Sulphur smell with ro/di?

[BradR]

Have used a RO/DI with the DI removed for 4-5 years. After plumbing the output line into my sink months ago I started noticing a strong sulphur smell from the RO unit for the first hour. I only use the unit 1-2x a week.
Took it apart and the RO and post RO area was covered in black film. Yeck. Cleaned the unit as best I could, bought another RO film from M. Depot and things were fine for a month.
Now its back. I run the unit post a new culligan water softener which filters our well water (which was fairly hard).

-Is there any way to clean this without ruining the RO film?
-Am I going to be stuck running water thru this every other day for 15 minutes to prevent anerobic activity?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Smelly in Michigan

[SpectraPure]

Sounds like you some kind of sulphate-reducing bacteria. Are you on a well? If so, it's up to you to deal with it.

It is difficult and inefficient to try to clean membranes. Here are two suggestions:

1. Your idea of using a timer and electric water solenoid is the cheapest. Once per day would *probably* work.

2. You could install a UV sterilizer in front of the RO system.

Good Luck!

Scott
SpectraPure, Inc.

[BradR]

So how long do you think I should run the RO for to keep it from gettin like it this day?
Can I give the entire unit a bleach:water 1:4 bath and would that kill off the bacteria?
Where would I get the UV sterilizer? Is it possible that the bacteria came back up the waste water line?

[SpectraPure]

I would start with 10 minutes per day.

Bleach will *DESTROY* the membrane and exhaust the carbon.

We sell R-Can UV sterilizers. Marine Depot (amongst others) sell a variety of UVs.

Most improbable that the bacteria is getting back through the flow restrictor.

Scott
SpectraPure, Inc.