How Iron Filtration Systems Work: A Comprehensive Overview

How Iron Filtration Systems Work: A Comprehensive

Excessive levels of iron in well water or municipal water supplies are common problems across the United States. From New England to the Great Lakes states, up and down the West Coast and most of the North and West have high levels of iron in the water. Only the South and some of the Lower Midwest states escape this widespread problem. Because of the unpleasant effects of iron in the water, millions of people have sought filtration solutions to reduce this rusty mineral. 

Iron enters groundwater, surface water and private wells when there is a high concentration of iron in the soil and rock of a region. However, mineral deposits are not the only way that iron can make its way into drinking water. 

Human Activities Also Add Iron to Drinking Water

Unfortunately, industries also add iron to water supplies and this iron can make its way to the faucets in your home. Communities that live in heavy industrial areas can expect to have higher levels of iron in their water. If you have any of these industries near your home, you would be wise to consider testing your water for excess iron and adding filtration to your home if you find it. 

  1. Mining, especially for iron ore. This process exposes iron-rich rock to the elements. Rainwater or groundwater washing over this rock can dissolve and carry away iron. Once dissolved, the iron can then be carried into any water supplies or sources nearby. 
  2. Steel manufacturing: Of course, there is plenty of iron used in making steel. There are also large quantities of water used in this process. Iron-contaminated wastewater released from a steel plant can pollute water sources if the plant does not treat it properly. 
  3. Metal finishing industries: These factories utilize chemicals that contain iron. There’s no problem if they properly treat the water they release but this is often not the case. 
  4. Tanneries: There are not as many tanneries in the U.S. as there used to be but they still exist in the Northeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states and California. Some of the chemicals they use in processing contain iron. Again, no problem if they remove iron before releasing the wastewater. 
  5. Paper and textile manufacturing: Both industries use chemicals that contain iron. They both also use large quantities of water that can carry iron and other undesirable contaminants to local water supplies. 
  6. Lesser sources of iron contamination include distilleries, food processing and nuclear industries. In each case, corrosion of iron or steel equipment and large quantities of water passing through the facilities can add iron to drinking water supplies. 

Private Wells and Their Iron Contamination Problems

Rural areas where the residents rely on private wells are more susceptible to iron contamination. Private wells in regions with higher iron levels in rocks and soil will have aquifers that also contain high levels of iron.

While iron is an essential nutrient, if it gets too high, both health problems and property damage can result. The Environmental Protection Agency has established the acceptable level of iron in water at 0.3 milligrams of iron per liter of water. At this level, it is possible for the iron to turn water a reddish-brown color. Higher levels can result in water having an unpleasant metallic taste. 

However, even levels as high as 10 milligrams per liter are generally not harmful for most people. Some people, however, can’t process the iron they might consume in drinking water. Instead, they accumulate the iron in their bodies. For those individuals, filtering out the iron will be important.

Iron Plumbing and Factory Equipment Also Add Iron to Water

While most of the iron found in drinking water comes from natural deposits, iron can also enter water from old or corroded plumbing systems. Equipment and pipes in either residential or industrial facilities can cause this problem. In New York, for example, aging plumbing in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan increase the iron in the drinking water in those boroughs. 

Types of Iron That May Be Found in Drinking Water

There are three types of iron that may be circulating in your local aquifer or coming out of your taps. You should know which type of iron is present in your water so you are aware of the kind of damage that water might create. 

  1. Ferrous iron: This iron is completely dissolved in water so it is invisible in water. When the water is exposed to oxygen, the iron suddenly changes into rust-colored ferric iron that stains everything it touches.
  2. Ferric iron: When ferric iron is present, drinking water will be yellow or red as soon as it comes out of the faucet. 
  3. Organic iron: When water falling on the land surface seeps through soil and rock that contain iron, it can dissolve the iron and carry it away. This type of iron can be the hardest to remove from your drinking water. Water containing organic iron can be colorless, yellow or brown. Shallow wells are more likely to contain this type of iron. 

Your well could also contain iron bacteria. These bacteria combine iron or manganese with oxygen to form a slimy brown substance that clogs pipes, wells and filters. They don’t themselves cause disease but they can provide an environment in which disease-causing organisms can grow. Elimination of iron bacteria starts with thorough disinfection of your well. ETR Laboratories offers a well disinfection kit with an FDA approved disinfectant. Each kit comes with a post-disinfection water test kit so you can ensure that your water is healthy again. 

Effects of Excessive Iron on Health

Having iron in your water is beneficial to health. Nationally, the iron in tap water supplies approximately 5% of the dietary requirement for iron. But when levels get too high, some people can start suffering health problems. 

Those sensitive to iron in water may begin reacting when the water has more than 2 milligrams per liter of iron. They may suffer  stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea. If higher levels of iron are consumed over a long period of time, iron overload can occur, increasing the risk of damage to the heart and liver, and a greater possibility of diabetes or heart diseases. 

