Iron commonly enters the water supply primarily by dissolving from natural geological formations or through the corrosion of plumbing materials.
How Iron Enters Water
Iron is a naturally occurring element found in soil and rock. Water interacts with these materials, leading to the presence of iron in the water supply.
Based on common processes, including information from sources like the provided reference, iron gets into drinking water through several key mechanisms:
- Seeping Through Iron-Rich Soil and Rock: Rain or melting snow filters down through the ground. As this water seeps through soil or rock layers that contain iron, it dissolves the iron. This dissolved iron then enters the underground water sources, known as groundwater.
- Corrosion of Pipes: Iron can also enter groundwater and subsequently the water supply from the corrosion of certain types of pipes, particularly older iron or steel pipes used in water distribution systems or private wells.
- Influence of Acidity: The acidity of water, indicated by a low pH level, can significantly increase the solubility of iron compounds. This means that more acidic water is more likely to dissolve iron from the surrounding environment or plumbing materials, leading to higher concentrations in the water supply.
Primary Pathways
Here are the main ways iron makes its way into your water:
- Natural Dissolution:
- Rain and snowmelt move through the earth.
- They encounter and dissolve iron present in natural geological formations.
- This water, now containing dissolved iron, becomes part of the groundwater.
- Infrastructure Issues:
- Older water pipes made of iron can degrade over time.
- This corrosion releases iron particles or dissolved iron into the water flowing through them.
Understanding these pathways helps identify potential sources of iron when it's found in a water supply. While natural sources are common, the condition of water pipes can also play a significant role, especially in older systems.
