Why pipes are rusty water. How to clean rusty water

A Russian consumes about 250 liters of liquid daily, which is 1,700 cubic meters per year. Life-giving moisture, responsible sanitary requirements, should be transparent, tasteless and odorless, it should not have sediment. The level of concentration of mineral salts and other additives in drinking water is regulated by the standards of the Russian Federation, developed on the basis of WHO recommendations.

Rusty water from a well appears for many reasons.

The level of its quality has long worried society. According to the Ministry of Health, a third of the samples are hazardous to health according to various indicators. In half of the open reservoirs and a quarter of the underground, the liquid does not meet the requirements. Due to the critical shortage of drinking fluids, WHO periodically lowers its standards.

Types of wells

Such a deplorable situation makes one look for alternative sources water supply. Imi in country houses and countryside are wells and wells.

The quality of the liquid taken from them directly depends on their type. If rusty water comes from a well, you must first find the causes of the phenomenon and find a way to get a clean liquid. There are the following types of wells:

  • sandy;
  • artesian.

When drilling sand wells, they reach a depth of 30 meters, it can be deeper, it depends on the geological features of the area.

Due to the fact that the soil consists of horizontal layers of soil itself, crushed stone or sand, water-resistant clays, water in sand well comes from the upper aquifer. Very often in such cases wells goes rusty liquid and you need to decide what to do in this case.

The depth of artesian wells can reach 200 meters. Water in this case is taken from deeper layers under pressure. Accordingly, the quality of the artesian is higher and they rarely give rusty water. There are also several types of water located in the layers of the earth. This is:

  • upland waters;
  • ground;
  • artesian.

Each of these species has its own characteristics and pollution, and impurities penetrate into them in different ways.

The horse fluid is in upper layers soil and is formed by atmospheric precipitation. It concentrates chemical substances, washed off the soil surface, human and animal waste. This liquid is not suitable for consumption and is cut off during the construction of wells.


When selecting ground water you can often get rusty life-giving moisture

Ground water is located at a depth of up to 10 meters on the first layer. When it is selected, we often get a rusty liquid in the well. It is less affected, but in some cases its selection is also impossible with a high level of pollution of the area or the location of wells in the place of active discharge of polluted waters.

Well water quality

The well has been drilled and equipped, but a liquid with a brownish sediment and a ferrous taste may come out of the tap. Such a liquid is called rusty. When boiled, a brown film forms on its surface.

The appearance of a “beautiful” color from a tap is a common phenomenon. This is due to the fact that iron is the second most common metal in nature. It dissolves quickly in water and accepts a variety of compounds. Often rust is due to the presence of ferruginous ores in the earth.

Does it pose a danger high level iron compounds in water Reports from the World Health Organization indicate that most of these compounds are not hazardous to health. The critical level of iron in water is 2 mg/L. Such water looks like weak tea with a pronounced glandular taste and smell. At the expense of more pronounced ferruginous compounds in water, there are no laboratory data on their effect on human health.

Low taste qualities"rusty water" forces their owners to look for ways to eliminate this problem.

In wells, the level of ferruginous compounds is lower. This is explained by the fact that it is destroyed in well water due to the contact of a wide water surface with oxygen. But it doesn't always work. Very often, in areas of large cities, water in wells, especially shallow ones, is not suitable for use due to the critical level of iron.

What to do if rusty water comes out of the well?

First you need to do a laboratory analysis of the liquid and determine the type of iron. It could be:

  • trivalent;
  • divalent;
  • colloidal;
  • bacterial nature.

The rusty liquid we can see is trivalent, colloidal, or soluble iron. Trivalent iron falls into sediments during settling, colors the water. Ferrous iron does not color water, but falls into precipitation.

Colloidal iron stains water yellowish, does not precipitate. Iron oxides are knocked out of the rock mass and stored long time in well water due to the lack of oxygen there. Iron can also end up in water due to the activity of micro-organisms that consume iron. There may also be some other reasons for the appearance of iron in the well.


Deterioration of the pipeline - the cause of rusty water

Pipeline wear should also be considered as a cause of iron in the water. In this case, the destroyed iron of the pipes is washed out with liquid. The first way to get a clean fluid from an existing well is to clean it up.

Water purification methods

Why does rusty water come out of the well - the answer to this question will be the selection of water from seams containing ferruginous ores: in old wells, water almost always has a high iron content

To remove impurities, there are methods for removing iron from drinking water. They use or don't use chemical reagents. Most in a simple way is oxygen saturation.

With this type of purification, the liquid settled in the tanks is exposed to oxygen through forced air blowing through the water. Aquarium compressors may be suitable for these needs, if the intake is small, for large volumes, fish farm compression devices can be used. These devices are comparable to conventional pumps in terms of power.

