Well-water is synonymous with iron which is plenty in the earth’s crust. Since it is almost unavoidable to prevent iron from sipping into your well water, what are the characteristics of such kind of water?
The presence of iron in water will not go without knowing. The first common phenomenon is stained reddish surfaces. Besides, there is a strange taste and smell of this kind of water.
Check out our insight on the cheapest way to remove iron from well water in this article.
Overall, iron in water has a negative impact on home appliances, especially household ones. In fact, there have been bodies claiming that any presence of iron in water beyond 0.3 mg/L is unacceptable because of the adverse effects it can have.
What is the cheapest way to remove iron from well water
Various ways can be employed to remove iron from water. These include water freezing, sedimentation, or engaging activated charcoal.
The latter methods are readily available. However, other advanced approaches consist of a water softener system, an oxidation filter, and a reverse osmosis filter.
Choosing the best approach to removing iron from well water is also dependent on the kind of iron you are dealing with. So, what about we break down the different types of iron in well water?
Ferrous iron
This kind of iron dissolves in water and is clear and utterly invisible to the naked eye. As a result, this type of iron is highly prevalent in deep wells where iron oxidation does not occur.
Upon exposure to oxygen, it undergoes oxidation, becomes ferrous, and forms a precipitate.
The easiest way to realize this is to leave it overnight on a glass. Identification of the iron is the presence of a reddish-brown pigmentation on the glass.
The best way to deal with ferrous iron is to adopt one of the approaches that would include: KDF filters, installing a water softener, or engaging oxidizing filters. Note that it is necessary to use the water softener with a sediment filter concurrently to ensure that no ferric iron is allowed to pass through.
I would vouch for a combination of methods here, preferably combining KDF filters with water softening. These two have their divergent strengths, and I highly believe that there are high chances of better results when used together.
Ferric iron
It is the kind of iron that is insoluble; thus, it is easy to see. If you find a high presence of bright orange pigmentation in your water then, it is a clear sign that ferric iron is prevalent.
The best way to remove ferric iron from well water is to use a sediment filter. All it does is block solid particles while allowing water to pass through.
Bacterial iron
This would probably be the most difficult to identify in well water. It is all a result of a bond between iron and bacteria inside the well. Most wells that are not well maintained suffer from this kind of iron.
Despite chlorination being effective in removing bacteria bound to the iron, a combination of approaches will realize better results.
It is even more effective, especially because there will be remnants that will best be addressed by using oxidizing filters, using water softeners, or using sediment filters.
How to remove iron from water at home
Removing iron from well water at home requires access to easily available materials and avoiding industry-specific techniques. The first and most obvious approach is using sedimentation. This is where you use vessels like pots, large tanks, and pots.
All you need to do is fill water in those containers and give it time for the impurities to collect at the bottom of the container. Without disturbing the settled particles, carefully pour the water into a different container.
This approach’s advantage is cheap availability though you could encounter the challenge of having the particles dissolving back during the transfer.
If you prefer an alternative approach, then activated charcoal is handy. You can get activated charcoal from local stores. The process is simplified by passing water through some clothing material and subsequently through the activated charcoal filter.
What is outstanding about this method is dealing with odors, bad tastes, and removing contaminants from the water. That simple process will ensure that you have clean water cheaply.
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How to remove iron from well water naturally
Are there ways to remove iron from well water naturally? Yes. However, the natural approach you choose to take is highly dependent on your convenience. At the core of naturally removing iron from well water is adding air into the water.
There are diverse approaches you can use to achieve this. The first involves using an aeration staircase where water flows into a waiting container through a staircase. Oxygen is sourced from the atmosphere and is responsible for aeration.
The second way is to use a bottom air diffuser. In the bubble, water is placed on a screen; then, the air is blown from beneath. Subsequently, air escapes from the water by producing bubbles. By so doing, aeration is achieved.
The third approach is the ejector air diffuse. In this method, a pipe is placed inside the water. Air is then injected into the water to initiate the process of aeration.
The final method is using what is called the drip air diffuser. The approach entails a closed tank that has various plateaus, one on top of another.
When water drops from one plateau heading to the next, it encounters an opposite stream of air moving in the opposite direction.
As you have noticed, there are various natural ways to remove iron from well water. What is critical is to be able to deduce the method that is readily available at your disposal.
Subsequently, it is good to select the method that is most convenient for you. In case you are not sure of this, kindly consult our thoughts and the approaches we have detailed above.
In case of any questions or personalized attention, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be more than glad to make the process a roller-coaster for you!
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References
Minnesota Department of Health: Iron in Well Water- https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wells/waterquality/iron.html
