With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
Clean water is essential for drinking and cooking, but there are other problems related to poor quality water. A prime example is rusty water that leaves stains behind on sinks, tubs, toilets, and other surfaces. These rust stains can be removed, but this process requires a lot of scrubbing with baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar. Regular cleaning is effective, but it doesn’t deal with the underlying problem, and the stains will return. This article will take a closer look at the relationship between water softeners and rust stains.
What is the Cause of Rusty Water Stains?
Rust stains are usually caused by a higher concentration of iron in your water supply. This can be observed in nature when a river in an area with rich iron deposits has a rusty orange color. In our water, the levels of iron can be relatively low, and rust stains are still a possibility. If the iron concentration is 0.3 ppm (parts per million) or higher, you may notice rust stains. For perspective 1 ppm is equivalent to 1 mg (milligram) of iron and that is around the size of a single grain of sand dissolved in 1 L of water.
Where Does the Iron Come From?
Iron is a prevalent metal found in nature, it’s present in the soil, and some areas have richer deposits of iron than others. Water is an effective solvent; it can dissolve many materials, this includes iron, and this changes the makeup of the water. As the water passes through soil and deposits of iron, it’s added to the well and public water supplies. Municipal water users need to understand that hard water minerals and iron are not removed from their water. Another possible cause of rusty water is older iron pipes that are rusting in your home.
How Can I Remove the Rust?
The concentration of iron found in most homes doesn’t represent a threat to the health of people and pets. But, if this situation continues, the rust stains will continue to be a problem, and they can even reduce the value of your home. Another problem is the effect of rusty water on water using appliances which then have a shorter lifespan. Many homes are supplied with hard water that contains elevated levels of calcium, magnesium, and sometimes iron too. The best way to remove iron is to install an ion-exchange water softener that exchanges hard water ions for salt ions (sodium and potassium). If you have high concentrations of iron, a standard water softener system will not make much of a difference. But, there are models that have a dedicated iron filter that can remove the iron for you. These water softeners supply your home with soft and rust free water, which is a win-win solution.
What About Well Water?
If you have a private well, there is a very good chance that it contains higher concentrations of iron. As we mentioned earlier, even small traces of iron can change the appearance and taste of drinking water. The best way to understand the makeup of your water supply is to get it professionally tested. The water testing kits that you can find at many stores are pretty basic, and they don’t give you accurate information. Understanding the alkalinity, temperatures, pH levels, dissolved oxygen, and the type of iron concentrations is important. This information can help you to choose the best filtration and softener systems to remove contaminants.
Water Softeners and Rust Removal
A standard water softener can remove a smaller concentration of iron from the water. But, these systems are less effective when the levels of iron are more significant. When there is a higher concentration of iron in the water, it can degrade the performance and lifespan of the resin media. The excess quantities of iron can slip past the water softener, and you may still experience the effects of iron in the home. So, if you have excessive concentrations of iron, it’s necessary to explore alternative approaches.
When it comes to water softeners, it’s easy to believe that they are all similar. The cheaper softeners found at big box stores are not the same as higher quality softeners. Even a poor water softener installation can affect the performance, efficiency, and longevity of the system. But, when it comes to iron, these differences are even more apparent, and it’s important to choose the correct water softener.
As we mentioned earlier, it is possible to purchase and install a water softener that has a dedicated iron filter. If you already have a water softener and iron has become a problem, it may be a better idea to install a separate iron filter. This will remove the iron and allow the existing water softener to work as intended.
3 Common Iron Types
There are three common types of iron that may be present in well water in various concentrations:
1. Ferrous Iron
This is also known as clear-water iron; it will not affect the clarity of the water, but it can stain fabrics, and it has a rusty iron taste. If your water is clear, but it turns a rusty brown or yellow color after it’s been sitting out in the open for a while, it’s ferrous iron. This iron is fully dissolved in the water, and it passes through most types of water filtration. A water softener can remove low concentrations of ferrous iron, but periodic resin bed flushing is required to protect the system. If you receive soft water, you can add an oxidizing filter to reduce the levels of ferrous iron in your water.
2. Ferric Iron
This is known as red iron, it can make the water a cloudy orange color, and when ferrous iron is oxidized, it becomes ferric iron. This iron produces extensive staining in the home, and it’s a particle that can clog pipes, filters, and other fixtures. Low levels of ferric iron can be reduced with a sediment filter, but some staining may occur, and the water may taste metallic. In this case, a dedicated iron filter should fix the problem.
3. Iron Bacteria
This is a red slime that is often found in toilet tanks, and it is a sign that the well is poorly maintained and essential servicing is required. This is an unusual occurrence, and specific treatment such as chemical injections is required to remove iron bacteria.
If you’re experiencing iron rust stains and metallic tasting drinking water, contact your local water treatment specialist today.