Iron in Drinking Water

Consuming water containing iron is not harmful to your health. High levels of iron may cause: 

• A metallic taste
• A bad smell
• Rusty-colored water
• Mineral deposits on toilets, sinks and bathtubs
• Sedimentation (for example, small particles of iron settling at the bottom of a water glass)
• Reddish or orange staining on laundry or surfaces that come in contact with the water

None of these effects poses a health risk.

High levels of iron may also allow the growth of iron bacteria, which produce a slime that can clog filters and plumbing. Although these bacteria can make water taste or smell bad, there do not harm your health.

Iron is a metal found naturally in the Earth’s crust. As rainwater moves through natural rock formations underground, it can dissolve iron and carry it into aquifers that serve as sources of drinking water. 

Testing for iron is the only way to know if it is the cause of an issue. Other naturally occurring elements, such as manganese, can cause similar color and taste issues and could be harmful if not fixed. 

The Health Department recommends testing your private water source for iron (and manganese) every five years. You can order an inorganic chemical test (Kit C) from the Health Department Laboratory, or you can use another certified drinking water lab to test for inorganic chemicals.

The drinking water standard for iron is 0.30 mg/L (milligrams per liter). It is called a secondary maximum contaminant level, or SMCL, because the level is based on aesthetic (color and taste) reasons rather than health effects. 

If the iron level in your water is at or above 0.30 mg/L, there may be: 

• A metallic taste
• A bad smell
• Rusty-colored water
• Mineral deposits on toilets, sinks and bathtubs
• Sedimentation (for example, small particles of iron settling at the bottom of a water glass)
• Reddish or orange staining on laundry or surfaces that come in contact with the water

None of these pose a health risk. You may consider treatment to improve the taste and appearance of your water. 

Need help understanding your drinking water test results? Find out how to read your results

When treating for iron in drinking water, it is important to consider whether there are other contaminants that should be removed, such as manganese, which causes similar aesthetic (color or taste) problems. Additionally, some things – like the pH, hardness and amount of iron in the water – may impact how effective a treatment system is. A water treatment professional will be able to determine which treatment system is best for your water, but in most cases, iron levels can be lowered by using one or more of the following treatment systems listed below. 

If fixture staining is a concern throughout the home, a whole house system (point-of-entry or POE) is recommended, which includes:

• Water softener (cation exchange) with an NSF/ANSI Standard 44 Certification
• Oxidizing filter system that uses air as the oxidizing agent with an NSF/ANSI Standard 42 Certification

In some cases, for large particulate iron or fine iron sediments, a 5 or 20 micron sediment filter may fix the problem.

If you would like to treat just the water you drink or cook with, you may consider installing a point-of-use (POU) system, which include:

• Oxidizing filter: a pitcher-style or under-sink filter with an NSF/ANSI Standard 42 Certification
• Reverse osmosis: an under-sink system with an NSF/ANSI Standard 58 Certification

Re-test your drinking water for iron after any treatment system is installed to make sure levels are below the drinking water standard.

Vermont Wastewater and Potable Water Revolving Loan Fund

This program, also known as the On-Site Loan Program, is available to certain Vermont residents for the repair or replacement of failed water supply and on-site wastewater systems. The On-Site Loan Program is funded and administered by the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation with loan underwriting and servicing provided by the Opportunities Credit Union in Winooski. Your drinking water supply has to be a failed system and you must be living in the residence on a year-round basis to be eligible. The family income cannot exceed 200% of the state median household income. For more information about eligibility and how to apply, call the On-Site Loan Program at 802-461-6051.

The NeighborWorks Alliance of Vermont

The NeighborWorks Alliance is made up of five local organizations offering full affordable housing services for income-eligible individuals. You may qualify for help from this program if you need money to install a water treatment system, drill a well, or repair or replace your septic system. For more information on eligibility, contact the local NeighborWorks Group in your region.

Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants

This program offers loans and grants to existing homeowners for well construction, repair and sealing. It's administered by the Rural Development office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program is for low-income families who live in a rural area or a community with a population of 25,000 or less. The family income cannot exceed 50% of the median county income. Individuals who are 62 years of age or older may qualify for a grant or a combination of a loan and a grant. Younger applicants are eligible only for loans.

Burlington, South Burlington, Essex Junction, Winooski and parts of Colchester are ineligible for the program. Even if your property is in an eligible area, your eligibility is still subject to income limits. For more information or to find out if your property is in an eligible area, call the USDA Rural Development Office at 802-828-6022.

Low-interest Loans for Individual Household Wells and Septic Systems

The Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SECAP) has partnered with RCAP Solutions (North Eastern Rural Community Assistance Partnership) to provide low-interest loans to construct, refurbish or replace individual water well systems and septic systems for eligible homeowners. Here are the requirements:

• Your residence must be in an eligible rural area, town, or community (defined as geographic area with 50,000 residents or less) in the RCAP Solutions service area of: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

• You must own (or provide recorded Lifetime Rights) and occupy the home being improved. 

• Your household limit is under the state median income limit.

• New home construction and community water systems are not eligible. 

Learn more about the loan program and fill out the form.

Please contact SERCAP staff for further information by phone at 540-345-1184 ext. 159 or email [email protected]