Iron Treatment by Measured Level and Form

What each measured iron level needs, split by the three forms that need three different machines: clear water iron, red water iron and iron bacteria.

Every page below is computed rather than written, from the same formulas the matching calculator uses, so a figure on a chart page and the same figure in the calculator cannot disagree. Each one carries its working, the basis of every number it prints, and equipment chosen by those numbers rather than from a general list.

• 0.3 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 0.3 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for a softener rated for this much dissolved iron may be enough on its own. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 0.3 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 0.3 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for sediment filtration ahead of any other equipment. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 0.3 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 0.3 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 0.5 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 0.5 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for a softener rated for this much dissolved iron may be enough on its own. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 0.5 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 0.5 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for sediment filtration ahead of any other equipment. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 0.5 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 0.5 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 1 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 1 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for a softener rated for this much dissolved iron may be enough on its own. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 1 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 1 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for sediment filtration ahead of any other equipment. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 1 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 1 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 2 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 2 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for a dedicated iron filter ahead of the softener. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 2 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 2 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for sediment filtration ahead of any other equipment. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 2 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 2 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 3 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 3 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for a dedicated iron filter ahead of the softener. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 3 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 3 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for sediment filtration ahead of any other equipment. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 3 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 3 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 5 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 5 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for a dedicated iron filter ahead of the softener. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 5 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 5 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for oxidizing or backwashing iron filter. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 5 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 5 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 7 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 7 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for an oxidizing iron filter, sized on a full laboratory test. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 7 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 7 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for oxidizing or backwashing iron filter. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 7 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 7 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 10 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 10 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for an oxidizing iron filter, sized on a full laboratory test. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 10 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 10 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for oxidizing or backwashing iron filter. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 10 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 10 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 15 ppm of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved): what does it need? 15 parts per million of clear water iron (ferrous, dissolved) calls for an oxidizing iron filter, sized on a full laboratory test. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 15 ppm of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized): what does it need? 15 parts per million of red water iron (ferric, already oxidized) calls for oxidizing or backwashing iron filter. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.
• 15 ppm of iron bacteria: what does it need? 15 parts per million of iron bacteria calls for shock chlorination of the well, then retest. The secondary standard is 0.3 mg/L, and the form of the iron decides the machine more than the level does.

Researched, not professional advice. Every figure on these pages is labeled as a published standard, a trade rule of thumb, or something that can only come off your own water test. Where a published figure does not exist we say so rather than estimating one. Test your water before you buy equipment: on city water start with the Consumer Confidence Report your utility publishes each year, and on a private well only a certified laboratory test tells you what you have. Bacteria, nitrate, lead, arsenic and PFAS are not do it yourself topics and need a laboratory and usually a licensed professional.