“Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation… even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind” – Leonardo da Vinci
Overview
Dissolved iron (Fe²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺) are naturally occurring metals commonly found in groundwater as it moves through mineral-rich soils and rock formations. Because they are rather closely related heavy metals are often found together. They give rise to similar problems in water supplies, and fortunately, they generally respond to the same treatment processes for their removal. Therefore, they are usually treated as one subject, although, as will be seen, they differ greatly in their chemistry.
Pureflow Treatment Technologies
Oxidation Filtration
Pureflow’s iron and manganese removal system combines NSF‑approved adsorptive media with chemical pretreatment to deliver a compact, low‑maintenance filtration solution requiring minimal operator attention. Raw well water is treated with chlorine to oxidize dissolved iron and manganese into filterable forms while providing a residual for distribution.
The filtration step captures these oxidized contaminants on the media, which is periodically cleaned by backwashing with treated water at less than 2% of flow. Backwash can be discharged or optionally reclaimed at high recovery. The system operates automatically with continuous monitoring to ensure complete oxidation and consistent water quality, supported by PLC-based controls and standby equipment for uninterrupted operation. Pilot testing is recommended to optimize chemical dosing, system sizing, and operating parameters for each water source.
