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How To Know If There’s Too Much Iron in Your Water? Iron is the second most abundant element, accounting for about 5% of the earth’s crust. Iron is mainly present in water in two forms: either soluble ferrous iron or insoluble ferric iron. Water containing ferrous iron is clear and colorless because the iron is completely dissolved. While a low level of iron isn’t harmful in and of itself, iron in drinking water is classified as a secondary contaminant according to the EPA. Hard water can also impact plumbing efficiency, causing problems in pipes and fixtures that can be costly to repair. Appliances running on hard water lose efficiency over time. Below are some signs around your home, business or RV that can indicate iron in your water. Taste Dissolved ferrous iron gives water a disagreeable metallic taste. When the iron combines with tea, coffee, and other beverages, it produces an inky, black appearance and a harsh, unacceptable taste. Vegetables cooked in water containing excessive iron can also turn dark and look unappealing. Color If your water looks yellow, reddish-orange, or brown, you probably have too much iron in your water. If you have too much ferrous iron, your tap water is first clear and colorless. After standing, reddish-brown particles appear and settle at the bottom of the glass. If your tap water appears rusty or has a red or yellow color and after standing the particles settle to the bottom, you have too much ferric iron in your water. Your water may still be safe to drink, but it will look less appealing. Stains Iron leaves residue behind, staining everything it comes into contact with. Expect dark stains in your shower, toilet and bathtub; orange stains on your plates and cutlery; and dark stains on clothes washed with water containing iron. Pipe Buildup Over time, iron sediment and residue can build up in your home’s pipes and cause clogging or poor drainage. If a pipe clogs badly and requires professional attention or if built-up pressure causes a leak, you may spend a lot of money on repairs. Laundry Stains Yellow, red or brown stains can appear on your clothes if your laundry water contains a high amount of rust bacteria. Dry & Itchy Skin Iron in the water we use to bathe or shower can dry out your skin. Soap and iron don’t always mix well together, so washing with iron-laden water can sometimes leave excess soap residues on the skin that cause dryness and itching. Hair Iron is one of the well water chemicals which impacts hair and can turn platinum or blond hair orange or a horrible shade of rust. Too much iron in the water can also block proper processing of chemical hair treatments such as relaxers, straighteners, perms and highlights. Bacteria Growth Rarely, bacteria known as iron bacteria combine with iron to form rust and bacterial slime. They do not typically cause disease. However, research has shown that the presence of iron in water can promote the growth of bacteria like E. coli. Particularly if you have well water, you’ll want to test your water regularly to make sure it has not become contaminated with harmful bacteria.
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