Neither iron or manganese in water present a health hazard, however their presence in water may cause taste, staining and accumulation problems. Because iron and manganese are chemically similar, they cause similar problems. Iron will cause reddish-brown staining of laundry, porcelain, dishes, utensils and even glassware. Manganese causes a brownish-black stain. Soaps and detergents do not remove these stains, and the use of chlorine bleach and alkaline builders (such as sodium carbonate) can actually intensify the stains. Iron and manganese deposits will buildup in pipelines, pressure tanks, heaters and UV light disinfection systems — reducing the available quantity and pressure of the water supply.

The New Zealand Drinking Water Standards state staining will occur at levels exceeding 0.2 gm/m3 for iron and 0.05 gm/m3 for manganese. Iron and manganese can be present in water in the following form:

	Clear water iron		Iron bacteria
	Red water iron		Organic

The methods to remove iron and manganese are varied and require a complete water analysis to design the ‘right’ system for your water. AquaFlo also have a “Design Information Sheet” which should be filled out prior to equipment recommendation.

Greensand/Potassium Permanganate
Manganese Greensand is a purple/black granular filter medium processed from glauconitic sand. The filter media is contained inside a fibreglass vessel, as water flows through this media, oxidation occurs which takes the iron out of solution and turns it into a particle. The particle is then trapped in the media just like a sand filter. The filter is backwashed and regenerated with a solution of Potassium Permanganate based on time using a built-in automatic valve.