15. Drinking Water, Iron, and Manganese Removal in Groundwater Purification

When rainwater filters through the soil and rocks, many things get dissolved in it such as small quantity of iron and manganese. This water, when sips through bed of rocks, becomes groundwater. Iron and manganese concentration can change drastically as the geology and territory change. Presence of Fe and Mn can give a reddish-brown color and unpleasant odor to the water. Presence of excess iron and manganese imparts unusual taste to the drinking water. It also stains the household items like storage tanks, washing machine, etc. When complexed with other organic compounds, Fe and Mn removal can be challenging sometimes. This chapter explains some of the common methods used to remove these compounds, potential risks involved in employing these techniques, and their advantages. Common industrial practices are aeration and chemical precipitation and are being used extensively.