Iron In Tampa Water & Rusty Stains

Iron is a nutrient that all bodies need to function. But it is also bad for your health if ingested in high doses.

The EPA considers iron a secondary contaminant, meaning it does not have a direct impact on your health as other dissolved solids such as lead. Because of this, your well water might have a higher amount of iron than the federal standards allow, however, it may not be enough to harm you. It can, however, wreak havoc on your home, causing costly damages and stains.

Understanding the different types of iron found in Tampa's water, their potential impacts, and effective solutions can help homeowners mitigate damage and maintain a clean, pristine living environment.

Red Iron

Ferric “insoluble” iron is visible to the naked eye and can cause a number of issues with your home, as well as in your food and drink. Red water iron can be removed by a water softener, but a more common treatment is an iron filter, which Culligan offers as a part of its whole home solutions. The state-of-the-art Iron-Cleer® water conditioning system solves iron and rust staining, leaving you with nothing but clean water in your sinks, fixtures, dishes and clothes.

Clear Iron

Ferrous “soluble” iron is an invisible dissolved solid that can appear after coming out of your faucet. This type of water is low on oxygen and typically comes from deeper wells and groundwater sources.

The most common way to treat clear iron is with a Culligan Water Softener, which can remove clear-water iron through ion exchange, particularly if your home’s water supply has a low pH. Other options, such as chlorination and manganese greensand filtration require maintenance and the proper amount of pressure.

Organic Iron

Generally, organic iron is pure iron combined with any dissolved organic matter in the water, such as tannins. A tannin is a biomolecule produced by vegetation that stains liquids, including tea and coffee. When tannins react with water containing iron, it creates a black residue. This usually occurs in shallow wells that are affected by groundwater.

Iron Bacteria

Iron bacteria are naturally occurring organisms in soils and groundwater that feed off iron, leaving waste deposits. They leave behind a dark sludge that sticks to pipes and fixtures, particularly in your water and toilet tanks and plumbing fixtures. The microorganisms also can lead to bad tasting and odorous water. You can physically remove the sludge from your toilet tank or use “shock” chlorination methods, but this is merely a temporary solution. The only way to reduce the amount of iron bacteria is to reduce the amount of iron itself.

Iron can invade your well water through several natural and environmental processes:

Collectively, these factors can result in elevated levels of iron in well water, leading to various issues such as staining, metallic tastes, and potential damage to plumbing and appliances.

Laundry Stains – Yellow, red or brown stains can appear on your clothes if your laundry water contains a high amount of rust bacteria.

Ceramic/Porcelain – Iron can create stains in your sinks, toilets and tubs that are tedious and difficult to remove. Common home remedies include lemons/lemon juice, vinegar and baking soda, but these solutions are temporary and don’t take care of iron at the source.

Clogging – Iron can clog anything from wells and pumps to dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances and accessories. This requires expensive and time-consuming repairs or replacements.

Iron in your home water supply can lead to a variety of issues that affect not only the quality of your water but also the integrity of your plumbing and appliances. Here are some of the harmful effects of iron in your home:

Fixtures and Surfaces: Iron can cause unsightly rust stains on sinks, toilets, tubs, and other ceramic or porcelain fixtures. These stains are difficult to remove and often require special cleaning agents or extensive scrubbing.

Clothing: Laundry washed in iron-rich water can become discolored, leading to rust stains on clothes, which may be permanent.

Metallic Taste: If you’ve ever noticed a metallic taste in your water, it’s probably from an excess of iron. This offensive taste can ruin a good cup of coffee, tea and other home beverages produced from tap water. Food, particularly vegetables, can also absorb the taste of iron water, causing it to taste different.

Clogging: Iron can accumulate in pipes, wells, and pumps, leading to clogs and reduced water flow. This can result in expensive repairs or the need to replace plumbing fixtures and appliances, including dishwashers and washing machines.

While iron is not considered a harmful contaminant in small amounts, excessive levels can lead to health concerns, particularly for individuals with certain medical conditions. For example, those with hemochromatosis (a condition where the body absorbs too much iron) should be cautious about iron levels in their water.

If you use well water with high iron content to irrigate your lawn or garden, it can lead to staining on patios, sidewalks, and other hardscape areas, impacting the aesthetics of your property. Excess iron can alter the pH of the soil, affecting plant health and growth. It can lead to nutrient imbalances, as certain plants may struggle to absorb essential nutrients.

Appliances that rely on water may work less efficiently due to iron buildup. This not only affects performance but can also lead to higher energy costs, as these appliances may require more energy to operate effectively.

While you can spot treat iron in your water chemically, the most common and effective way to address this problem is with a water softener or special filtration system.

Softeners and filters work by removing dissolved solids, like iron, calcium, and magnesium, that make water “hard.” This process varies between filters and softeners, but typically uses a resin bed that traps harder minerals and trades them out for another, softer substance — usually sodium. What’s left is cleaner, better-tasting water that works harder around your home.