Iron is important for proper blood flow and energy. We get the iron we need each day from things like green, leafy vegetables. At first thought, it may seem fine to also have iron in your water, but this isn't the case. For the most part, the iron that is often found in well water is not in a form easily processed by the human body. It can also contain bacteria that is harmful to your health. It is also the reason that your sink, toilet and clothes may be stained red. Let's take a look at how iron gets into your water system and why you need an iron filter for well water. How Iron Gets in Well Water Iron is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth. In many areas of the country, certain stones are mined regularly in order to extract the iron from them. As rain and snow falls, it soaks into the ground and causes the soil to loosen. This soil often finds its way into wells, ponds, creeks and other bodies of water. Types of Iron in Water Iron comes in different forms and it is important to know what kind you are dealing with before you buy an iron filter for well water. *Ferrous iron - This is often referred to as "clear water iron" because it comes out of your faucet clear. After sitting for a time, however, it turns red or brown. *Ferric iron - This is referred to in lay terms as "red water iron". It comes out of the faucet with a yellow or red coloring and is often the type of iron that people first see as a conce rn. *Organic iron - This is formed from naturally occ...
If you are a homeowner who receives well water, it's important to be aware of various factors that may affect the water in your home. Many wells contain contaminants that can cause plumbing problems or affect your health. Each private well has its own unique issues, but certain chemical compounds are very commonly found in well water. Read on to learn about these compounds and why well water treatment systems can protect your health and your plumbing.
Iron and Manganese
While these two metals are toxic when they occur in very high levels, lower levels of contamination can still cause a number of problems when they’re dissolved in your well water. Iron may leave brown rust stains in your sink, while discoloration from manganese will be closer to black. Furthermore, soaps and detergents don’t have any effect on these stains, and if you resort to bleach or baking soda, you will probably make the stain worse. Iron and manganese dissolved in your drinking water give it an unpleasant taste, but they cause even more problems when they stop being dissolved and build up deposits in your pipes. Clogged plumbing and expensive water system repairs become necessary over time.
Hydrogen Sulfide
The presence of hydrogen sulfide in drinking water is usually the result of sulfur bacteria or decayed plant material, although it can also be created by chemical reactions caused by components in your water heater. Hydrogen sulfide gives your water a “rotten egg” smell, affecting your entir...
Well water often contains at least small amounts of some contaminants, including the metals iron and manganese. At low concentrations, these metals aren’t harmful to your health, but they can cause staining. Iron causes orange stains while manganese leaves brownish-black stains. Soaps and detergents don’t remove these stains, and the use of chlorine bleach can actually intensify them.
Test Your Well Water for Contaminants
The presence of stains often makes it obvious that iron and/or manganese are present in your water supply, but it’s still a good idea to use a test kit to determine the exact concentrations of each of these contaminants. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secondary Drinking Water Standards recommend that your drinking water contains no more than 0.3 parts per million of iron and 0.05 parts per million of manganese. Iron concentrations as low as 0.3 parts per million can cause staining. In addition to the concentration, it’s important to determine the form of the contaminants present in your water. If the water collected from your well is initially clear but then turns orange or black over time, this means that the contaminants are dissolved in your water. If solid particles of iron and/or manganese are apparent immediately in your well water, this means that the contaminants are in an oxidized form. Knowing the concentration and form of the contaminants in your water will help you to determine the most effective treatment.
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Iron is important for proper blood flow and energy. We get the iron we need each day from things like green, leafy vegetables. At first thought, it may seem fine to also have iron in your water, but this isn't the case. For the most part, the iron that is often found in well water is not in a form easily processed by the human body. It can also contain bacteria that is harmful to your health. It is also the reason that your sink, toilet and clothes may be stained red. Let's take a look at how iron gets into your water system and why you need an iron filter for well water. How Iron Gets in Well Water Iron is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth. In many areas of the country, certain stones are mined regularly in order to extract the iron from them. As rain and snow falls, it soaks into the ground and causes the soil to loosen. This soil often finds its way into wells, ponds, creeks and other bodies of water. Types of Iron in Water Iron comes in different forms and it is important to know what kind you are dealing with before you buy an iron filter for well water. *Ferrous iron - This is often referred to as "clear water iron" because it comes out of your faucet clear. After sitting for a time, however, it turns red or brown. *Ferric iron - This is referred to in lay terms as "red water iron". It comes out of the faucet with a yellow or red coloring and is often the type of iron that people first see as a conce rn. *Organic iron - This is formed from naturally occ...
If you are a homeowner who receives well water, it's important to be aware of various factors that may affect the water in your home. Many wells contain contaminants that can cause plumbing problems or affect your health. Each private well has its own unique issues, but certain chemical compounds are very commonly found in well water. Read on to learn about these compounds and why well water treatment systems can protect your health and your plumbing. Iron and Manganese While these two metals are toxic when they occur in very high levels, lower levels of contamination can still cause a number of problems when they’re dissolved in your well water. Iron may leave brown rust stains in your sink, while discoloration from manganese will be closer to black. Furthermore, soaps and detergents don’t have any effect on these stains, and if you resort to bleach or baking soda, you will probably make the stain worse. Iron and manganese dissolved in your drinking water give it an unpleasant taste, but they cause even more problems when they stop being dissolved and build up deposits in your pipes. Clogged plumbing and expensive water system repairs become necessary over time. Hydrogen Sulfide The presence of hydrogen sulfide in drinking water is usually the result of sulfur bacteria or decayed plant material, although it can also be created by chemical reactions caused by components in your water heater. Hydrogen sulfide gives your water a “rotten egg” smell, affecting your entir...
Well water often contains at least small amounts of some contaminants, including the metals iron and manganese. At low concentrations, these metals aren’t harmful to your health, but they can cause staining. Iron causes orange stains while manganese leaves brownish-black stains. Soaps and detergents don’t remove these stains, and the use of chlorine bleach can actually intensify them. Test Your Well Water for Contaminants The presence of stains often makes it obvious that iron and/or manganese are present in your water supply, but it’s still a good idea to use a test kit to determine the exact concentrations of each of these contaminants. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secondary Drinking Water Standards recommend that your drinking water contains no more than 0.3 parts per million of iron and 0.05 parts per million of manganese. Iron concentrations as low as 0.3 parts per million can cause staining. In addition to the concentration, it’s important to determine the form of the contaminants present in your water. If the water collected from your well is initially clear but then turns orange or black over time, this means that the contaminants are dissolved in your water. If solid particles of iron and/or manganese are apparent immediately in your well water, this means that the contaminants are in an oxidized form. Knowing the concentration and form of the contaminants in your water will help you to determine the most effective treatment. Invest...
