Water Treatment - Iron in Water

[William1]

I have well water, I love the taste, Ph is decent. I have a whole house 5 micron 'Big Blue'. I change it once a year. Water pressure before and after is the same. So it is not clogging.
However, when I change it, it is orange, rust orange. Toilets have orange staining. 99% positive it is iron in the water.

I know a water company will try and sell me some $10,000 system.

No interest in some big, fancy reverse osmosis setup. Just something simple to eliminate the iron. I've heard... people talk of air injection (maybe some near silent air compressor that puts out a bit more pressure than my well pump???) that cause the iron to rust (become iron oxide) and thereby be bigger and be caught in the whole house filter Vs the dissolved iron that can pass right through. I certainly don't want to open a spigot and have to chugging air and then water (like when you had to do plumbing repairs).

Thoughts and possible solutions/systems?

 

[skeets]

A friend had a shallow well and it had lots of iron in the water. He had a sand filter installed, with something I think he called green sand, and had to flush it like once a month when the water pressure dropped. I have no idea what the cost was

 

[GreensvilleJay]

A relative did the same, used a free swimming pool sand filter....amazing how well it worked !

 

[JRHill]

The bubbling air thing for iron is no joke. A neighbor has a water well with heavy iron taste to the point it is almost undrinkable. He has a 500g tank next to the well head and fills it full. Then he has an air pump that just bubbles air and lets it go as long as possible until water is needed then it gets pumped to a 1000g tank. From there it gets pumped at house pressure for use. There is only a hint of mineral taste and there is no filtration anywhere in the system. It's busy work but a guy has to do what he has to do.

Our place is 3/4 miles away, 750' higher. Our water is high mineral but no iron taste. In fact, the mineral content is what makes our water taste so darn good. And I believe is better, healthwise, that bazillion $ systems that remove most everything - almost like drinking distilled that has no flavor at all. When we have city visitors they comment on our water without fail. Makes good coffee too

 

[William1]

I like my water. I do not like the staining on the toilets. I do not want a system that requires servicing or anything. Just something I can install and forget about it.

 

[bearbait]

I like my water. I do not like the staining on the toilets. I do not want a system that requires servicing or anything. Just something I can install and forget about it.

We have the same problem, here is what we use along with once you start to notice orange in the toilet you can sprinkle some iron out around the bowl that will remove any staining. It's also safe for septics systems. Keep in mind these are Canadian prices so probably much cheaper in the USA

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ispring-whole-house-water-filter-system-w-sediment-carbon-block-and-iron-manganese-reducing-filter/1001201103?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D00_Corporate_GGL_Shopping_All-Products_All%20Products__PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-294357559827&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1624814283&gbraid=0AAAAADhdmz7ipY1joaUrP_y7sjBvz7A5f&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtG3uaSFlgMVx4XCCB1jOg0REAYYAiABEgLh0vD_BwE

https://www.amazon.ca/Iron-OUT-Bathrooms-Kitchens-Appliances/dp/B0014X7B22/ref=asc_df_B0014X7B22?mcid=e9f5386b5347347eba6242c80f414aa3&tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=706828956917&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15370563691073163096&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000910&hvtargid=pla-763193046840&psc=1&hvocijid=15370563691073163096-B0014X7B22-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

 

[JRHill]

" I do not want a system that requires servicing or anything. "

Awww, just one more little chore?

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Green sand is very reactive stuff and oxidises the iron. I have a system that has a big cylinder with green sand and a valve system (from the US) on top that back-flushes the iron oxide out and regenerates the green sand with KMnO4 solution. This has to be done once a month. Yes, this can be automated, but I have to build that myself, I am not aware that you can buy a 100% maintenance free system off the shelf. And even automated the KMnO4 has to be refilled every couple of years.

Another possibility is bubbling fine air bubbles though a big tank. Disadvantage here is that you need a pump after that to get pressure. The former system is fully pressurised, so I use only the deep well pump for the whole water supply.

