Is Iron in Water Bad for You?

A tall glass of cold water on a hot summer day is a refreshing way to cool off. But in some cases, there is iron in the water in Butler homes, causing the water to take on an unappealing metallic taste.

This can be a frustrating problem for many homeowners who have well water, leading them to dig a new well or even move out of their home. If you are dealing with iron in your water, it is essential to understand where the iron is coming from and how you can remove it from your water before taking more drastic measures.

Through either seepage or corrosion, iron can contaminate your well water.

When water goes through the ground’s surface and the soil, it becomes part of the water supply. If the soil it passes through contains iron, the iron can be dissolved into the water, also becoming part of the water supply.

When metal is exposed to air and water, it can cause deterioration, especially in iron. When the casings of pipes for well water contain iron, and they corrode, the rust can flake off into the water, adding iron to the water that will travel from the well to the taps.

Our bodies require iron to function correctly, but in large amounts, it can be toxic to humans. Fortunately, you wouldn’t be able to drink enough water to ingest toxic levels of iron.

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies iron as a secondary contaminant. This means that iron in the water does not directly impact our health.

Iron in the water poses a more significant threat to the taste of the water and can also cause costly damage to your appliances and other items in your home.

Iron in your well water causes a variety of issues for appliances, food, as well as sinks, tubs, and dishes.

In some cases, as iron travel through the water, it will stop inside certain areas and accumulate. This accumulation will cause clogs in dishwashers, sprinklers, water pumps, washing machines, and other appliances.

In addition to affecting the taste of your water and beverages such as coffee or tea, iron in well water will also affect your food, causing food like vegetables cooked in water to become dark as they absorb the iron in the water.

Iron in well water causes damage to tubs, sinks, and dishes, leaving behind, yellow, brown, or red stains that are difficult and sometimes impossible to remove from surfaces.

Iron bacteria are small organisms that feed off of iron, leaving behind iron waster deposits. This also causes unpleasant stains, odors, and tastes. They even leave behind a slime on pipes and fixtures. This slime can introduce other harmful bacteria.

At Aqua Solutions, we specialize in a variety of methods that can be used to remove the iron from your well water effectively. Including:

This is one of the more common tanks we install. This tank is used to oxidize the iron into small particles so that it can be filtered out of your water.

With this mixture, the iron will be oxidized into a solid so it can be trapped in the filter bed so that it can be filtered and cleaned out. This mixture mimics the natural environment with sand and gravel to filtrate the iron and other particles in the water.

This is used to remove minerals that cause hard water, but they can also remove small amounts of iron. A water softener is not filtration media, so it is best to use it in conjunction with another type of iron-removing method for the best results.

If you are suffering from iron in your water, contact the water treatment experts in Butler. Aqua Solutions has the water treatments and the expertise to help you resolve your water issues and get your water back to perfect drinking quality.

Is Iron in Water Bad for You?

Aqua Solutions