Iron & Rust in Your Water
Orange-brown stains on fixtures? Metallic-tasting water? Iron and manganese are common issues in the Rochester area.
Signs of Iron in Your Water
- Orange, brown, or red stains on sinks, tubs, and toilets
- Metallic or bitter taste
- Rusty or discolored water, especially first thing in the morning
- Stained laundry (orange/brown tint on whites)
- Slimy bacterial buildup in toilet tanks (iron bacteria)
Where It Comes From
Iron and manganese are naturally occurring in groundwater and are especially common in well water. They can also enter municipal water through Rochester's aging 550+ miles of water mains as pipes corrode over time.
Solutions
- Water softener — Removes low levels of iron (up to 3-5 ppm) along with hardness
- Iron filter (oxidizing media) — For higher iron levels, a dedicated iron filter oxidizes and traps iron particles
- Sediment filter — Catches rust particles from corroding pipes