Iron may be good for the body, but it gets out of hand when it accumulates in water. Usually, when water contains too much iron, then it triggers a lot of plumbing issues. In most cases, the iron in water leaves behind many sediments that accumulate in the pipes and can lead to a buildup of sediments and cause corrosion.
To avoid dealing with such issues, ensure that you find ways to remove the iron from the water that you use in your house. The last thing you want is to keep dealing with plumbing issues because of a challenge that keeps recurring.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways to remove iron from water. Check out the best way to remove iron from well water before letting it go through your plumbing system.
1. Using Sediment Filters
It is important to consider water treatment for iron removal because of the numerous effects on water. Besides potentially corroding the pipes in your household, it may lead to discoloration of the water, and in some cases, cause staining in clothes, hair, and skin.
The effects may not be immediate, especially if you are not aware of the water’s chemical composition. Iron in water will slowly lead to buildup and eventually cause the pipes to corrode, leading to expensive repairs and replacement costs when the pipes finally clog and become impossible to pass to serve their purposes.
You can use the iron removal filter as one of the safest ways to eliminate iron. These filters can remove iron precipitates. What’s more, the filter allows the water to pass through, allowing the house plumbing system to work perfectly.
The important thing is to choose the right filter for your system. It needs to have a good micron rating to capture the iron sediments adequately. Note that the sediment filter will not eliminate all the issues, especially those regarding the staining.
2. Use Water Softeners
In case you are wondering how to precipitate iron from water, then this may be a second option to explore. Go for ion-exchange water softeners since they can reduce the iron content in water.
While the softeners majorly work on removing hardness and water minerals, they can also be perfect for iron removal. This is a process where sodium ions get exchanged for positively charged ions such as magnesium and calcium ions. This method works better when the iron is present in hard water. If the water is soft, then the appropriate method will be to use oxidating filters instead.
Note that it is essential to keep flushing the resin bed and entire system periodically when using softeners. This will help eliminate any rust and help protect the system, ensuring that it lasts longer than anticipated.
3. Birm
This is an oxidating medium that also comes in handy when removing iron from well water. To use it, dissolve the substance in well water. It is also excellent to use since there is no chemical oxidizing agent needed to eliminate the water.
The only thing to note is that it will work in water with elevated pH levels only. As such, this system works when used with calcite, which is a pH elevating medium. Birm will help oxidize the water and easily remove the iron in the water.
4. Shock Chlorination
This method works when it comes to the removal of bacterial iron. It is a labor-intensive process that can be exhaustive because it can be messy. In most cases, the water may be slimy and invasive. Shock chlorination works by introducing high amounts of chlorine in the water to disinfect the water in the well thoroughly.
For this to work sufficiently, the whole well should be exposed to the shock chlorination process. It is necessary to treat both water and well for an effective remedy. Make sure to treat the distribution channels as well, and also the well’s pump. Adequate shocking will help eliminate the bacteria holding onto the iron. Once the initial treatment is done, consider installing a regular chlorination system to help treat the water in the retention tank.
Regardless of the type of iron elimination method, you choose to go for, make sure you first understand the kind of water challenge you are dealing with. A technique that works for bacterial iron may not necessarily be useful when dealing with Ferrous iron. It helps to carry out tests to determine the kind of iron you are dealing with first, then make an informed decision afterward.
No all ferrous water will respond to specific treatments, hence the need to try out a few treatment options before settling on a particular type of treatment method. Talking to an expert makes helps you make an informed decision. It helps to discuss the options available and choose the most appropriate one based on the findings.
