How to Remove Iron from Well Water

Iron is one of the most frequent pollutants that water well owners must deal with. Iron creates a trail of stains, discoloration, and sour tastes in its wake, from muddy-colored drinking glasses to vivid orange streaks in toilets and baths.

There are a couple of ways one can opt for this purpose, like investing in a water filter to remove iron but depending on the type of iron; other processes may be more effective. This article lists the causes of iron in well water and several ways to remove this unwanted mineral from your water.

How does iron get into well water?

The majority of iron in your well water comes from the earth's crust seeping in. Heavy rainfall saturates through the soil, dissolving iron deposits and transporting them to deep aquifers. Exposure to rusty, rusted piping can potentially introduce iron into your well water supply. Rusted iron pipes and fittings cause brown particles in your water and orange stains on your drains.

Over time, the iron casings in your well may corrode. Iron begins to oxidize and degrade when it is exposed to oxygen and water. This may be fixed by replacing the pipes that go to your well.

Iron may be found in three different types in wells:

• Ferric
• Ferrous
• Bacterial

Each type of iron needs a unique iron filter or treatment method.

1. Ferric Iron

Ferric iron is a form of insoluble iron, which means the iron minerals haven't entirely dissolved in water. If the water has a vivid red or orange hue, it's a sign that your well has a lot of ferric iron. It is the most accessible kind of iron to remove.

How to remove?

A sediment filter can remove the iron precipitate formed in the water. Sediment filters allow water to flow freely while keeping solid particle matter from entering the plumbing system.

Sediment filters are excellent at keeping dirt, debris, and cloudiness out of your water supply. This can be used for people who have low iron levels because it is entirely in ferric form.

2. Ferrous Iron

Ferrous iron is a form of soluble iron, which means it has completely dissolved in water. A ferrous iron glass will appear to be crystal clear. Ferrous iron has staining characteristics and will alter the taste of water.

How to remove?

Ferrous iron may be easily removed from water using ion-exchange water softeners. Ion exchange, a process in which sodium ions are replaced for positively charged mineral ions, is used in water softeners to remove water hardness minerals.

Iron is a positively charged cation attracted to the spherical anion resin beads and exchanged for a sodium ion. Water softeners are also the most effective at eliminating iron from water.

3. Bacterial Iron

Bacterial iron is the most dangerous and challenging form of iron in the well. The most prevalent source of bacterial iron in wells is inadequate maintenance. Bacterial iron will choke the excellent pump and tank.

How to remove?

Shock chlorination involves injecting a high quantity of chlorine into a well to disinfect the water and the well itself. To get good results, shock chlorination must be applied to the full depth of the well, like the walls, the pump, and the pressure and distribution systems.