System and method for removing contaminants from water

A method for removing contaminants from water with a relatively low oxygen content, the water having naturally occurring chemoautotrophic bacteria, and at least one of ferrous iron and sulfide, the method comprising:

• oxygenating the water;
• directing the oxygenated water to a filtration vessel, the filtration vessel having bio-filtration media with surfaces that are exposed to the oxygenated water;
• propagating the chemoautotrophic bacteria in the presence of the oxygenated water and at least one of the ferrous iron and sulfide;
• depositing at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate on the bio-filtration media as a by-product of the chemoautotrophic bacteria;
• precipitating at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate in the presence of the oxygenated water;
• removing the water from the filtration vessel;
• and
• wherein the chemoautotrophic bacteria include Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, the water is oxygenated by exposing the water to air and turbulence in an oxygenation vessel, the oxygenation vessel includes a housing with bio-filtration media to thereby create the turbulence in the water, and forming holes in the housing for exposing the water to air.

A method for removing contaminants from water with a relatively low oxygen content, the water having naturally occurring chemoautotrophic bacteria, and at least one of ferrous iron and sulfide, the method comprising:

• oxygenating the water;
• directing the oxygenated water to a filtration vessel, the filtration vessel having bio-filtration media with surfaces that are exposed to the oxygenated water;
• propagating the chemoautotrophic bacteria in the presence of the oxygenated water and at least one of the ferrous iron and sulfide;
• depositing at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate on the bio-filtration media as a by-product of the chemoautotrophic bacteria;
• precipitating at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate in the presence of the oxygenated water;
• removing the water from the filtration vessel;
• and
• wherein the water is oxygenated by exposing the water to air and turbulence in an oxygenation vessel, the oxygenation vessel includes a housing with bio-filtration media to thereby create the turbulence in the water, and the bio-filtration media includes a plurality of bio-media balls, at least one having a plurality of axially extending pins positioned on concentric rings.

A method for removing contaminants from water with a relatively low oxygen content, the water having naturally occurring chemoautotrophic bacteria, and at least one of ferrous iron and sulfide, the method comprising:

• oxygenating the water;
• directing the oxygenated water to a filtration vessel, the filtration vessel having bio-filtration media with surfaces that are exposed to the oxygenated water;
• propagating the chemoautotrophic bacteria in the presence of the oxygenated water and at least one of the ferrous iron and sulfide;
• depositing at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate on the bio-filtration media as a by-product of the chemoautotrophic bacteria;
• precipitating at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate in the presence of the oxygenated water;
• removing the water from the filtration vessel;
• and
• wherein the filtration vessel comprises at least one weir dividing the filtration vessel into a plurality of chambers, with the bio-filtration media located in at least one of the chambers.

A method for removing contaminants from water with a relatively low oxygen content, the water having naturally occurring chemoautotrophic bacteria, and at least one of ferrous iron and sulfide, the method comprising:

• oxygenating the water;
• directing the oxygenated water to a filtration vessel, the filtration vessel having bio-filtration media with surfaces that are exposed to the oxygenated water;
• propagating the chemoautotrophic bacteria in the presence of the oxygenated water and at least one of the ferrous iron and sulfide;
• depositing at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate on the bio-filtration media as a by-product of the chemoautotrophic bacteria;
• precipitating at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate in the presence of the oxygenated water;
• removing the water from the filtration vessel;
• and
• infusing bacteria into the water before oxygenating the water;
• and
• injecting an oxidant into the water to thereby kill the bacteria after the removing the water from die filtration vessel.

A method for removing contaminants from water with a relatively low oxygen content, the water having naturally occurring chemoautotrophic bacteria, and at least one of ferrous iron and sulfide, the method comprising:

• oxygenating the water;
• directing the oxygenated water to a filtration vessel, the filtration vessel having bio-filtration media with surfaces that are exposed to the oxygenated water;
• propagating the chemoautotrophic bacteria in the presence of the oxygenated water and at least one of the ferrous iron and sulfide;
• depositing at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate on the bio-filtration media as a by-product of the chemoautotrophic bacteria;
• precipitating at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate in the presence of the oxygenated water;
• removing the water from the filtration vessel;
• and
• injecting an oxidant into the water to thereby kill the bacteria after the removing the water from the filtration vessel.