Manganese in water
How does manganese get into water?
Natural sources
Manganese occurs naturally in the environment and is present in air, water, and soil. The presence of manganese in water, however, is mainly the result of rock and soil weathering. Manganese is generally more prevalent in groundwater than in surface water.
Industrial sources
The presence of manganese in surface water can be the result of mining, industrial discharges, and landfill leaching.
Quick facts
- According to Health Canada, the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for total manganese in drinking water is 0.12 mg/L (120 µg/L).
- According to Health Canada, the aesthetic objective (AO) for total manganese in drinking water is 0.02 mg/L (20 µg/L).
- Provinces can choose to follow Health Canada’s guidelines for manganese levels or set their own limits.
- Since iron generally co-occurs with manganese in water, it is very common to deal with the two issues at the same time.
Why control manganese in water?
Health considerations
Studies support a link between manganese in drinking water and neurological effects in children. The neurological effects observed in key studies were used to determine the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of manganese in drinking water to protect all Canadians.
Aesthetic considerations
The aesthetic objective (AO) is intended to improve consumer confidence in drinking water quality. Concerns regarding the presence of manganese in water are mainly related to complaints about discoloured water. The presence of manganese oxides gives water a black tint, worrying consumers.
How can Magnor help?
At Magnor, we work with different technologies designed to remove manganese and we can customize our solutions based on your flow rate needs. Whether you’re looking to treat your municipality’s drinking water or your industrial process water, we can provide the custom-built turnkey equipment to help you keep manganese levels under control.