Iron removal filters

Why does rust appear in water and is it harmful?

Rusty stains on plumbing fixtures, strange colour of water, metallic aftertaste, rusty deposits in pots and kettles are all symptoms of iron content in water. Drinking rusty water is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous: it may cause problems with the immune system, skin, tooth enamel and digestion.

Iron occurs in water in different forms and they need to be removed with different methods.

Large particles of rust

Rust is oxidized iron particles. They are visible to the naked eye and at high concentrations give the water a yellowish, reddish or even brown tint. Most often, rust appears in water due to metal pipes corrosion or after water supply networks repair.

Almost any under-sink filter can help you get rid of rust flakes. If there is too much rust and other mechanical impurities, we also recommend installing a pre-filter for water pre-treatment in the whole apartment or house. It will protect your household appliances and plumbing from breakdowns and rusty deposits. Also, cartridges in a drinking water filter will not get clogged too soon with large particles.

Dissolved iron

Water with an excess of dissolved iron looks clear, but after a while it turns yellow, and then a brown residue appears due to the fact that iron is oxidized in air. Despite the benefits of iron found in apples, seafood and other products, its high concentration in dissolved form is dangerous.

Only reverse osmosis filters and special ion-exchange whole-house systems can remove dissolved iron from water.

Colloidal iron

These are very small particles of iron — so small that they do not precipitate but form a suspension. Colloidal iron gives the water a yellow or reddish hue.

This form of iron is completely removed by reverse osmosis systems and partially by adsorption flow-through filters (up to 50%).

What filter for rust removal should you choose?

Below are a few options for purifying tap water with excess iron. These recommendations will help you choose and buy the right filter.

1. Filters for hard and rusty water

Reverse osmosis filters are a universal solution for water purification from rust, colloidal and dissolved iron.

Reverse osmosis is the most efficient tap water treatment technology. It is used by large manufacturers of bottled water, since it allows to remove even difficult-to-separate impurities, like pesticides, chlorine and its compounds, nitrates, nitrites, bacteria and viruses. After deep purification, a quality RO system adds minerals to make filtered water tastier and healthier. Look at the AQUAPHOR RO-101S model: it is more compact, economical, and eco-friendly than its peers in the same segment.

2. Rust and anti-bacterial protection for families with children

Flow-through adsorption filters with hollow fiber (HF) membrane are an alternative to reverse osmosis filters. They remove rust and up to 50% colloidal iron. At the same time, they protect you from bacteria and most impurities in tap water. You can drink purified water without boiling and use it to prepare baby food.

HF membrane has microscopic pores (around 0.1 micron, which is 1000 times less than a human hair width). Neither bacteria nor cysts will pass through. HF membrane is present, for example, in the ECO Pro filter.

3. Budget-friendly pre-filter for large particles

Pre-filter with a polypropylene cartridge retains large particles of rust, sand or silt — just like a sieve with tiny mesh. Pre-filtration cartridge is designed for water treatment in the entire apartment and drinking water filters’ protection (for them not to get clogged with coarse impurities). It also extends the life of household appliances and prevents stains on the plumbing and bathroom surfaces.

4. For a large family or an office

Filters with performance over 10,000 L are suitable for increased water consumption at home or in the office. They will not remove excess minerals (the cause of scale), but they will eliminate the wide-spread harmful impurities, rust and up to 50% of colloidal iron.

Pay attention to cartridge life. For example, if the filter is needed for a cafe or restaurant, where the water consumption is quite high, the Viking pre-filter combined with high-capacity RO-206S specifically designed for HoReCa would be a suitable option.

Please note: no matter which filter for rust removal you choose, the cartridges should always be replaced in time.

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