10k sounds a bit steep to me, just for the iron removal. Get other quotations.

 

[skeets]

The bubbling air thing for iron is no joke. A neighbor has a water well with heavy iron taste to the point it is almost undrinkable. He has a 500g tank next to the well head and fills it full. Then he has an air pump that just bubbles air and lets it go as long as possible until water is needed then it gets pumped to a 1000g tank. From there it gets pumped at house pressure for use. There is only a hint of mineral taste and there is no filtration anywhere in the system. It's busy work but a guy has to do what he has to do.

Our place is 3/4 miles away, 750' higher. Our water is high mineral but no iron taste. In fact, the mineral content is what makes our water taste so darn good. And I believe is better, healthwise, that bazillion $ systems that remove most everything - almost like drinking distilled that has no flavor at all. When we have city visitors they comment on our water without fail. Makes good coffee too

yup it does taste good, and in 2 years your hot water tank is filled with calcium and 5 years ya need a new tank,, lol my well is the same way

 

[Motion]

Consider a good and complete water analysis to ensure you don't go down the wrong road.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Our place “up north” has well water that both stained the toilets, and smelled like a “nasty fart after eating egg-salad sammichs and beer"

I got this system off the Big A, and it took care of the entire problem.





Here are 3 take-aways from my experience.

1st…..Unless you are a Master Jedi Plumber, get the kit that is already put together. I tried to “cheapen out” and plumb 3 of them together myself and it turned into an absolute ClusterF__k…..Just buy it the way you see it pictured….Trust me.

2nd…..the type of filters you use matters, and I keep one set "on hand”. I finally ended up with the follow in filters for our area.


You can buy any combination of filters you want, for whatever specific purposes, but this one is the one that works for us.

3rd….Our sediment filter looks like it is clogged up about 2 days after you install a new one, but the pressure is normal/flow is normal.


I am not a water expert, but it works for use and we do not have a softener.

Just my experience.

 

[William1]

Green sand is very reactive stuff and oxidises the iron. I have a system that has a big cylinder with green sand and a valve system (from the US) on top that back-flushes the iron oxide out and regenerates the green sand with KMnO4 solution. This has to be done once a month. Yes, this can be automated, but I have to build that myself, I am not aware that you can buy a 100% maintenance free system off the shelf. And even automated the KMnO4 has to be refilled every couple of years.

Another possibility is bubbling fine air bubbles though a big tank. Disadvantage here is that you need a pump after that to get pressure. The former system is fully pressurised, so I use only the deep well pump for the whole water supply.

10k sounds a bit steep to me, just for the iron removal. Get other quotations.

Sadly, the bubbling in a tank seems to be the only 'simple' way to get the iron to oxidize and not have 'air at the spigot'. That expense if a large tank, bubbler, pump for pressure... is more than I want. Honestly, at that point, I'd rather just buy new toilets every ten/fifteen years!

That or get Mary Jo, Billie Jo and Bobby Jo out of the tank!

 

[William1]

Our place “up north” has well water that both stained the toilets, and smelled like a “nasty fart after eating egg-salad sammichs and beer"

I got this system off the Big A, and it took care of the entire problem.


View attachment 177737


Here are 3 take-aways from my experience.

1st…..Unless you are a Master Jedi Plumber, get the kit that is already put together. I tried to “cheapen out” and plumb 3 of them together myself and it turned into an absolute ClusterF__k…..Just buy it the way you see it pictured….Trust me.

2nd…..the type of filters you use matters, and I keep one set "on hand”. I finally ended up with the follow in filters for our area.
View attachment 177738

You can buy any combination of filters you want, for whatever specific purposes, but this one is the one that works for us.

3rd….Our sediment filter looks like it is clogged up about 2 days after you install a new one, but the pressure is normal/flow is normal.


I am not a water expert, but it works for use and we do not have a softener.

Just my experience.

