kinda shiny and multi colored, maybe like an oil slick? if you know what I mean. Should I have the water tested, or is this a normal occurance from minerals or something?

I noticed the exact same thing this evening when I went to my pond. The springs had an oily look in places, mostly where it pooled a bit. It didn't seem to bother the tadpoles, they were all gathered at the places where the springs entered the pond.

Same here. It has not seemed to affect any aquatic life in the creek that it empties into. I wondered if anyone had any similar experience.

Similar "oil slicks" have been discussed from time to time. I couldn't find a good, definitive (i.e. hard technical data on what is really is) thread in the last couple of years, but reportedly proteins from decaying vegetation or iron bacteria (common in high-iron content ground water) can cause an oil slick appearance. I did not see anyone associating fish health problems with this phenomena.

Thanks Theo, but I already drained the pond and started drilling for oil in the bottom.



Just wishful thinking.

FWIW, I hope you get a gusher.

I notice the same thing on my pond in East Texas this weekend. The pond is spring fed. The well water (fairly shallow) is high in iron, so iron bacteria may be a good explanation.

Here is some info from the web:

Possible indicators
Clues which indicate that iron bacteria may be present in well water:

Tastes and Odors - Iron bacteria often produce unpleasant tastes and odors commonly reported as: "swampy," "oily or petroleum," "cucumber," "sewage," "rotten vegetation," or "musty." The taste or odor may be more noticeable after the water has not been used for some time. Iron bacteria do not produce hydrogen sulfide, the "rotten egg" smell, but do create an environment where sulfur bacteria can grow and produce hydrogen sulfide.
Color - Iron bacteria will usually cause yellow, orange, red, or brown stains and colored water. It is also sometimes possible to see a rainbow colored, oil-like sheen on the water.
Red Slimy Deposits - Iron bacteria produce a sticky slime which is typically rusty in color, but may be yellow, brown, or grey. A "feathery," or filamentous growth may also be seen, particularly in standing water such as a toilet tank.

Posted at http://www.answers.com/topic/iron-bacteria?cat=technology

Seems to be a problem when in your well or toilet.

Here is a blog entry about Thiobacillus ferrooxidans [Iron Bacteria] in ponds. http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap2/php/Hidden_Ecologies/?p=323Not sure what this all means.

there are types of alge that maybe what you are seeing I see them in puddles in the summer often

Ive been pumping oil into the water aquafers so the goverment wont want to steal all our water rights