We have a lot of iron in the water (very common in my area). In 23 yrs. we've "dealt with it" (regularly clean the screens on the hoses to the washer, irrigation, foregone white shirts/sheets/slipcovers, and do the CLR thing on the fixtures in the johns, etc.). We got a price for a treatment system about a month ago... I almost fell over, just under 4K. Treatment involves 2 tanks, a salt catalyst that must be replenished periodically (for us, every 2 mos.), and the used brine is discharged into the septic system. Should we be concerned about discharging brine into the tank? will it wreck the whole bio-system that is supposed to take place in the tank?
Iron rich water
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There's a lot of debate on whether the discharge will foul your leach bed over time or not. I plan to be in my new house for a long time, so I'm putting in a separate dry well for that. The people selling the system will likely want to put it in your septic because: 1) it's easier, and 2) it doesn't add to the cost of an already (as you mentioned) expensive system.
I also chose not to put it into my footing drains because I'd really hate to have a problem with them 20 years from now.
I had very high iron and moderate hardness. Some people would say: "I grew up in a house with high iron. We just drank it." Well, this was like sucking on a piece of angle iron. In the shower you smelled iron the whole time.
The iron-free, softened water is great. My skin feels so much better. I'm still thinking of adding a filter for my drinking water, but I have more reading to do on that.
My system sounds different. Mine back flushes and regenerates the media every four days. It takes about 100 gallons (!) to flush. You can see the iron oxide when it starts flushing. I go through a fair amount of salt - maybe 80 pounds a month.
This system was around 2k installed. If you want more details let me know. Otherwise there was some good info from other forum members in that thread above.
I also chose not to put it into my footing drains because I'd really hate to have a problem with them 20 years from now.
I had very high iron and moderate hardness. Some people would say: "I grew up in a house with high iron. We just drank it." Well, this was like sucking on a piece of angle iron. In the shower you smelled iron the whole time.
The iron-free, softened water is great. My skin feels so much better. I'm still thinking of adding a filter for my drinking water, but I have more reading to do on that.
My system sounds different. Mine back flushes and regenerates the media every four days. It takes about 100 gallons (!) to flush. You can see the iron oxide when it starts flushing. I go through a fair amount of salt - maybe 80 pounds a month.
This system was around 2k installed. If you want more details let me know. Otherwise there was some good info from other forum members in that thread above.
I'm still very happy that the iron/mang/sulfur stains and odors are gone. Happy that it was so cheap, happy not to deal with salt, and happy that I piped the backwash water away from the septic system. Water softeners are fine for hard water and a little bit of iron/mang but if you have even moderate iron then you need to remove iron separately from softening.
I do not have hard water so I only deployed iron removal. I chose a manganese oxide filter which is common in municipal systems.
I do not have hard water so I only deployed iron removal. I chose a manganese oxide filter which is common in municipal systems.
Ugh. I need to do something too. Have been using the green pellets in our softener but doesn't seem as effective anymore. Really hate having to feed this thing so much salt, and putting so much salt out in the yard. Of course using bleach or chlorination sounds worse to me. Do they have iron filters that use non-hazardous stuff?
Of course. My manganese oxide uses nothing but the natural oxidation potential in the water. In a utility application I add chlorine ahead of the mangox to improve efficiency but at my home system I add no salt or that old school purple potassium permanganate.
There are also aeration systems. All you're trying to do is oxidize the dissolved iron/manganese into a particulate which can then be filtered out. The reason that the iron stains your shower is that the water is aerated upon exit from the faucet and the iron/mang wants to fall out of solution which it does onto your white surface.
I switched to a metered valve (Fleck 5600sxt, I believe) about 9 months ago, and my salt consumption went down very significantly (about 3/4). The old one, (also a Fleck), recycled on schedule, no matter how much water went through it. The new one recycles according to amount of water used (metered).
Was using 40# a week. Now less than that per month.
As usual, the responses have been most helpful. I reread the linked thread several times over and then did some independent polling of people I know locally who face the very same issue. One is a co-worker of the helpmeet who's been through 4 (count 'em!) filtrations systems over the years and has a dreadful problem with his well water. He recommended another local firm and we have an app't. with the guy for January 7th.. All polled raised their eyebrows at the price we were quoted, which is not say it isn't justified, but when many react similarly it's time to sit up and take notice. Thanks again and I'll let you know what we opt to do.
I didn't talk price in my reply Bobbin but I installed my iron removal system for just over 1000$ as I recall. Maybe 1200$? Your price quote of 4k$ soudns very high but then again we do not know how much iron you are dealing with or the specifics of your plumbing install. There are some variables.
How are you all testing your water? Is something like this accurate? http://www.amazon.com/Watersafe-WS4...PDO8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419637440&sr=8-1
Those tests are horrible. There are labs that can do it or you can send a sample to some companies for a free breakdown. I've even had good luck taking fresh, cold, samples to a good pool supply place.
http://www.cleanwaterstore.com/water-testing.html
You can do professional tests, but they are costly enough.
Local water companies will often come over and test everything for $85 (round here), then credit that money to your system. Not a bad deal really. Depends what you have to test for.
You can do professional tests, but they are costly enough.
Local water companies will often come over and test everything for $85 (round here), then credit that money to your system. Not a bad deal really. Depends what you have to test for.
Search around on that site and you will find that they will test your water for free. Great company.
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