Mineralogical, Geochemical, and Microbiological Aspects of Iron Deposition from Groundwater

Iron is readily soluble constituent in groundwater and the solubility is further increased by its chelation with organic matter. Iron, and minor elements such as Mn, are undesirable in water supply systems as they cause problems of taste, odour, and discolouration, and clogging and deposition in the screens and pipelines which eventually leads to corrosive conditions. The removal of iron can be accomplished by a sequential treatment involving oxidation, settling, and filtration with various modifications but, as well as the high cost of the treatment, incomplete iron removal and associated problems are frequently encountered.