Have you ever seen well water turning into yellowish colors? It’s the presence of iron minerals in the water. Though iron helps our body for growth and development, consuming it in this way is not feasible at all. Water needs to be pure and odor-free. We need water every day, and therefore, it is necessary that you know the cheapest way to remove iron from well water.
There is no existence of life without water, and well water is the major source from which you can get drinkable water at no cost. But it needs to be clear from all impurities, including iron, which is one of the most abundant minerals having its presence on earth.
If your main source of water comes from the well, you need to read this article to the end so that you can have clean water for drinking and for other uses.
Be aware that consuming water that even has a small concentration of iron is damaging for your well-being. It changes the water properties, creating a bad odor and changing the taste and color.
In addition, iron in water will corrode supply lines and cause stains on chrome and fixtures.
Above all of that, the Minnesota Department of Health states that the presence of iron bacteria may create a condition for other disease-causing organisms to grow.
All these reasons led us to think of ways to remove iron from well water and that too in a budget. So, without a minute more, let’s get to know the effective methods to get rid of iron once and for all and save your home from getting those brown and yellowish stains all over the place.
How to remove iron from well water on a budget?
Iron can be removed from well water in a variety of ways, including with the use of oxidation filters and water softeners. But these methods may not lie within your budget. Given that, there are a few low-cost ways to get the job finished efficiently. Not many talks about these methods, but we will let you know for sure.
Sedimentation
Starting with the method that costs you nothing but your time only. Sedimentation is a process in which you pour the water into a large vessel or a bucket and leave it there for a few hours. The particles present in the water will settle down at the bottom.
The next step is to extract the water from the bucket into a separate tank, but you need to be careful that impurities do not get dissolved back into the water.
If you are ready to spend a few bucks, go for sediment filters. They will do the job much easier. However, sediment filters only work best in removing insoluble iron.
Activated charcoal
Another effective method to remove iron from well water is to use activated charcoal. It doesn’t cost you a lot, as you can easily make activated charcoal at home.
This technique works best for a small quantity of water. It acts as a filter and helps you eliminate impurities from water. Cover the charcoal in a piece of clothing and pass water through it. That’s all you are required to do to apply this method.
Chlorine
It takes time, but it’s an effective, easy, and cheap solution when it comes to removing iron from well water. Chlorination helps clean water from all kinds of impurities, given that you have used the right quantity.
Other advanced methods to remove iron from well water
The techniques mentioned above are low cost, but they are no less when it comes to effectiveness. If applied the right way, removing iron from well water is going to be simple.
However, there will be cases where you will have a high concentration of iron present in water, and cheap ways won’t work out. In that scenario, you must know other techniques as well. Fortunately, there are other ways as well, and they require a bit of capital.
Water softeners
Using a water softener for this purpose is the most common method used all over the world. As the name implies, it makes hard water soft by removing minerals from water in addition to clearing water from iron.
Knowing whether the well water is hard or soft will also help you take appropriate measures accordingly because water softeners may not work effectively if it contains a high level of iron.
Oxidation and filtration
It might cost you more than other methods, but it works great. For that reason, this process is normally used at large-scale water treatment plants.
The oxidation phase involves converting the soluble iron into the insoluble form so that it becomes easy to remove. It can be done in different ways that include air oxidation, use of chemicals, and use of oxidizing agents.
The second stage involves filtration, where the insoluble iron is separated from the water. Remember, you need a good quality filtration system to make this method work.
Pasteurization and reverse osmosis filtration are more advanced methods, but they are the most expensive as well.
Why is water testing necessary?
Before you apply any of the methods to clear water from iron, it is necessary that you get the water tested. It is because you will get to know the exact level of iron present in the water.
Not all methods work for all levels of iron concentration. Therefore, once you get the water tested, you will have the figure based on which you will be able to take the right steps.
You can carry out a visual test, use test kits, or go for laboratory testing; knowing the actual concentration level is crucial.
Conclusion
Affecting skins, creating plumbing issues, stains, and bad odor, there are multiple reasons the presence of iron is unacceptable in well water. Given the daily use of water, we cannot leave it as it is, but spending huge bucks is also not a feasible option, especially when you don’t have the resources.
Luckily, there are cheap ways to eliminate iron from well water. From using the activated charcoal to applying the segmentation method, multiple ways can be utilized at a time for better results.
However, it is suggested that you get your water checked, then implement the right procedure, and enjoy iron-free water.