Is it Better to Use Water Softeners or Home Filters to Remove Excess Iron from Tap Water?

Iron is a mineral that human beings need to consume daily for their health. However, too much iron in your water isn’t good. While not harmful, an overabundance of iron in your tap water can cause a metallic taste, and may also cause reddish stains on your laundry. While some consumers believe water filters provide the best solution to eliminating excess iron from drinking water, others prefer water-softening/conditioning systems.

Iron Guidelines

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the present recommended limit for iron in water, 0.3 mg/I (ppm), is based on taste and appearance rather than on any detrimental health effect.

In some cases, iron can exist in concentrations of up to 10 ppm in natural groundwater, but is unlikely to exceed that level under normal circumstances.

The best method for removing iron from your water will depend on how severe the ppm count is in your water.

Water Softeners

Water softeners are also able to remove up to 5 ppm (mg/L) of iron ions that have been dissolved in water. In addition, a water softener can also help remove calcium and magnesium from your water supply, which can reduce the amount of hard water stains and scale that accumulate on your faucets. However, a water softener will only remove iron from water that has a clear appearance. If you pour it into a glass and it looks reddish, you will need to filter it first.

Water Filtration Systems

Some house water filtration systems can clear up to 5 ppm of iron from water, though many can only handle 3 ppm. If a sediment filter is added, the amount of iron removed will increase. In homes where the iron level is 5 ppm and the family consists of four people, the filter will need to be replaced 4 times a year.

Best Practices

If you suspect that your water has too much iron, as evidenced by reddish staining of laundry in your home, you should contact the correct people in your area. First, contact your local utility officials if you use water from a public system to determine if the staining could be due to water line maintenance. In addition, you should contact someone who can test your water, and confirm that iron is the cause of the staining, rather than a microbial bloom.

REFERENCES

Wisconsin DNR: Iron in drinking water
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/iron.htm Advanced Water Filters: Home Water Softening and Water Conditioning Systems
http://www.advancedwaterfilters.com/water-softener.html Media Wave Online: Iron water filter
http://www.mediawaveonline.com/iron-water-filter.php NDSU Agriculture: Treatment Systems for Household Water Supplies
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/h2oqual/watsys/ae1030w.htm


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