IRON AND MANGANESE IN WATER SUPPLIES AND THEIR REMOVAL

Abstract

Iron and manganese are generally present in moot of the eurfaoo, ground and reservoir waters. Iron to more widely distributed than r anganose. Removal of iron alone under normal condition to fairly simple. But c hen manganese, and organic matt are also present in combination with Iron, the problem of iron and -manganese removal becomes difficult. Iron and manganese when present in water supplies donot have any sanitary significance, more over they are of value in he thy development of plants, animals and also of men. Yet when their concentration exceeds the limit of 0.3 ppm iron and mnngane3o, they are rendered unfit both for household and indue. trial use# because they impart taste and odoure to water, give colour and turbidity to "rotor, Give rise to objectionable growths in pipe lines and °red crater" and "black water* troubles In distribution oyeton. The iron and manganese 'bearing waters stain everything with which they come into contact, rendering water unfit for human consumption, and industrial al prooeuses. .ioreovor, a layman judges the quality of water by its appearance and therefore, waters having colour, odour and taste are not aesthetically acceptable to thorn. Certain standards are# therefo. laid down by U.9.P.11.S. for waters put to different uses. impor--tanoe of iron and manganese problem arises when these limits arc appreciably exceeded.