Iron Removal
Iron
- Causes stains and fouling
- Difficult to treat because of the different forms
Three main types:
- Ferrous – Clear water iron
- Ferric - Red water iron
- Iron Bacteria
Ferrous Iron (Clear Water Iron)
- Not visible in poured water
- Normally found in deep aquifer wells with no oxygen
- Reacts to form ferrous ions
- Treatment includes ion exchange and oxidizing filters
Ferric Iron (Red Water Iron)
- Ferrous iron which is oxidized
- As Carbon dioxide leaves water it reacts with the remaining oxygen to form ferric ions
- Oxidized particles are visible in poured water
- Treatment includes filtration
Iron Bacteria
- Slime deposits in toilets
- Bacteria in water consume iron particles causing biofouling
- Biofouling can affect aquifers, pumps, piping and treatment devices
- Treatment process includes chlorinating well or chlorinating, retention and filtration