Iron in water

How does iron get into water?

Natural sources

Iron is one of the most abundant elements in the earth’s crust and the most abundant heavy metal. It is present in the environment mainly as Fe(II) or Fe(III). High concentrations of soluble Fe(II) may often be found in some groundwater sources, lakes or reservoirs in the absence of sulphide and carbonate.

Quick facts

• Canadian guidelines recommend that concentrations of iron in water intended for drinking be kept at levels below 0.3 mg/L (≤ 300 µg/L).
• That objective is purely aesthetic (AO), as iron alters the colour and taste of drinking water.

Why control iron in water?

• Since iron is an essential element in human nutrition and the aesthetic objective is fairly low, elevated iron levels are of concern for reasons not directly related to health outcomes.
• At high concentrations, iron forms a rust-coloured silt in water. 
• Drinking water with high iron content tastes unpalatable and may seem unsuitable for consumption. 
• Water with high iron levels can also stain laundry and plumbing fixtures.The presence of iron in water is also likely to promote the growth of iron bacteria in the water supply system, as iron settles out in the mains and reduces the flow rate through the pipes. 

How can Magnor help?

Magnor provides custom-built turnkey solutions to help lower the levels of iron in water. Whether you’re looking to treat water for iron in municipal or industrial applications, we can customize our technologies to meet your flow rate needs.