Some people have a genetic condition called hemochromatosis, a disorder resulting from a genetic variant that controls iron absorption from food. This can result in excessive levels of iron accumulating in their bodies. 

The effects of high levels of iron in the body include joint pain, change in skin coloration, sexual dysfunction and possibly even thyroid disease or liver cancer. As many as a million people have hemochromatosis. These individuals should ensure that their drinking water does not have elevated levels of iron. 

Other Groups That Should Limit Their Exposure to Iron

In addition to people with hemochromatosis, there are two other groups that should be careful about their iron intake.

  1. Pregnant women: If a mother-to-be consumes too much iron during pregnancy, the outcome can be serious. Effects include miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth, cardiovascular disease and more. 
  2. Children: If a child ingests 10 to 20 milligrams of iron per each kilogram of weight, they can show signs of toxicity. Those signs can be serious if consumption of 50 milligrams or more per kilogram of weight. This normally only occurs if a child consumes adult or prenatal vitamins but excessive levels of iron in water should also be avoided. Adverse effects include bloody vomit and stools, fever, shortness of breath or liver and kidney damage. 

Property Damage Caused by Too Much Iron in Water

While health issues are obviously far more concerning, high levels of iron in household water can also disfigure your possessions. Some of these problems can become expensive to repair. 

  1. Plumbing issues: Iron buildup and the slime created by iron bacteria can clog pipes, reducing water pressure and causing slow drainage. 
  2. Stains: Iron in water creates reddish-brown stains on sinks, toilets, and bathtubs.
  3. Appliance damage: Iron deposits can accumulate in household appliances that use water, such as dishwashers and water heaters. This accumulation can require repair or early replacement.
  4. Laundry issues: Clothes washed in water with high levels of iron are likely to develop reddish-brown stains that are difficult to remove.
  5. Discoloration and metallic tastes in food and beverages: Food and drinks prepared with high-iron water can have a metallic taste and an inky appearance. Vegetables cooked in water with too much iron turn dark and look less appealing.
  6. Hair and skin issues: Hair washed in water with lots of iron can build up a mineral coating, leading to a dull appearance, discoloration and dryness. Skin can become dryer and acne and eczema may be aggravated.
  7. Tooth staining: Exposure to high levels of iron can cause blackish staining on the teeth, but does not cause structural damage. 

Discover Your Level of Iron with Professional Water Testing

If your home is in an area prone to high iron levels in drinking water, it is wise to have your water professionally tested. Once you know what is in your water, you can install the right filtration system to remove whatever shouldn’t be there. Different filters or water treatment systems remove different substances so having these results first, you can get the right system and possibly save money.

ETR Laboratories provides water testing services for thousands of private well owners, municipalities and even for other water testing companies. Our results come from our own labs which means your results may get to you faster than results that have to be relayed through another company that sold you a water test. 

An inexpensive water testing kit purchased from a home improvement store can only give you a glimpse at the presence of iron in your water. A professional water test can give you an accurate analysis and a measure of its quantity. You then gain a precise insight into health or property problems that could be caused by your water.

Filtration Systems that Reduce Iron in Drinking Water

Several filtration systems are available to address iron contamination in water. Here are the main types of iron filters and how they work:

  1. Air Injection Oxidizing System: This process oxidizes the iron so that the particles can then be filtered out of the water. This type of system removes as much as seven parts per million of iron from water. It can also remove manganese.
  2. Kinetic Degradation Fluxion Filters: This filter changes dissolved ferrous iron into insoluble ferric hydroxide which can then be trapped in a sediment filter. This type of filter can remove up to 98% of iron in the water.
  3. Reverse Osmosis Systems with Iron Pre-filters. While RO filters are effective in removing many substances from well water, high levels of iron require an iron pre-filter to protect the RO system. An RO filter can remove as much as 98% of iron while it removes heavy metals, fluoride and dissolved solids.
  4. Water Softeners with Iron Removal Capabilities: Choose a water softener carefully. Only some of them can remove low to moderate levels of iron. If iron levels are high, a separate iron filter will be required.
  5. Combination systems: In some situations, multiple water treatment or filtration methods will be necessary to make well water taste good, look good and be healthy.

The Right Way to Choose and Install a Water Treatment System

The best way to approach adding a filtration system for iron or any other contaminants is to start with a comprehensive water test. Follow this test with a professional analysis of those results by a water filtration or treatment specialist. You will get the best-designed system for your situation plus professional installation. 

All systems require regular maintenance to ensure that they remove all possible contaminants from your water. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning the system or changing filters.  

ETR Laboratories Helps Well Owners Maintain High-Quality Water

ETR Laboratories is dedicated to providing accurate and fast water test results so each customer can maintain good water quality for their families. Choose from our most popular water tests and find out exactly what is in your well water or municipal water supplies. With the right results, you can design the perfect system to keep your drinking water fresh and delicious.