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I have a bunch of the plastic water jugs filled with well water and keep getting this film inside. They were left outside for a couple of months but are stored inside now. I couldn't clean it out with bleach but they still end up floating free in the water. How can I tell if it's just hard water deposits vs some kind of algae or biofilm?

I have a bunch of the plastic water jugs filled with well water and keep getting this film inside. They were left outside for a couple of months but are stored inside now. I couldn't clean it out with bleach but they still end up floating free in the water. How can I tell if it's just hard water deposits vs some kind of algae or biofilm?

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[–] 7 pts

You filled them with hard water. It is most likely calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates and sulfates that stayed behind when you poured the water out.
Bleach won't work, but some kind of acid will. Try vinegar.

[–] 1 pt

Thanks I'll try the vinegar.

Vinegar and hot water, and be sure to scrub if you can.

[–] 2 pts

yeah I get that with my piss jugs

lol jk

I only have 1 piss jug

Yeah, as others have said, just minerals. Will make your water taste weird and might ruin some baking.

Almost certainly calcium carbonate.

[–] 0 pt

Yeah that's what I figured. I did leave them in the sun for a month (wouldn't be doing again) so thought it might be algae or something.

[–] 1 pt

Fix or replenish your water softener?

[–] 0 pt

No softener, just straight well water. There actually was one at one time and it broke and leaked salt water everywhere. So was taken out.

[–] 1 pt

Plastic in the sun? Look into phthalates my man, I would stop that shit and go glass gallon jugs with a countertop distiller. Add Santeria mineral stones and swirl for the best tasting fluoride-free alkaline water. Everyone that tries mine says it’s the best they’ve ever had, better than any glass bottle shelf-bought water. I purchased an H20 Labs countertop plastic-free distiller, glass jugs, genuine corks to replace plastic caps, and filled the bottom of a jug with aforementioned rocks. Words can’t describe how good it tastes, you can replace soda.

[–] 0 pt

phthalates Should have known they increase estrogen and kill fertility. Soy for the water supply.

That site looks pretty cool, maybe I'll pick one up. There has been some degree of contamination in many of the wells around here, E. coli.

[–] 0 pt

If your storing it add some unscented bleach to it. I will run all my stored water thru a filter before using it just because I can.

[–] 1 pt

Yeah I've heard of adding a few drops of bleach to it, will do that once I get them cleaned out.

[–] 1 pt

8 drops a gallon is generally recommended, but if left in an uncovered container before use any bleach will dissipate. I tend to add more for storage. Also stored water needs to be poured from container to container before use to oxygenate it, otherwise it will taste really flat.

[–] 1 pt

Wish they were glass. Twice the price through. I've heard bleach can leach the plastic in a clear container.

[+] [deleted] 0 pt
[–] 1 pt

All you have to do to completely eliminate the chlorine when it's time to drink is add hydrogen peroxide 1:1 with bleach. If you added 20 drops of bleach, add 20 drops of peroxide. The reaction forms oxygen, water, and salt. The concentration of salt is so low you will not be able to taste it unless you used a ton of bleach.