Switching to Hydrogen Peroxide in water

We often receive a question like this:  “I have a liquid chlorine bleach well water chlorinator.  I want to switch to injecting hydrogen peroxide instead.  Can I just clean out my existing chlorine metering pump, and switch to peroxide?”

Switching to hydrogen peroxide using the same metering pump

This is a very good question, and often the answer is Yes.  It all depends on the type of metering pump you are using now.

Hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen bubbles into the water,  and even while being injected, some gas bubbles may form. Standard diaphragm metering pumps (such as ChemTech, Mecomatic, LMI, PulsaFeeder and other similar brands) can quickly become ‘cavitated' which means locked by air, and fail to pump.

It is best to use peristaltic pumps which use tiny rollers to squeeze a pump tube. Peristaltic pumps will not lose their prime, and are perfect for use with hydrogen peroxide.  Some diaphragm pumps can be fitted with special de-gassing valves to allow them to work with hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide (“H2O2”) is becoming very popular. It is a powerful oxidizing agent, much more powerful than aeration, chlorine or potassium permanganate. Injected into your well water before the pressure tank, it can quickly kill bacteria, odors and oxidize iron and manganese.

Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into oxygen and water leaving no trace of chemical residues. For problem well water containing iron, iron bacteria, manganese and/or “rotten-egg” sulfur odor “H2S” (hydrogen sulfide gas) hydrogen peroxide systems are an excellent choice.

When peroxide is added to water a large amount of dissolved oxygen is released and a powerful oxidizing effect occurs. Coliform and iron bacteria are killed, and tannins are oxidized. This type of iron filter system handles the absolute worst type of water reliably and effectively.

Chlorine for well water treatment is usually liquid sodium hypochlorite bleach, or  dry solid calcium hypochlorite pellets or powder, and can leave inorganic and other chemical byproducts in the water.  Peroxide leaves no salts, metals or chemical residuals. The only disadvantage is that it costs a little more than chlorine bleach.

For further reading: Chlorine vs Hydrogen Peroxide