Water - High Iron Content, Filtering & Testing

[Surly]

I am moving my brewery to a new location. I must have the water tested and will use Ward's as the service.

My new location uses a well as the water source. The water has a high concentration of iron. The well owner uses a water softner. For brewing purposes I will bypass that operation.

The owner also uses a filter jug to clear his drinking water. My thoughts are that we will purchase a larger gravity fed iron filter and use the filtered water for brewing.

My question: When is the best time for me to have the water tested?

After the purhase of the new filtering device?
Can that test be considered valid for the long term use for that well water?

What other considerations might I take into account?

 

[Agent]

Do you know the depth of the well? Shallow wells tend to have high seasonal variation while deep wells tend to be much more stable.

If it's not cost prohibitive for you, I like to test my raw water to see what sort of removal rates I need to size for. Then you could test your post-process water to ensure you are getting the proper results.

Iron reducing bacteria give water some interesting sulfur compounds that may still be present after stripping the iron out.

Prarie Farm, eh? There was a nice 3D archery course I used to shoot at during my 4-H days of yore. Good times.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Have the water tested before you buy the property, if possible. That way the cost of any needed treatment equipment can be worked into the deal. Here's a test we use often: https://www.buckeyehydro.com/drinking-water-test/

In the water treatment business we can treat almost any contaminant, but we do need to know the water chemistry - i.e., the reults of a good water test.

Iron, if it is at a relatively low concentration, and if it is the right kind of iron (clear water iron (ferrous:+2) rather than ferric (+3)), can be treated with a softener. Otherwise, typically a whole-house backwashing filter containing a different media is used. Iron will not be kind to your plumbing fixtures, pipes, water heater, dishwasher, washing machine, etc. We typically treat for iron at the POE (point of entry) rather than POU (point of use).

Russ