How do you remove rust (iron) from your water?
A WATER SOFTENER CAN REDUCE IRON TO BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF STAINING, BUT IT CAN NOT TOTALLY REMOVE IT!
Under some circumstances, a water softener will work for a while, but the resin bed will gradually become fouled with iron over months or years, decreasing its efficiency at removing the iron.
To totally remove iron, one must utilize the following: (1) Oxidation and filtration; or (2) Sequestration using polyphosphates.
POLYPHOSPHATES - We will discuss sequestration of iron with polyphosphates first. Sequestration of iron with polyphosphates does not remove it from the water supply, but keeps the iron in solution, so that it does not produce stains. This is often used when individuals or businesses want to keep the iron from staining in irrigation systems. It is accomplished by injecting a small amount of polyphosphate into the water, typically with a chemical injection pump and a solution tank containing a supply of polyphosphate.
However, it is not perfect in removing iron, as evaporation of the water can still leave an iron residue and the iron often precipitates when the water is heated. Results may very dramatically with sequestration, depending upon a variety of factors, not the least of which is water chemistry.
OXIDATION - Almost any concentration of iron can be oxidized by feeding an oxidizer such as chlorine, ozone, pottasium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide or even oxygen into the water supply. The oxidizer reduces the iron to a small particle (precipitate), which is then mechanically filtered from the water, typically by a backwashing filter with a dense media containing carbon or materials.
In my thirty-plus years of experience, I have personally tried every method known to man to remove iron. Today, I primarily use hydrogen peroxide, as it is a much better oxidizer of iron than either chlorine or potassium permanganate and does not leave excess air in the water like oxygen systems. Unlike chlorine, hydrogen peroxide is simply hydrogen and oxygen and produces no harmful chlorination byproducts.
A hydrogen peroxide system consists of a chemical injection pump, solution tank, in-line static mixer, and a backwashing filter to remove the oxidized iron. I prefer the hydrogen peroxide system because it completely removes iron and sulfur with totally predictable results. It is my opinion that other methods are not as predictable or reliable in function. A hydrogen peroxide system will remove 100% of the iron. PERIOD!
For homebuilders that build large custom homes with irrigation systems on iron-bearing waters, the hydrogen peroxide system will totally eliminate any staining in irrigation systems, and throughout the home, for that matter. Additionally, a water softener will not have to work nearly as hard once the iron is completely removed. This is not to say that other methods can't work. I am just stating my opinion based upon my extensive experience in treating problem water.
99 Comments
I have looked for a long time to find someone who sounded like they knew about iron in water. Amazing blog! I have a $4500 coagulation system using alum to remove 12.5 ppm iron with a ph of 7.1 ahead of a two tank water softner. The water softner removes the alum with the iron into our septic tank. After 3 years we are starting to get an orange ring in the toilets. Still test 0.0 iron. Would the H202 system do the job and get rid of the iron and water softner? Dave
Greetings Mark I am interested in the Oxi-5 system for lawn and plant irrigation use. My well water has 1ppm for iron. My questions are what is the capacity in gallons for the Oxi backwashing filter and how many gallons per min. is needed to back wash the filter? Could the hydrogen peroxided treated water cause any discoloration to brick and concrete pavers? Thanks.
James asked: I am planning to have a irrigation system put in this year and dont want the iron staining the house, sidewalk and driveway. I had my well water analyzed and it has 1ppm iron. Based on the tag on the pressure tank, I have a submersible pump at a depth of 140ft, with a capacity of 20 gpm with a horsepower of 1.5 My questions are: based on the submersible pump, would I need the OXI-5 (max flow rate at 20gpm) if I had a zone or zones running at or near 20 gpm? How many gallons can run through the Oxi Backwashing Filter before it needs to get backwashed? How many gallons of water is needed to backwash the Oxi Filter? James, Sorry for the delay in responding, but we installed new servers and our e-mail was not functioning for a few days. Glitches…. In response to your question, in “high flow” situations such as this, I prefer to see a system like the OXi-5 with an additional backwashing OXi filter where it is plumbed into the first filter and then into the second filter. If you are doing irrigation at night, one filter can backwash while the other one still supplies filtered water. The system will work much better and much longer withour maintenance. The Oxi filter backwashes about 90 gallons of water – you have to do that to properly remove the iron. If you do it less and you’ll get iron buildup in the media.
Matt Rousseau asked: We have very bad rust and smell in our water. the softner worked ok by it self for 8yrs or so .before that we used a clorinie system form culligan i will never use asystem from them again!!! i hated it ,i was replaceing bolts , plastic pieces all the time from the clorine eating it. in the last month are softner has not benn getting the job done. looking at the h202 system but dont want to get into the whole replaceing parts thing. Matt, The beauty of the H2O2 system is that IT WORKS and REQUIRES HARDLY ANY MAINTENANCE! We have been using H2O2 systems for over 15 years and have learned what makes them work best. Chlorine is very corrossive and youy can expect to have problems with injection fittings, seals, bolts and the like. Since we use a Stennet Perastaltic Pump and pump H2O2, none of these problems occur. Our systems typically run more than 5 years without maintenance!
