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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Iron and Manganese in well water

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Keith

09-13-2003 04:27:18




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Our well water orange stains caused by iron and manganese. According to the water test we have .3mg/L maganese and .13 mg/L iron, both relatively small amounts. Should I use an iron filter or a water softener? The water is not very hard so i'm looking for the best and also the cheapest way to get clear water that tastes good and won't stain the toilets. Thank




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jeff

10-02-2003 09:33:13




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 Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to Keith, 09-13-2003 04:27:18  
i have a similar problem. i also have a sulfur smell.
i bought a system that takes out the smell and filters the water. it is electronic and auto backflushes the filter tank every three days while adding 7oz. of bleach and is set to do that at night .
i pipe the backflush water into my sump and pump it outside so it doesn't get into my septic.
i have not had any problems with it and the water is good. it cost me about $1200.

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Scrub

09-18-2003 02:33:31




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 Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to Keith, 09-13-2003 04:27:18  
The Iron in the water will stain fixtures orange. Manganese will stain black. I have a septic system, chlorinated county water, and my wife uses bleach for our laundry. We put some Rid x in the septic every few months but we have been there 8 years and haven't had the tank pumped out yet, so I don't reckon the chlorine has hurt it any. If you do decide on a water softner make sure you get one that has a filter before the softning beads or you can foul them out. But, since you don't have hard water and would need a filter with a softner any way, why not just go with an iron filter and save yourself the hassle of carring 50 lb bags of salt down into the basement? By the way mg/l and ppm are just diffent ways of saying the same thing. For any one that cares: if you dissolved 8.34 pounds of Iron in 1,000,000 gallons of water it would equal 1 mg\l concentration.

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Kent W

09-13-2003 09:41:11




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 Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to Keith, 09-13-2003 04:27:18  
It�s been a few years since I have been in the water quality industry but let me see if I can help. First I am use to PPM (parts per million) but I was able to calculate what your iron level was and would not recommend a softener for your situation as the iron level you have would foul the resin bed. For that you need an iron filter, there are lots of different types but you need to find out weather you have ferric (iron in suspension) or non-ferric (dissolved in the water). Skinners idea would work for the later but requires too much maintenance in my opinion, all you need to do is oxidize the iron and then it can be removed with a sand filter. Ferric iron requires only a sand filter that is backwashed every few days depending on your water usage (how many people are in the house).
As for the manganese an iron filter will not remove it and you will need a softener.
My recommendation is that you contact a couple of local water quality representative and get competitive bids.
Good luck,
Kent

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skinner

09-13-2003 04:49:02




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 Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to Keith, 09-13-2003 04:27:18  
I don't think you need a softener unless you just want one, however installing a chlorine pump and a 5 micron filter will handle the majority of this. First, let me say that the amount of chlorine is so small you will not notice it. The chlorine causes the iron and ferrous metals to oxidize, which makes it larger, then the filter can effectivly catch it. I do it here and have been for about 5 years now. I have to change filters about once per month. If I don't inject chlorine (Diluted clorax) then the filter last for months and months, but then I start getting stains again. Any water softner place can sell you a 15 gallon plastic tank and a medical grade injection pump for a few hundred bucks. I add 1 gallon of industrial clorax to 14 gallons of water, then the pump is adjustable which it only put so many drops in per gallon (cc's or mls).

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ShepFL - Question for Ski

09-13-2003 07:09:08




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 Re: Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to skinner, 09-13-2003 04:49:02  
Do you have a septic tank and drain field? I was raised to NEVER use bleach or chlorine on a septic as it will kill the bacteria that cause the breakdown.

I like your idea and would consider it provided I do not destroy my septic system.

As to a water softener I am considering the IONIZATION systems.



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Skinner

09-16-2003 04:12:16




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 Re: Re: Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to ShepFL - Question for Ski, 09-13-2003 07:09:08  
Shep, yes we have a septic system and it's never hurt it as far as I know. Never smells and works fine. Even in Louisiana where the septic outlet runs into the ditch we never had a problem. There, they inject air into the holding tank to accelerate bacteria growth then discharge the water. It's suppose to be 99.9% clean water and safe to drink (not me). You could tell in a heart beat if you weren't getting enough bacteria because the clear water wouldn't be clear and would smell pretty bad. Even using clorax for Laundry we never had a problem. Also, honestly, I believe that in the application I talking about above, most of the chlorine that is injected is more than likely burned during the oxidation process converting it to consumed/combined chlorine which will not kill bacteria. (That's why you have to shock swimming pools is to convert/add free chlorine because it will not kill bacteria or algea).

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Mattlt

09-15-2003 05:14:12




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 Re: Re: Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to ShepFL - Question for Ski, 09-13-2003 07:09:08  
A bigger problem these days may be all those anti-bacterial soaps on the market. (The little pump jar jobbies that are so handy next to the sink.) It's almost impossible to find a brand that's NOT anti-bacterial.

If it kills the "bugs" on your skin, it will also kill the "good bugs" in your septic system.



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kyhayman

09-13-2003 20:08:53




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 Re: Re: Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to ShepFL - Question for Ski, 09-13-2003 07:09:08  
Shep,

My dad and I each use chlorine at our houses and have septic systems, plus I use it at the farm on 2 tenant houses. Our newest system is 17 years old and none of them get any fancy additives or feeders. None have ever been even pumped much less any fancy repairs. The amount of chlorine is so small in water treatment compaired to the volume of the tank it would take a large amount to kill it out (can be done though. If I remember mircobiology correctly it would take a 50 gallon slug of pure chlorine bleach with no additional water or sewage for 24 hours to kill out a properly funtioning 500 gallon septic tank and a 25 gallon slug to marginalize a tank. People have septic tank probles primarily due to the introduction of non septic compatable papers (like paper towels) the C:N ratio is much higher and that really screws up bacterial populations the use of powerful oxidizers (like ozone in some ionization systems, or large quantities of non chlorine bleach). These allow aerobic poulations to grow and will cause the drain field to act stupid.

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ShepFL - thanks

09-14-2003 16:35:44




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Iron and Manganese in well water in reply to kyhayman, 09-13-2003 20:08:53  
Just a habit I guess I got from my Dad. We have been living without and not really missing it except to clean some stubborns stains (football etc).

My wife will be pleased to know that she can use bleach, she has the most issue with it. She was never exposed to the country till we started dating and got married. She would not trade it for anything now.

Thanks again!



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cannonball

09-14-2003 18:32:43




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Iron and Manganese in well wat in reply to ShepFL - thanks, 09-14-2003 16:35:44  
just add a package of yeast once a month or pour all spoiled milk down the john..oh yes rust stains will be removed easy with a thing called wink.....if u can find it try it..it will just disolve the rust stains...works great on stains on clothes ...have nice day may god bless



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