Water that Stains

My hair is orange, my coffee is purple, my white clothes are ruined, and I have red stains in my sinks and toilets — help!

Water Analysis

Red stains – are most often caused by iron (rust) in the water. Testing is needed to determine the amount and the type of iron you have. Iron in water may be: ferrous or ferric. As little as 0.3 parts per million can turn your white clothes a yellow/brown and leave a reddish/brown stain or “slime” in your toilets, tub, shower and sinks. When your water is “hard,” iron stains can be even worse.

Common treatments for iron are: ion exchange water conditioners, oxidizing filters, chemical oxidation with filtration, and aeration with filtration.

Ferrous Iron – sometimes called "clear water" iron, creates a clear solution when it is dissolved in water. This type of iron is generally present when water appears clear at first but develops black or rust colored particles that settle out when allowed to stand undisturbed. These particles develop when the ferrous iron reacts with air, chlorine, or other oxidants to form ferric iron. When the iron concentration is less than 5 parts per million you may solve this problem with a Water Conditioner.

Important note: Some conditioners are far more efficient and effective than others. When the iron concentration is heavy (over 5 p.p.m.) an Iron Oxidizing Filter coupled with a Water Conditioner may be needed. In the worst case scenario (over 15 p.p.m. iron) the Iron Filter may need to be supported by a Chlorinator, Ozone System, or an Aeration System to oxidize the iron and enhance the removal rate. 

Note: Chlorine from the chlorinator is removed by a carbon filter in the final stages of the system (you don’t want to drink chlorine as it’s bad for your health!)

Ferric Iron – often called “red water” iron is insoluble in water. When the water appears “rusty” or has a red or yellow color, it is ferric iron. It is recognized by the red-brown or black particles when first drawn from the tap. Often the most effective method for removing this type of iron is with an Iron Filter. A cartridge type filter is often not a good solution because ferric iron may plug the element too quickly, so you’ll spend lots of extra money on filters and not be happy with your system.

The other method or removal is by feeding a chemical (Chlorine or Ozone) into the water to cause the particles of iron to clump together making them easier to remove. A Chlorinator or other “oxygenator” is often installed before the Iron Filter for this purpose.

Iron Bacteria – are living organisms that feed on the iron found in the water, iron pipes and fittings, etc. They leave a “slime” inside pipes & fittings as well as in your sinks, toilets, shower and bathtub. Occasionally, a slimy growth breaks free to cause discolored water and can, on rare occasions, clog your water system. This type of iron problem is very hard to eliminate. You must kill the bacteria. A disinfection process is required. The most common treatment is Chlorination. A high concentration of chlorine throughout your plumbing system is needed and it may be necessary to feed chlorine continuously to prevent re-growth. I need to mention this once again. . .a Carbon Filter or filters, placed after the Chlorinator will remove the chlorine.

Do You Have Blue or Green Stains on your Fixtures?

The challenge here is either the element copper in your water supply or you have copper pipes and corrosive (acid) water.

Copper Pipes and Corrosive (Acid) Water – When the pH of your water is between 5 and 7 you may raise it by passing the water through a Calcite Filter. By sacrificing calcium carbonate into the water, the pH will be increased and the corrosion will be reduced or halted. If the pH is below 5, in order to raise the pH, chemicals are needed.

The element, Copper – can be removed by a Water Conditioner.

Excess oxygen - If the corrosion is caused by excess oxygen, the hot water will be more corrosive than the cold. Excess oxygen is treated by feeding polyphosphate or silicates into the system to coat and protect the plumbing, or by aerating the water to release the excess oxygen.

Michael Robison is a Water Treatment Consultant with EcoWater Systems, 316 North Main Street, Moscow, Idaho 83843. Michael can be reached at (208) 669-0908 or by email at michaelr@turbonet.com

Water Analysis