Manganese

Manganese in New Hampshire Water

Manganese is a naturally occurring metal found in New Hampshire’s bedrock. It’s considered a trace element.

Problems

Manganese has a grey or black color, which can cause the staining of clothing such as white shirts, skirts, sheets, and towels. Manganese also stains toilet bowls, bathtubs, dishwashers, and even the kitchen sink.

It is also associated with a distinct odor, which worsens when the concentration increases. Manganese coats the inside of pipes, especially hot water pipes, as heat tends to bring manganese out of the solution. Manganese causes a metallic or vinyl-type taste in the water and supports the growth of manganese bacteria, which can clog pumps, pipes, and valves.

Iron coats the insides of your water pipes as Iron supports the growth of iron bacteria, which can clog pumps, pipes, and valves. A rusty orange tint in hair, commonly known as good hair, is a condition primarily experienced by women. As little as .30 mg/L of iron will stain whatever it comes into contact with. The higher the iron concentration in your water, the harder the chore of cleaning will be.

Health Risks

At this time, the EPA has not set a health standard for manganese in private wells. However, a health-based standard for manganese is possible, where it could affect neurological and muscle function in humans. The DES Health Risk Assessment program has adopted interim health based for manganese of 0.084 mg/l.

Treatment Options

On the bright side, there are a few options to remove manganese from your well water. McBride’s Water Advantage has found that the best way is to treat with an Oxidizing Manganese/Iron filter, and then with a water softener. This dual approach will then give a superior water quality treatment for many different impurities.

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