Well water
CleanLine Water Co. Iron and Sulfur Removal for Central Texas Well Water
Orange stains in the tub and a rotten egg smell at the tap are the two clearest signs of iron and hydrogen sulfide. Both are removed by oxidation, not by a softener.
- Clears orange and brown staining in sinks, tubs and laundry
- Removes rotten egg hydrogen sulfide odor
- Protects softening resin from iron fouling
- Self cleaning air injection valve, no chemicals to add
Benefits and treatment scope
Address well-water staining before the softener
An iron and sulfur filter uses oxidation followed by filtration to address suitable well-water chemistry. The documented air-injection configuration uses air and a backwashing media bed; a different chemistry may require a different treatment design.
Reduce iron-related staining
Oxidizing dissolved iron into particles allows the filtration bed to capture it before it reaches sinks, tubs and laundry. Existing stains may need cleaning after the source is treated.
Address hydrogen sulfide odor
Treatment can target rotten-egg odor when hydrogen sulfide in the incoming well water is the cause. Odor isolated to hot water may require water-heater work instead.
Lower the iron load on resin
Placing appropriate iron treatment ahead of softening helps avoid using the resin bed as the primary iron filter. That protects the softener's ability to focus on hardness.
Automatic bed cleaning
The backwashing valve flushes captured material to drain. This reduces manual cartridge work for that stage, but requires enough water flow and suitable drainage to clean properly.
How the equipment works
Air injection introduces oxygen to support oxidation, and the media bed captures the resulting particulate material. The valve periodically backwashes the bed and renews its air draw. Suitability depends on the sample, including iron, sulfide, pH and other relevant conditions.
What it does not do
This filter is not a water softener or a microbiological disinfection system. It cannot be promised to remove every odor at every concentration. Manganese treatment and any concentration limits must be checked against the chosen media's documentation.
What we confirm before installation
We review the raw-water results, pressure-tank location, pump flow and backwash/drain capacity before selecting the vessel. The quote confirms whether air injection or another oxidation approach is appropriate. Chemical-feed treatment is not automatically included in an air-injection filter.
Ongoing care and service
Keep the valve powered and its cleaning schedule intact, and check for changes in staining, odor or flow. Service includes reviewing backwash and air-draw operation. Media and upstream sediment filtration are assessed according to loading rather than assumed to last indefinitely.
Specifications
- Process
- Air injection oxidation followed by media filtration
- Targets
- Dissolved iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide
- Valve
- Automatic backwashing with air draw on each cycle
- Placement
- After the pressure tank, ahead of the softener
- Install
- Half day in a well house, garage or utility room
Who this system is built for
- Private wells in Hays, Comal and rural Williamson County
- Homes with rust colored staining on porcelain and laundry
- Rotten egg smell at one or more taps
- Any well feeding a softener that keeps losing capacity
Why a softener alone will not fix iron
Dissolved iron will pass straight through a softener until it fouls the resin bed, at which point capacity collapses and the homeowner is told the softener has failed. The softener never failed, it was asked to do the wrong job.
Oxidizing filtration converts dissolved iron into a solid particle and traps it in the media, then flushes it to drain on the backwash cycle. Only after that does softening make sense.
Every Central Texas well is different
Two properties on the same county road can pull very different iron, manganese and sulfide numbers depending on depth and formation. We test at the tap and size the system around the actual chemistry.
If your well needs disinfection as well, we place a CleanLine Water Co. UV system as the final stage behind the filtration.
Warranty and guarantee
Eligible tanks and dry parts carry lifetime coverage. The control valve, circuit board and filtration media carry 5 years under the applicable terms. Media service depends on water conditions; installation workmanship carries 1 year.
Read the full warrantyFrequently asked questions
Will this remove the rotten egg smell completely?
In most cases yes. If the odor is only on the hot side, the source is usually the water heater anode rod and we address that separately.
Do I need this on Austin city water?
No. Iron and sulfur are well water problems. Municipal customers need softening and carbon filtration instead.
How often is service needed?
The valve cleans itself on every backwash. Plan on an annual check and a sediment cartridge every six to twelve months.