Quality
Service
Professionalism

Water Treatment Systems

Believe it or not, iron is an all too common problem in wells in the southeast United States. Well-water containing unusually high amounts of iron are particularly a problem in the state of Georgia. With all of the red clay our state is known for, it should be no surprise that Filter Tech of Georgia, inc sells more iron filters than any other.

Most people do not give a second thought to the quality of their water until there is a terrible change in taste or aesthetics. In the case of iron, the symptoms of high levels of iron are relatively easy for most people to identify. Iron often oxidizes causing reddish-brown stains in the bowl and tank of the toilet as well as the walls and fixtures of the tub. Also, it is most unwelcome when it stains the laundry a yellowish color ruining clothes. Iron bacteria can be very destructive, forming sludge that clogs pipes in plumbing, fixtures and appliances like water heaters. Affecting not only the plumbing, bacterial iron is aesthetically undesirable. It often gives water a bad taste and odor as well as discoloration. After sitting for a few minutes, bacterial iron will settle to the bottom of the glass as a reddish-brown sludge.

As the Earth’s fourth most abundant element, iron makes up about 5%of the earth’s crust. It is no wonder iron is often a common problem in water supplies. Iron can be introduced to water in at least two very common ways. First, rain falling from the sky can absorb iron oxides from atmospheric dust as it makes it’s way to the Earth’s surface. Secondly, once on the Earth’s surface, water absorbs carbon dioxide creating carbonic acid, which in turn flows through naturally occurring iron deposits creating dissolved iron in the water supplies. Water can contain iron in many different forms. The approach to treating the iron depends on the type and amount of iron as well as other factors such as pH and hardness.

There are two main elemental states in which iron exists in water, ferric oxide and ferrous bicarbonate. Iron can cycle back and forth between these two states depending on the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the water. Ferrous iron (or ferrous bicarbonate) will typically go unnoticed staying in its dissolved, colorless state until it comes into contact with and absorbs oxygen. Once oxidized, it precipitates as an insoluble substance. This insoluble substance, ferric iron (or ferric oxide), becomes problematic with its tendency to stain and affect taste and odor. Ferric iron, is insoluble in water except in instances when the water is acidic, meaning there is more carbon dioxide and less dissolved oxygen. In this instance, iron is converted back to its more soluble form, Ferrous Iron.

Iron bacteria are a type of bacteria that is found in areas with a lot of vegetative decay. This kind of bacteria uses iron as an energy source. As it grows, it forms a plumbing plugging sludge and is very difficult to remove and treat due to its organic nature.

Well water that is high in iron will typically stay in its clear, ferrous state through the pumping and storage process if the plumbing remains airtight. Once the water comes into contact with oxygen, the iron precipitates into its insoluble ferric state. Usually, this occurs in the bowl of a toilet, coming through the faucet in a sink or shower, or when water is mixed with clothes and detergent in the washing machine. These areas are where iron begins to stain a reddish-brown to yellow color. Water with ferric iron will appear a rust color when the iron is still suspended in the water.

Identifying and treating the different types of iron can be very difficult and should be left to qualified water professionals with experience and access to accurate test information. Approaching the treatment of iron varies depending on the type and the amount of iron in any given sample. Not to mention the relationship iron has with other water qualities such as pH, hardness and total dissolved solids (TDS). Since iron takes so many different forms and since the amount of iron in any one sample can vary, there are many different treatment methods.

Sorry, this page still under construction!!!