Does your water taste metallic or do you notice reddish, rust-like stains?
The culprit for these hard to remove stains or that “off” taste could be due to high levels of iron in your water. Iron water is caused by water passing through iron-bearing rocks. Because iron accounts for 5% of the earth’s crust, it can be found in just about all types of water supplies and in different forms.
The type of iron present is important when considering the type of water treatment solution. Water that comes out of the faucet clear, but turns red or brown after standing is ferrous iron, also referred to as ‘clear water iron’. Water which is yellow or reddish immediately from the faucet is ferric iron, also known as ‘red water iron’. Ferric iron has already oxidized and come out of solution into a particle form.
Iron in water can stain sinks and laundry and form scale in pipes and water-using appliances which leads to clogged filters, pipes and showerheads over time. While you may be able to spot treat iron in your water with an acidic cleaner, the most effective way is with a water softener or specialty filter.