My well produces very high iron water. Based on the quotes below from an R.O, supplier, we decided to instead use a multi-phase cartridge filter system for the whole house. It involves a coarse filter, followed by a medium one, and finally a fine filter. These are cleaned and or replaced about every 3-4 months.

âÂÂIt is not recommended that you run anything more than 0.3 ppm of iron or a hardness above 10 gpg into a reverse osmosis system. Although it will remove iron and hardness, these contaminants will plug up the filters very quicklyâÂÂ
âÂÂon average, 1.5 gallons go to drain for each one gallon of clean waterâÂÂ

Here is a link that might be useful: R.O. information

Thanks for your reply. May I ask which system you have? Also do you need a separate water softener to remove the iron? How much do you pay a year in replacing cartridges?

It depends entirely on whether your iron is ferric (particulate) or ferrous (clear-water).

Is your water obviously discolored with particulates in it straight from the tap?

Is your water clear from the tap and then develops color/particulates if allowed to sit for an hour or so?

You mentioned that you had a water test - posting the results will help.

@aliceinwonderland_id,
i have pasted the results. Where is says nn it represents none noted. it might be hard to read but note the first number is the result, the 2nd is national standard and the last number In each row is the min. detected level.

Test results where contamination was detected at or above the min. detection level , but not above the national standard.
Heavy metals: results national standard: Min. detection level
Calcium 153.9 nn 2
Copper . 0.008 1.3 0.004
Magnesium 7 nn 0.1
Potassium 1 nn 1
Silica 15.4 nn 0.1
sodium 46 nn 1
zinc 0.01 5 0.004
Other:
chloride 39 250 5
sulfate 66 250 5
results national standard: Min. detection level
physical factors:
alkalinity (total as CaCO3) 370 nn 20
Turbidity .2NTU 1 0.1

Radiologicals:
Gross beta 4.33PCi/L nn 4

Test results where the contaminant was detected above the standard, which is not an EPA enforceable maximum contaminant level.
Heavy metals: results national standard: Min. detection level
manganese 0.053 0.05 0.004
physical factors:
hardness 410 100 10
TDS 550 1 0.01
(total dissolved solids)

hm I assume it's ferrous since the water does come out clear, BUT I have to say that the water in the toilet for instance is also clear. I will investigate tomorrow when I go to the property if particles develop after leaving out a cup of water for a while and I will let you know. pls let me know what you think regarding results. btw I did not include any results that tested fine. thanks in advance!

No iron analysis?

Well the thing is that I sent Water to be tested that had gone through the water softener instead of the untreated well water (thats how new I am to all this!) It tested at .051 mg/l. I will say however that the clear water has turned yellow with no particles floating. I made sure to take water from well spout. :-)

Btw ph is 6.8

How is the hardness 410 ppm after your softener?

You need a good iron test before any recommendation may be made. A softener can remove ferrous iron, but only up to a point. Anything other than incidental iron really ought to be removed by another method.

can you recommend another method? I suspect the softner was not working as it should hence our need to replace the existing system and better it. I am at a loss as to what system works or not. Do you think it sounds right to drill a new well about 80 ft to get btter water with no iron issues? that is what the kinetico sales guy told me. He guarantees no iron in the system for at a year so if he drills us a new well he can then sell us the whole house R.O system and we would need no pretreatment....

It is almost always less expensive to fix the water you have, than to drill a new well (which will in all likelihood, need treatment, as well)