When it comes to residential water treatment, it’s unlikelyyou’ll find a one-size-fits-all solution. Your home’s water may be quitedifferent than even your next-door neighbor’s, especially when it comes from aprivate well. After hard water, the second most common problem for homeownerswith well water is iron. Standard water softening equipment will remove lesseramounts, but your basic water softener isn’t designed to treat high levels ofiron.
A typicalwater softener contains resin beads that remove the hardness minerals, calcium andmagnesium, through an ion exchange process. When a water softener is used forboth hardness and iron treatment, the softener resin life is greatly reduced. Inhomes with heavy iron levels, excess iron can slip through the resin and remainin the water. In many cases, the treatment or removal of excessive ironrequires a different approach.
If you havewell water, there’s a good chance it contains iron. Even the smallest traces ofthis heavy metal will cause staining and alter the taste and smell of yourwater. Tackling the issue begins with having your water tested. Current waterconditions and the type of iron you’re facing help determine the best methods forremoval. Water pH levels, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen content, and even thetemperature of your water play an important role in finding proper watertreatment.
HowTo Filter Iron From Water
Water ina well underground is usually clear in color, even if it contains high levelsof iron. This type of iron is known as ferrous, or clear water iron. If you alreadyown a water softener, themost effective solution for iron removal is by using aniron filter. Iron filters take the clear iron and converts it to rust or ferriciron in the process known as oxidation. Once in the ferric state, it becomes afilterable particle that gets trapped in the iron filter media. These particlesare then periodically and automatically backwashed, eliminating rust andflushing the filter media clean. Most iron filters remove both clear water ironand ferric iron (rust). With the presence of iron, a watersoftener will always work better and longer with iron filtration in place.
There are several types of filtermedia for iron and manganese removal. Manganese dioxide is the most commonlyused media to treat water. It comes in two forms: coated and solid. Solidmanganese, likeFilox or Pyrolox,is heavier, requiring a higher backwash rate than coated media like Birm orGreensand. Ironfilters require periodic backwashing to clean out the precipitated rust that accumulatesin the media bed. Insufficient backwash and regeneration are frequent causesfor failure of filter media.
Until recently, solid manganese wasgenerally considered the more reliable, long-lasting choice in filter media. Withdevelopments in iron removal, filter media likeKatalox Light®,has taken the advantage over other manganese dioxide media. Katalox Light®is engineered with a unique coating technique and higher filtration surface,allowing outstanding removal of iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfur. Becauseof its light weight and high flow rate, a smaller filter tank can be used,which in turn uses less water and takes up less space.
What Does pH Have To DoWith Iron Filtration?
Theterm pH stands for “potential for hydrogen.” It’s a measure of theconcentration of hydrogen ions in a diluted solution. The pH scale ranges from0 to 14, with 7 considered neutral. Water pH below 7 is acidic, and anythinghigher than 7 is alkaline. The ideal pH value for iron filters to workeffectively is between 7 and 8.5.
Acidicsolutions contain more hydrogen ions, and alkaline solutions contain fewer; thelower pH level, the more soluble iron will be. Solubility refers to the amountof a substance that can be dissolved in water. Water with acidic pH levels havethe potential to corrode plumbing and leach metal. Iron, manganese, copper,lead, and zinc are frequently found in acidic water. If water pH levels are too high, asoftener can’t perform to its potential. This is because ferrous iron convertsto ferric more quickly in alkaline water.
Theprimary way to treat low pH water is with the use of sodium carbonate. Sodiumcarbonate works to increase the sodium content in water, which increases the pHlevels. As with any selection of water treatment, it’s important to follow themanufacturer’s recommendations and note the limitations for pH levels,alkalinity, and water temperature to get the best results.
TheMost Effective Iron Removal
If you don’t currently have a softener installed or want toupgrade, the best system for iron removal is an all-in-one water softener/ironfilter. The Genesis Iron Pro Max can remove dissolved iron up to 7PPM (parts per million) or higher, in addition to the removal of hardnessminerals—something no other all-in-one system can do.
TheGenesis Iron Pro Max uses Purolite Shallow Shell™ SSTC60resin along with a ResCare Easy Feeder system. Shallow Shelltechnology prevents iron from deeply embedding within the resin bead and damagingit. During regeneration, when brine saturates the resin, the iron can easily beremoved and flushed down the drain.
The Genesis Iron Pro Max also comes equipped with theResCare Easy Feeder, a continuous feed dispenser that hangs in the brine tank.The Easy Feeder provides an automatic and continued defense against contaminantbuild up. The additional cleaning keeps resin at peak efficiency, and it’shassle free for homeowners. The ProMax softener plus iron filter combinationsystem is a win-win!
Dealing with iron contamination doesn’t have toend with foul-smelling water and orange rust stains on your fixtures. Justbecause iron is one of the world’s most plentiful resources, it doesn’t have tobe a nuisance in your home. Whatever your iron problem is, the water treatmentexperts atDiscount Water Softeners will help you find the perfect solution.
