Sources of Iron in Water

Iron is one of the most common elements on earth, comprising approximately 5 percent of the earth's crust, thus it is hardly surprising that iron would be found in water, since water comes from ground sources. Iron is not normally a harmful substance, but its presence in water, due to the ground and other causes, can produce unpleasant effects, such as a bad taste, color or odor.

Earth

• Due to the prevalence of iron in the physical makeup of the planet, along with water coming from sources in the ground, iron naturally seeps into the water supply. If a well is drilled in the ground, the water that comes out of the ground is going to contain iron. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, rainfall that penetrates the soil dissolves the iron and takes the iron into every underground source of water, including well water.

Water Distribution System

• To get water to people, there has to be a large distribution system composed of pipes, such as would be found in large cities, transporting the water over great distances before ever arriving at an individual home. While the water is in these pipes, it is in contact with the interior of the pipe, thus being exposed to whatever material comprises the pipe. If the pipes, due to aging, start to corrode, then iron can get into the water. According to an article in The New York Times, iron-based materials, such as cast iron, have been used in pipes since the late 1800s.

Home

• Once the water arrives at an individual home, it still must travel through the pipes of that home and, in many instances, be in a holding pattern in the pipes for an extended period of time. Just as the water can acquire iron from the distribution system, so can it retain iron from the pipes in an average home.