Iron in Water - DIY Test

Iron in water

Sources of iron in water

Iron occurs naturally in soil, but you should know that its concentration in groundwater can vary depending on human activities : drilling, soil leaching, mineral dissolution, industrial discharges... or simply corrosion in metal pipes. You can recognize iron in water by its orange color and unpleasant taste.

Iron in your plumbing is also noticeable through rusty sludge and reduced water flow as the pipes become clogged. You may also detect a foul odor and slimy deposits. 

Standards for iron in water

There is no health-based guideline value for iron, but you should know that at concentrations below 0.3 mg/l, its taste is generally not noticeable. Above this level, iron causes staining on laundry and faucets. *

Effects of iron on the body

At high concentrations, iron is harmful to the kidneys and liver. High iron levels also appear to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and to contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

This paragraph is based in part on the WHO report “ Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality ”.

*A guideline value is a reference value provided by WHO.

Our methods for testing the iron level in your water yourself

Standalone iron test

This solution requires no equipment or special training. The kit includes 25 test strips coated with a reagent that changes color in the presence of iron in the water being tested.

The test strip method is extremely simple.

Take a test strip and dip it into the water	After about thirty seconds, compare the color of the strip with the chart on the back of the box.

The test strip result indicates whether your water contains: 0.0; 0.02; 0.05; 0.1; 0.2; 0.3; 0.5; 0.75; 1.0; 2.0; 5.0 mg/l (or ppm) of iron.

Measure the water temperature to within +/- 2°C.

Iron testing with an eXact photometer

This kit lets you perform 50 iron analyses with your photometer. It contains 50 test strips and 2 packets of powder.

It is compatible with the following photometers only: eXact iDip, eXact iDip 570, Well eXact EZ, eXact Micro 7+, eXact Micro 20.

Iron test procedure with the eXact iDip photometer

How does the water iron test work with the IDIP?

This kit of 50 test strips lets you check for iron in your water.

These test strips and reagents let you measure iron in your water using the IDIP photometer. The process is very simple:

1. Open the app on your mobile phone and turn on the photometer.

2. Add water to the tester's designated sample cell.

3. Place the strip (and reagent if needed) in the water for 20 seconds.

4. View the result directly on the photometer. The result is automatically saved on your phone.

This water testing system is fast, reliable, modern, expandable, and comprehensive. It is THE most accessible system.

Test procedure with the eXact Micro 20 photometer

	Turn on the photometer by pressing the ON/ZERO button. The screen will show all indicators, then the selected menu, then the most recent results.
	Press the SELECT button repeatedly to choose the group: the iron test belongs to group 2. Then press the MENU button repeatedly to select the test parameter: FE. (You will find all this information in a table in the user manual supplied with the device.
	Rinse the test cell at least 3 times with the water you are going to test (to minimize the risk of cross-contamination from your previous test). Finally, fill the small cell completely with the water to be tested.
Add the reducing agent (powder)	Tilt the device to remove 0.2ml of water to make room for the reagent. Add the contents of one powder packet (the reducing agent) to the cell and replace its cap. Press READ to start the 20-second countdown. Place your thumb on the cell cap to keep it in place, and mix the water in the cell by shaking the device several times. When the countdown nears its end (when it reaches 1), hold the device upright and the cursor will light up. A 40-second countdown will begin. At the end, a result will be displayed (ignore this result).
	Press the ON/ZERO button. The cursor will move across the screen before it displays 0.00PM. This indicates that the sample is ready for testing.
	Dip the appropriate strip into the small cell and immediately press the READ button. This will start a 20-second countdown. During the countdown, gently move the strip back and forth (about 1 back-and-forth motion per second). As soon as the "1" disappears from the screen, remove the strip.
	The cursor will move across the screen while the photometer prepares the test results. Record the value displayed for the parameter. This value is automatically saved in the MENU, and if you use the exact iDip app, the results will be saved in its "RESULTS" section. After the test, rinse the cell and clean it with the small brush.

Notes: To ensure accurate results, do not run this test immediately after a sulfide test. Also, if your water temperature is too low, the powder will not dissolve. Raising the water temperature is recommended.

Can I have my water tested for iron in a laboratory?

You can certainly have a laboratory water analysis performed to test the iron level.

We offer several analysis packages performed by our partner laboratory.

The iron test is included in chemistry packages 2, 3, and 4.