When I fill up a tub, sink, or toilet the water is dark with black particles. When I touch the stuff it smears and stains my finger. I'm on a well, so I ran our outside hose that is before the water softener and heater. It also has this black stuff, so it is coming in from the water pump in the well. We let the outside hose run for 3 hours and the water got clearer, so we turned it off. Then about 30 minutes later the black stuff was back. Then I installed a house water filter just past the water pressure tank (before the softener and heater). It turned completely black in a few seconds when I turned the water back on. We left a couple of messages with our well people, but they haven't called back yet. Does anyone know what this is? Is it dangerous? How do we get rid of it? I plan on letting our outside hose run over night tonight. Thank you for any help you can provide.

Mike

It is most likely manganese from what you describe. It is common for manganese to build up on the side of well casings, break off and cause problems you describe. The sediment pre-filter will catch most of the particulates from the manganese (a 10 micron filter may be necessary). If the problem is severe it may be necessary to add an iron/H2S/manganese filtration system such as an oxidizing filtration system before the softener. The well man can flush the well but the problem will return. Manganese is not harmful. But as you stated it turns everything black and the water can have a grey tint to it as the manganese oxidizes without filtration.
RJ

Thank you RJ. Our well guy called us back this morning and said the we will need to run our outside house until it clears. It could take a few days. We had a big storm a few days ago, so he thinks mother nature might have dislodged a "mineral" that is getting sucked up by our well pump. I figure after this clears up I'll replace all the filters in my house and drain our water heater. Even though it isn't harmful, it does have a smeall and looks pretty bad. Thank again for your response.

I was wondering how you mad out with the water from your well. We too get the same black stuff in out water.