Canada Well Data
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Iron and manganese staining

How do I remove iron from well water?

Dissolved iron oxidizes when it meets air, leaving orange staining; manganese leaves black specks and grey laundry.

How you notice it

  • Orange or brown staining in sinks, tubs and toilets
  • Black flecks in filters or on laundry
  • Metallic taste
  • Rust-coloured slime in toilet tanks

Why it happens

Carbonate and sandstone aquifers hold iron and manganese in solution under low-oxygen conditions. It only becomes visible after your tap.

The fix

  1. Air-injection oxidizing filter ahead of the softener — no chemical feed
  2. Sediment prefilter if the water also carries grit
  3. Fine-mesh softener resin tolerates the residual iron a filter leaves
  4. Shock-chlorinate the well if iron bacteria slime is present

Equipment that solves it

Recommendations are generated from Canadian regional well records. Links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

SpringWell WS1 Air-Injection Iron & Manganese Filter
Iron, Manganese & Sulfur$1,990 CAD

SpringWell WS1 Air-Injection Iron & Manganese Filter

Oxidizes dissolved iron and manganese, then filters it out — no chemical feed, no staining.

$60/yr consumables · standard

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US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion Iron & Sulfur System
Iron, Manganese & Sulfur$3,190 CAD

US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion Iron & Sulfur System

For carbonate and sandstone wells with heavy iron plus rotten-egg sulfur odour on the hot side.

$90/yr consumables · premium

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iSpring WGB22BM 2-Stage Iron & Manganese Whole-House Filter
Iron, Manganese & Sulfur$189 CAD

iSpring WGB22BM 2-Stage Iron & Manganese Whole-House Filter

Entry option for light staining. Expect cartridge changes every 2–3 months.

$140/yr consumables · budget

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Where this is common in Canada

Regions whose modelled groundwater matches this problem.

RM of Springfield Manitoba · 325 mg/L · 132 ft RM of Taché Manitoba · 315 mg/L · 115 ft RM of St. Clements Manitoba · 335 mg/L · 120 ft Town of East St. Paul Manitoba · 320 mg/L · 110 ft RM of Brokenhead Manitoba · 340 mg/L · 125 ft RM of Ritchot Manitoba · 330 mg/L · 130 ft City of Steinbach Manitoba · 330 mg/L · 125 ft RM of Hanover Manitoba · 325 mg/L · 135 ft RM of Rockwood Manitoba · 350 mg/L · 140 ft RM of Macdonald Manitoba · 310 mg/L · 125 ft City of Winnipeg Manitoba · 300 mg/L · 120 ft Strathcona County Alberta · 285 mg/L · 195 ft

Get a sized plan, not a guess

The builder combines your region's hardness, aquifer and depth data with your household size to size every stage and total the cost.

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