I can rationally deal with cartridge replacement. How often do you do that and what are the cost for new filters? I have a good stock of the Pentair 10" 5 microns and installed, will last over a year.
I guess the gauges are to let you know when one is clogging?

 

[William1]

We have the same problem, here is what we use along with once you start to notice orange in the toilet you can sprinkle some iron out around the bowl that will remove any staining. It's also safe for septics systems. Keep in mind these are Canadian prices so probably much cheaper in the USA

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ispring-whole-house-water-filter-system-w-sediment-carbon-block-and-iron-manganese-reducing-filter/1001201103?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D00_Corporate_GGL_Shopping_All-Products_All%20Products__PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-294357559827&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1624814283&gbraid=0AAAAADhdmz7ipY1joaUrP_y7sjBvz7A5f&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtG3uaSFlgMVx4XCCB1jOg0REAYYAiABEgLh0vD_BwE

https://www.amazon.ca/Iron-OUT-Bathrooms-Kitchens-Appliances/dp/B0014X7B22/ref=asc_df_B0014X7B22?mcid=e9f5386b5347347eba6242c80f414aa3&tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=706828956917&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15370563691073163096&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000910&hvtargid=pla-763193046840&psc=1&hvocijid=15370563691073163096-B0014X7B22-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

I think we went too long before we tried to solve the staining, seems permanent now.Porcelain is etched and the stain is embedded.

The filter cartridges are something I can deal with. Pricing is not bad, install minimal and once a year, stick in a new cartridge is acceptable. Just need a 'double' as we already have the particulate one.

 

[Yooper]

Water softener took care of the problem for me. Same issue. Use the salt that has ‘Iron Fighter’ on the bag. Installed it myself in a day and played with the settings for a couple of weeks to get the water where I liked it. Using the manufacturer’s setting the water was way too soft.

 

[imnukensc]

I think we went too long before we tried to solve the staining, seems permanent now.Porcelain is etched and the stain is embedded.

Try a pumice stone on those rust stains. You'll be surprised how well the work to get rid of them.

 

[William1]

Try a pumice stone on those rust stains. You'll be surprised how well the work to get rid of them.

Thanks, I will, but I suspect the porosity of the now etched and unglazed porcelain will stain again until the root cause is eliminated.

 

[bearbait]

The iron will make your sediment filters look like mud almost but if you still have good pressure at the tank and the tap you should be fine, we change ours about ever six months just because they are the least expensive.

 

[NWAZL3560]

Our place “up north” has well water that both stained the toilets, and smelled like a “nasty fart after eating egg-salad sammichs and beer"

I got this system off the Big A, and it took care of the entire problem.


View attachment 177737


Here are 3 take-aways from my experience.

1st…..Unless you are a Master Jedi Plumber, get the kit that is already put together. I tried to “cheapen out” and plumb 3 of them together myself and it turned into an absolute ClusterF__k…..Just buy it the way you see it pictured….Trust me.

2nd…..the type of filters you use matters, and I keep one set "on hand”. I finally ended up with the follow in filters for our area.
View attachment 177738

You can buy any combination of filters you want, for whatever specific purposes, but this one is the one that works for us.

3rd….Our sediment filter looks like it is clogged up about 2 days after you install a new one, but the pressure is normal/flow is normal.


I am not a water expert, but it works for use and we do not have a softener.

Just my experience.

We use the same system for our well water and it works great. Sometimes we use the PHO anti-scale filter rather than the GAC metals filter.

 

[William1]

Hmmmm the cartridge setup looks promising. While I was hoping for a 100% maintenance free setup, swapping in filters every 6 to 12 months is reasonable.
For 20 years, I had a soda ash injection system. Had to recharge it every nine months, took a few hours to mix it up, put it in the tank, clean stuff. All in a crawl space with 4' of head room. Disconnected, the Ph rose a point. Meh, not needed. But, removing a now empty 40 gallon tank and putting a few big canisters there, a 30 minute swap out, that's reasonable.