IronandManganeseRemoval-MRWA.pdfVIP

Iron and Manganese Iron and manganese control is the most common type of municipal water treatment in Minnesota. Iron and manganese occur naturally in groundwater. Neither element causes adverse heath effects at concentrations typically found in Minnesota. These elements are, in fact, essential to the human diet. Water containing excessive amounts of iron and manganese can stain clothes, discolor plumbing fixtures, and sometimes add a “rusty” taste and look to the water. Surface water generally does not contain large amounts of iron or manganese, but iron and manganese are found frequently in water systems that use groundwater. The Safe Drinking Water Act secondary standards (aesthetic, not health related) for iron in drinking water is 0.3 parts per million (ppm) and 0.05 ppm for manganese. If water contains more than 0.05 ppm iron, or 0.01 ppm manganese, the operator should implement an effective hydrant-flushing program in order to avoid customer complaints. BACTERIA AND IRON AND MANGANESE Iron and manganese in water also promote the growth of bacteria (including iron bacteria). These organisms obtain energy for growth from the chemical reaction that occurs when iron and manganese mix with dissolved oxygen. These bacteria form thick slime growths on the walls of the piping system and on well screens. These shines tend to be are rust-colored from iron and black-colored from manganese. Variations in flow can cause these slime growths to separate from pipe walls, resulting in dirty water in the system. The growth of iron bacteria can be controlled by chlorination. However, when water containing iron is chlorinated, the iron is converted from the ferrous state to the ferric state--in other words, rust--and manganese is converted into black manganese dioxi