Dave asked: I have a $4500 coagulation system using alum to remove 12.5 ppm iron with a ph of 7.1 ahead of a two tank water softner. The water softner removes the alum with the iron into our septic tank. After 3 years we are starting to get an orange ring in the toilets. Still test 0.0 iron. Would the H202 system do the job and get rid of the iron and water softner? Dave, I would use the OXi 5 or 6, but if the water is hard, you will still need a small softener. ALL of your iron will be removed!
Hi Mark, I live in Western PA & I’ve tried your links for additional info but none have worked. Where or who would I contact in order to get one of the Oxi systems? And thank-you Mark, your information has been extremely helpful. sheri Sheri, Have you tried here? https://www.uswatersystems.com/infusion-backwashing-filter-for-iron-sulfur-and-manganese-removal.html
I’m bookmarking this page, and trying to absorb (no pun intended) as much information as possible. My problem: West Virginia well water with rust and sulfur—-particularly sulfur smelly with the hot water. I’m inviting out a local treatment company for their assessment (read: sales pitch) this Friday, and want to be as intelligent as possible in assessing their suggestions. I have a whole-house filtration system (2 omni U-25 filters, 20 mg and 5 mg), plus some kind of interesting system involving 2 large blue tanks (with equally interesting timers on them) and a salt-pellet plastic barrel prior to the hot water heater. I bought this house a few weeks ago, the water tests reveal only that there’s no bacteria. Do I need a water analysis? I KNOW my problem is iron and sulfur-smell (hydrogen sulfide?). I don’t mind paying (a reasonable amount) for supplies (such as Hydrogen peroxide), but I’m not mechanically-inclined, and truly need an idiot-proof (preferably a hands-off) system. I just don’t want to fall for some slick sales-pitch that won’t get rid of the sulfur (ideally, the iron, too, but the sulfur is my higher priority). I have faucet-filter (charcoal) and I use another charcoal filter pitcher for cooking water. Thank you for your input! Julia
I have an H2O2 injection system along with a softener that appeared to be working properly. Then I had a line added between the pressure tank and the softener. Since then, my H2O2 injector pump wants to run continuously. It appears to be powered/controlled from the switch that also controls the well pump. Should the injector run only when the well pump is running or is there something else that tells it when it should run? Any suggestions on what might be telling it to run non-stop? (I have turned it off for the time being…it seems to have pumped a considerable amount of H2O2 into the system). Thanks! George
George, I am not quite sure what you mean when you say you “added a line between the pressure tank and the softener.” Please clarify.
We have a water softener and whole house carbon filter and it’s clearly not enough to remove the iron in the water. We are considering the OXi system but I’d like to get a water test first. What to you recommend to get an unbiased water test? and do iron removing water softener pellets really work?
Ryan, WE offer the best unbiased test in the county, at the lowest price in the country. We have negiotiated a special rate with National Testing Labs and we pass the savings on to you. You can buy it directly from them… at a higher price. Here’s the link: https://www.uswatersystems.com/us-water-lab-water-test.html Iron removing salt pellets help remove a little iron (very little) but really don’t do much. Personally, I think they are a waste of money. They contain a chemical that you can purchase as Iron Out. That is a much better way to go, but to really remove iron, it MUST be oxidized, and the Oxi system does just that.
Hi! I have very high iron in my well water.I have a aquapur water softner and a uv light.I still have rust in my bathrooms and rotten egg odor.I had the anode rod removed and hot water tank chlorinated but it still smells bad. For the high iron I was asked to get a comercial water softner which can cost a lot.I want to use the water for my irrigation as well so I dont know if this is the only method.I was reading about Water D.O.G will it help in a case like ours? The Water Doctor Replied: I generally do not believe it is appropriate to use just a water softener for high iron. What else is in your water? He’s the first thing you should invest in: https://www.uswatersystems.com/us-water-lab-water-test.html P.S. I have tested the Water Dog and I would not use it. Too technical of a solution to a simple problem. Get your water tested and get back to me. Then I can tell your exactly what to do.
I read your article on the best way to remove rust from well water is to use a hydrogen peroxide injector system and I live in Tampa, FL and would like information on whether there are any local dealers? Also, I have seen a “Metalmaster” system on the internet but it does not indicate what the “Metalmaster Media” inside the tank is made of, do you know? The Water Doctor replied: We do not sell through dealers as that would add 60 to 80% more to the cost of the system. We only sell direct. We can help you areange installation, however. We sell a system that is superior to Metalmaster. Here’s the link:https://www.uswatersystems.com/infusion-backwashing-filter-for-iron-sulfur-and-manganese-removal.html
Hi We live in Rural Southwestern Ontario. We have well water and a water softener. Most of the time it has been fine but then for a while we start getting alot of rust in the tubs, toilets, sinks. After 1 shower there are stains on the walls and if I don’t spray it right away after each shower with alot of stain remover chemicals it’s very tough to scrub off. I was reading about the hydrogen peroxide system. Where would we get one? And would we get rid of the water softener? How much are they to purchase and get installed?
Sheri, Here’s the link: https://www.uswatersystems.com/infusion-backwashing-filter-for-iron-sulfur-and-manganese-removal.html You would still need a softener if the water is hard, but it would not use nearly asuch salt.