The purification cycle can last from several hours to several days. Oxidizing agents are used to speed up the reaction. This is:

  • chloride compounds;
  • oxygen;
  • potassium salts.

These agents simultaneously disinfect the liquid, but can also impair its taste or harm the human body.

Another method of purification that flows from the well, which is quite expensive, is filtration according to the catalytic oxidation method using a manganese dioxide reagent.

It is also possible to clean rusty water from a well by installing non-reagent filters. These filters can work by oxidizing iron and binding it, removing oxides using polymer membranes, electrolytic deposition, and purifying liquids using filter cartridges made of cellulose or other artificial materials.

The effectiveness of such filters is insufficient in cleaning liquid with organic iron - it surrounds the granules of the filtered substance with a shell that neutralizes the effect. The method does not work well with a high iron content in the liquid, the presence of compounds such as lignins.

Also known ion-exchange method of purification from iron compounds. It is based on the use of artificially created ion exchange resins binding iron salts. This method is able to purify the liquid from high concentrations of ferrous iron. But the presence of a complex of contaminants in the water from the wells makes this method of purification rather problematic.

The industry creates special filters for water purification from iron, which use various catalysts for purification and also remove salts of heavy metals from the liquid (Atoll, Aquaphor). The selection of filters is carried out individually for each case based on laboratory readings and well thickness.

Conclusion

What to do if rusty water flows from the well:

  • regularly analyze the fluid taken from a well or well, taking into account seasonal changes in the soil due to snowmelt;
  • conduct a soil analysis on the site, if possible, using specialized specialists;
  • based on the analysis, determine the composition of filters and devices that will purify the liquid from ferruginous impurities - it is advisable to include ion-exchange installations, mechanical filters, transducers based on electromagnets in the complex of devices;
  • conduct economic evaluation cleaning activities.

If the costs are too high and the cost of the exiting fluid is not economically feasible, then drilling the well to higher horizons should be considered.

An orange stream carelessly flowing from a faucet after summer renovation probably everyone has seen it. But does everyone think about what is dangerous rusty water and how, in general, appears in our homes?

Of course, the appearance of rust in water is reflected not only in the service life household appliances(washing and dishwashers), appearance of a person, his nails, hair and skin, but also the state of his internal organs and systems, which is the most threatening in itself.

Where does it come from?

It is important to note that the cause of rust can only be determined after a professional diagnosis of the water provided to the laboratory. It is by no means possible to draw unequivocal conclusions about the fault of the city water treatment system, as well as rust-covered pipes. It is most likely that the water source from which water is taken for needs is to blame. locality utility services. As a rule, they have a high content of ferrous iron, which oxidized during the delivery of water to the consumer. But the presence in the network of bacteria that oxidize iron to oxides of higher valences is not excluded.

What do SanPiN say about this?

Compliance legislation sanitary regulations handles this matter carefully. According to regulations, the maximum iron content in drinking water should be less than 0.3 mg/l. At the same time, it is not necessary to talk about the fulfillment of these standards, because only after the concentration exceeds 1 mg / l, the water begins to acquire a characteristic shade, and at 10 mg / l it becomes almost orange. Thus, one can mentally estimate how efficiently the iron removal station works and.

Why is rusty water dangerous for the body and equipment?

If we recall biology, chemistry and biochemistry, we can conclude that when taken orally dangerous rusty water only for certain categories of citizens and children. For the vast majority, such indiscretion threatens with a sensation of a characteristic aftertaste in the mouth and intestinal disorders. Although it is impossible to exclude the accumulation of iron compounds inside, which will lead to the development of hormonal disorders, deterioration of the teeth, skin and hair loss. In some cases, sensitization and further allergic reactions are possible.

As mentioned above, rust can appear as a result of the vital activity of microorganisms that can harm not only pipes, but also humans. The increased content of oxidized iron will sooner or later lead to clogging of water pipes, a decrease in their internal diameter, and then a decrease in productivity. Sometimes a blockage causes accidents and ruptures. Cleaning in such cases is practically useless, the problem is “treated” by the complete replacement of the unusable area.

Such water brings even more trouble to household appliances, plumbing, dishes and polished surfaces. It manifests itself in the form of brown spots, as well as raids on heating elements. and thorough cleaning classical means do not bring a tangible effect, it is much more effective to use filters that trap iron compounds.

What filters to buy?

First of all, if the pollution is significant, you should take care of the filter coarse cleaning. Since without it, other cleaning systems will be ineffective and will not serve the declared resource. One such installation for each type of pipe (hot/cold) will last up to 30 years.

