Municipal water treatment plants will reduce the iron content in public water supplies. But private well water users must remove this contaminant themselves, and the mineral levels tend to be much higher. To deal with this problem, many homeowners install a whole-house filtration system to remove iron and other contaminants. In this article, we will look at how you can find the right iron filter to meet your needs.
Identifying an Iron Contamination Problem
The best way to determine if the concentration of iron is high in your well water is to carry out regular water testing. An annual test is advisable, but many people test their water more frequently because well water quality can change quickly. A high concentration of iron tends to impart a metallic taste in the water. But, there are other metals that have this effect, including copper, lead, arsenic, zinc, manganese, and mercury. Another characteristic of iron contamination is the formation of red, yellow, or brown stains on laundry and plumbing fixtures caused by oxidation. The concentration of iron in water supplies is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm). We tend to experience problems when the iron content rises over 0.3 ppm.
Understanding Water Filtration Systems
There are many types of water filtration systems on the market, and some of them are designed to remove iron. There are two water system scales to consider: point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE).
A POU filtration system is a small scale solution that is usually installed at a single faucet or plumbing fixture. In many homes, this would be the kitchen sink to improve the water quality for drinking, cooking, food prep, and other tasks. This is a cheaper way to improve the water quality, but it’s limited in nature, and the water in other parts of the home remains the same.
A POE filtration system is installed where the water comes into the home, and it treats all the water before it’s delivered to the faucets, plumbing fixtures, and water using appliances. These systems are often referred to as whole-house filtration systems, they are more expensive, but they reduce the amount of iron and other contaminants throughout the home.
What is the Best Filtration System to Remove Iron from Well Water?
This is a hard question to answer because your iron filtration needs may differ depending on a number of factors. The initial step is to get the well water tested to truly understand the makeup of the water. Once you know if you want a POU or POE system, you can make an informed decision on the type of water filtration method that you need. If you have ferric iron problems, you may need oxidation to make the following filtration systems more effective and efficient. Choosing an iron-specific filter that could be a separate system or part of the water softener may be the best option. Another good choice would be a reverse osmosis (RO) filter with a sediment prefilter, and a pair of granular activated charcoal (GAC) filters to protect the equipment and improve the quality.
If you want to install an iron filter in your home, contact your local water treatment specialist today.
By EcoWater Systems.
EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is the largest water treatment company in the state and is a member of Water Quality Association.