Iron coming from your garden hose is common if your water source is a well. It will not harm your plants but can create unsightly stains on your house or garage. Treatment options range from hooking your hose up to a filter or installing a filter on the main water line in your home. Many factors come into play when choosing the best option. Save yourself time and expense by first finding out what’s in the water, and then fixing the problem.
Test the Water
Treatment for iron coming from your garden hose depends on the type of iron and the concentration. Have your water tested by your health department or a private lab. To determine the best treatment have your water tested for concentration of iron; the source of the iron, such as rusty pipes, iron from soil or iron bacteria; and pH. The lab will instruct you on how to take the sample and supply you with the proper collection bottles.
The water coming from the hose is clear, but 15 minutes after filling your dog’s water bowl you see red and brown particles, known as clear-water iron, floating in the bowl. If the iron level is below 5 mg/L, it can be removed using a water softener. However, if you plan to water plants with this water, sodium can build up in the soil over time, making it difficult for plants to take up water. Avoid this problem by attaching your hose to an iron-removing filter, or install an oxidizing filter on your home’s main water line. This type of filter can remove up to 15 mg/L of clear-water iron.
Red-water iron causes the water coming form your hose to appear reddish-brown or yellow. Let it set for a few minutes in your dog’s water dish, and the particles will settle to the bottom. You can remove these particles with a sediment filter attached to the hose, but the filter will plug fairly quickly, especially if it is a small. Avoid this by using an oxidizing filter on your well. It utilizes a backwashing system that will keep it from plugging, resulting in clear water flowing from your hose.
If you notice red or black slime building up in your pet’s water bowl, your well has probably become contaminated with iron bacteria. These organisms are harmless to humans but create a mess and amplify clear- and red-water iron problems. Kill bacteria by treating your well with chlorine. The amount of chlorine depends on the size of your well, the pump capacity and how much water is used in your home each well. After treatment, remove dead bacteria with a mechanical filter attached to the hose or main water line. Killing iron bacteria will not remove red- or clear-water iron from the water. Chlorine can be toxic to plants; use a charcoal filter attached to the hose or main water line to remove it.
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