Overview
Alkalinity | Aluminum | Barium | Cadmium | Calcium | Chloride | Chromium | Conductivity | Dissolved Oxygen | Fecal Coliform | Floride | Hardness | Iron | Lead | Magnesium | Manganese | Metals | Amonia | Nitrogen | Organic Carbon | pH | Phosphorus | Sodium | Sulfate | Temperature | Total Suspended Solids | Zinc
Iron is the fourth most abundant element, by weight, in the earth's crust. Natural waters
contain variable amounts of iron depending on the geological area and other chemical
components of the waterway. Iron in groundwater is normally present in the ferrous or bivalent
form [Fe++] which is soluble. It is easily oxidized to ferric iron [Fe+++] or insoluble iron upon
exposure to air. This precipitate is orange-colored and often turns streams orange.
Environmental Impact: Iron is a trace element required by both plants and animals. It is a vital part of the oxygen transport mechanism in the blood (hemoglobin) of all vertebrate and some invertebrate animals. Ferrous Fe++ and ferric Fe+++ ions are the primary forms of concern in the aquatic environment. Other forms may be in either organic or inorganic wastewater streams. The ferrous form Fe++ can persist in water void of dissolved oxygen and usually originates from groundwater or mines that are pumped or drained. Iron in domestic water supply systems stains laundry and porcelain. It appears to be more of a nuisance than a potential health hazard. Taste thresholds of iron in water are 0.1 mg/L for ferrous iron and 0.2 mg/L ferric iron, giving a bitter or an astringent taste. Water to be used in industrial processes should contain less than 0.2 mg/L iron. Black or brown swamp waters may contain iron concentrations of several mg/L in the presence or absence of dissolved oxygen, but this iron form has little effect on aquatic life.
Criteria: The current aquatic life standard is less than 1.0 mg/L based on toxic effects. (It is one of the few for which the criteria is not calculated based on hardness.)
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