Iron and Manganese (and Hydrogen Sulfide) occur naturally in groundwater. Water containing excessive amounts of iron and manganese can stain clothes, discolor plumbing fixtures, and sometimes add a “rusty” taste and look to the water. Surface water generally does not contain large amounts of iron or manganese, but iron and manganese are found frequently in water systems that use groundwater. The Safe Drinking Water Act secondary standards (aesthetic, not health related) for iron in drinking water is 0.3 parts per million (ppm) and 0.05 ppm for manganese.

Iron contamination can be found in two general forms, ferric iron which consists of particles of solid iron (rust) and ferrous or dissolved iron. In addition to causing an unpleasant metallic taste, iron in drinking and household water can cause unsightly staining of plumbing fixtures and laundry.

Manganese can give water an unpleasant taste and it can cause discolouration
especially when sterilising fluids such as chlorine are added to the water. At these levels, manganese will also cause discolouration of clothes and utensils. The visible effect of manganese is apparent by the appearance of small black particles in your water which may give the water a dirty appearance. In large quantities, these particles can also cause problems by blocking valves and pipes and accumulating in tanks.

Iron and manganese in water also promote the growth of bacteria (including iron bacteria). These organisms obtain energy for growth from the chemical reaction that occurs when iron and manganese mix with dissolved oxygen. These bacteria form thick slime growths on the walls of  the piping system and on well screens. These shines tend to be are rust-colored from iron and black-colored from manganese. Variations in flow can cause these slim e growths to separate from pipe walls, resulting in dirty water in the system.

In Hydragcom several treatment methods (oxidation, clarification, mechanical filtration, ion exchange, etc) are used. Our Iron Water Filter systems effectively remove Iron, Manganese, and Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell) from municipal or well water supplies.