Iron and Manganese Removal
Effects of Iron and Manganese in Well Water:
- Discoloration: Initially, the water might appear clear, but upon exposure to air, iron oxidizes, turning reddish-brown. Manganese can cause black staining.
- Staining: Laundry, dishes, and plumbing fixtures can develop stubborn stains due to iron and manganese.
- Metallic Taste: Consuming water with high iron or manganese levels can impart an unpleasant metallic taste.
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Clogged Pipes: High levels can lead to sediment build up and clog pipes, reducing water pressure.
Here's a breakdown of iron and manganese levels in well water, considering both aesthetic concerns and potential health effects:
Iron:
- Low: Less than 0.3 mg/L (milligrams per liter) -
- Moderate: 0.3 mg/L - 1.0 mg/L
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High: Greater than 1.0 mg/L - Can lead to noticeable reddish-brown staining and a metallic taste.
Manganese:
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- Low: Less than 0.05 mg/L -
- Moderate: 0.05 mg/L - 0.5 mg/L -
- High: Greater than 0.5 mg/L - Can lead to noticeable black staining and potential health concerns with long-term exposure,
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- Indicative Values as Safe Limits: The EU provides these indicative values for specific parameters, including iron (0.2 mg/L) and manganese (0.05 mg/L). These values are considered safe for adults from a health perspective
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Choosing the Right Treatment:
The best treatment for your well water depends on factors like:
- Severity of Iron and Manganese Levels: Water test results will determine the level of contamination and guide treatment selection.
We offer treatment options for low/moderate to high levels of iron and manganese in your well water
Low to Moderate
Lewatit S1567 is a specific type of ion exchange resin used in water treatment applications.
- Designed to treat very hard water and low-moderate Levels or iron and manganese.
Crystal Right is a brand of synthetic zeolite media specifically designed for treating well water. It comes in two main varieties: CR100 and CR200. These media are used in to address various iron, manganese and hard water .
- Iron and Manganese Removal: Both CR100 and CR200 can remove iron and manganese from well water, with capacities suitable for mild to moderate levels (generally iron up to 5 ppm and manganese up to 2 ppm).
- Hardness Reduction: CR200 has a higher capacity for hardness removal compared to CR100. CR100 might offer some initial softening but reaches its limit faster.
- Both CR100 and CR200 require a minimum pH of 6.0 for optimal performance in removing iron and manganese. Lower pH levels can hinder their effectiveness.
Pyrolox is a granular water filtration media that is used to remove iron, hydrogen sulfide, and manganese from well water. It is a naturally mined manganese dioxide that is processed and manufactured for use in water treatment applications.
- Iron: Pyrolox is generally effective for iron concentrations up to 5 ppm (mg/L).
- Manganese: Similar to iron, Pyrolox can address some manganese, but its capacity is lower. Suitable for moderate manganese levels, below 2 ppm (mg/L).
Moderate High to High
Ecomix C is a multi-component filtration media designed for treating problem well water in backwashing filtration systems. Here's a breakdown of its key features and capabilities:
- Hardness: Ecomix C can remove hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium, softening your well water.
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Iron and Manganese: It effectively addresses iron and manganese contamination, often exceeding the capabilities of single-purpose media. Maximum levels for effective treatment are:
- Iron: Up to 15 ppm (mg/L)
- Manganese: Up to 3 ppm (mg/L)
- Organics and Tannins: Ecomix C can also remove naturally occurring organic matter and tannins, which can discolor water and interfere with disinfection processes.
Katalox Light is a highly regarded water filtration media specifically designed for removing iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide from well water. Here's a breakdown of its functionalities and advantages:
- Iron: Katalox Light excels at removing dissolved iron, particularly effective for iron concentrations up to 100 mg/L (ppm). This surpasses the capacity of many other commonly used media.
- Manganese: It also effectively addresses manganese contamination, potentially handling levels up to 20 mg/L (ppm), significantly exceeding the capabilities of single-purpose media.
- Hydrogen Sulfide: Katalox Light can remove dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas, eliminating the unpleasant rotten egg odor often associated with well water.
Feature | Katalox Light | Crystal Right CR100 | Crystal Right CR200 | Ecomix C | Pyrolox |
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Primary Function(s) | Iron, Manganese, Hydrogen Sulfide Removal | Iron, Manganese Removal (limited hardness) | Iron, Manganese Removal (improved hardness) | Hardness, Iron, Manganese, Organics Removal | Iron, Manganese, Hydrogen Sulfide Removal |
Iron Capacity (ppm) | Up to 100 | Up to 5 | Up to 10-15 | Up to 15 (for iron ochre) | Up to 5 |
Manganese Capacity (ppm) | Up to 20 | Up to 2 | Up to 2-3 | Up to 3 | Up to 2 |
Hardness Reduction | No | Limited | Improved | Yes | No |
Working Mechanism | Catalytic Oxidation | Ion Exchange | Ion Exchange | Multi-stage: Ion Exchange, Filtration | Catalytic Oxidation |
Advantages | High capacity for iron, manganese, H2S, single media for multiple contaminants | Simple regeneration, good for mild iron/manganese | Better hardness reduction than CR100, good for moderate iron/manganese | Treats hardness, iron, manganese, organics, handles fluctuations | Long lifespan, good for iron/manganese, H2S removal |
Disadvantages | Requires proper system design, might need oxidant enhancement | Limited hardness reduction, lower capacity for iron/manganese | Not ideal for very hard water | Specific feed water requirements, complex for some contaminants | Requires proper pH level (min. 6.0) |
Suitability | Well water with high iron, manganese, H2S | Well water with mild iron, manganese | Well water with moderate iron, manganese, hardness | Well water with hardness, iron, manganese, organics | Well water with iron, manganese, H2S (considering pH) |