Iron Filters

The second most prevalent problem with well water in the lakeland tends to be concentrations of iron dissolved in well water. Typically ARCA has found that well water in the MD of Bonnyville has contained 0.5 - 5 ppm of iron.

If in the low concentration region of 0.5 ppm, a water softener may effectively remove this iron. Over 1.5 - 2ppm, you should consider an iron filter.

Depending on the type of Iron dissolved in your water, it may be necessary to add a filter specifically designed to remove Iron from your water.

The different forms of iron and their treatment is explained below.

Ferrous Iron

This type of iron is dissolved and appears clear out of the tap. At lower levels, it can be removed by ion exchange (ie. Water Softening), at higher levels the ultimate series softener with fine mesh resin can be used, but if iron bleed through occurs (red stains, rusty water, etc.), it must be oxidized and filtered as per ferric red water iron. Oxidization in this case can be accomplished by adding an air injector pump to ensure air will be added to the flowing water. This will provide no restriction to the flow.

Ferric Iron

Ferric Iron occurs once the iron is oxidized and becomes a precipitate. It will appear slightly red or brown when water is poured into a glass. An iron filter will be needed to treat this condition properly.

Heme Iron

This is iron that is bound with organic material (often referred to as tannins). It must be oxidized by chlorine to destroy the bond between the organic material and iron to precipitate the iron out of the water. A chemical chlorine injection pump will be utilized to inject chlorine into a retention tank for adequate contact time that is necessary, since the iron may not precipitate immediately. The water is then run through a zentec hybrid iron and sulphur filter, then a coconut shell carbon filter to remove the chlorine back out of the water. The additional benefit of this system is that you any possible bacteria will be killed by the chlorination process.