The best way to forget what is dangerous rusty water, complexes with ion-exchange resins or working on the principle are suitable.

With water flowing from the faucet Brown, are faced not only by apartment owners who serve public utilities, but also by owners of private houses with an individual well. How to clean rusty water, you need to know in order to ensure your comfort in everyday life, if such a situation suddenly arises. There are several ways to deal with this problem. You will learn about all of them from this article.

What is rust?


Rust is the result of metal oxidation. Such an impurity can occur in water for 2 reasons:

  • pipelines are made of metal parts and orderly spoiled;
  • in the water itself, an increased level of iron is more than 0.3 mg / l.

Important! Before you clean rusty water in a way that suits you, be sure to find out the cause of the appearance of a metal deposit. If it is the pipelines themselves, it will be necessary to solve the problem thoroughly, with the complete replacement of obsolete parts. Other methods of water purification here will be ineffective..

Why clean water from rust?

Purification of water from rust is required in any case, even if you do not use it as drinking water. There are such reasons for this:

  • water has a clear metallic taste, which is not very pleasant;
  • the liquid is not transparent, but cloudy and of an unpleasant shade, which also causes certain inconveniences, especially for very squeamish people;
  • iron settles on the inner walls of all plumbing fixtures and significantly reduces their service life - taps, pipes, mixers, dividers, etc.;
  • work is disrupted and the duration of operation of all household appliances, so necessary in everyday life, is reduced - geysers, dishwashers and washing machines, heating boilers and boilers;
  • on the inner surface bathtubs, sinks, toilet bowls are formed resistant yellow spots, which are not always easy to remove;
  • clothes washed in such water also acquire a yellow tint and look unkempt, stale or completely dirty with individual spots;
  • not only to drink, but also to take a shower or bath in such water is not only unpleasant, but harmful - skin and hair suffer from an excess of iron, first of all.

Water purification methods

Before you clean rusty water, read all possible options to solve such a problem, with the pros and cons of each method, as well as how much it will cost you to constantly use one or another remedy. Based on a set of your criteria and requirements for water quality, make a choice in favor of one or more suitable for ease of use and effectiveness of action.

There are 3 main ways in which rust is removed from water today - these are:

  1. Settling.
  2. Installation of special filters.
  3. Installation of special equipment for water purification not only from rust, but also from other foreign impurities.

How to properly defend water?


Settling water is the most economical, but at the same time, the longest way to solve the problem of how to clean rusty water. To perform the procedure correctly:

  1. Pour water into large containers.
  2. Leave for a while - from a couple of hours to several days. The duration depends on the amount of water and the degree of contamination.
  3. Use as directed.

Advantages of water retention:

  1. Profitable from the financial side.
  2. Ecological purity of the method.

Minuses:

  1. Long wait for the result.
  2. Not suitable for receiving water in large volumes for servicing all household needs.
  3. Water is purified only from visible, relatively large particles and only rust.

What filters to use for water purification?

The rust filter is modern solution getting rid of impurities of metal oxides in water. According to the form of release are:

  1. Cartridge filters - with their help, particles of foreign impurities are retained in the porous internal cells and pass only clean liquid through themselves. Most often, such devices are used for domestic purposes.
  2. Devices with loose mass for washing - in such devices, the filter layer often serves quartz sand or other similar fillers. When water passes through them, all impurities remain in the bulk of the bulk substance. This method is mainly used for filtration of water in large volumes, in particular in industry.

Important! The rust filter of each of these 2 groups has a certain efficiency. The main difference is the ease and duration of application, as well as the price.

According to the method of installation and place of application, the following types of filters are distinguished:

  • mesh - suitable for cleaning liquid from large particles of oxides;
  • faucet retainer mesh - excellent for use in living conditions, can also remove chlorine compounds;
  • jug - mainly have in the composition Activated carbon and are intended for the preparation of drinking water, in which there is not only rust, but also other harmful substances.

Important! The price of rust filters also depends on how much other unsafe impurities they can remove from the treated water.

What is reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis is a whole system, the acquisition of which will require a certain sum of money. The principle of operation of such a mechanism, built into the water supply system, is the presence of a special membrane that does not allow any molecules to pass through, except for those that are part of the water itself.

Advantages of osmosis: high quality water - the output is crystal clear liquid.

Cons: high price, which is not acceptable for everyone.

Now you know all the advantages and disadvantages of each method by which you can solve the problem of how to clean rusty water. Weigh all the pros and cons, then choose the best option for you and enjoy clean water in your home, without worrying about the health of your loved ones and the condition of household appliances.