We choose the system by the iron, manganese, pH and ammonium values, install it and set up the backwash in Riga and the Riga region. An iron removal system with installation costs from €600. Attach a test result to your request or describe what you see.
What iron looks like in water
Iron can be present in water in several forms, and which system will work depends on that.
- Water runs clear from the tap but turns yellow in the bath or a glass after a while and brown flakes settle: this is dissolved iron, which aeration and a filter remove well.
- The water is already brown or cloudy from the tap: the iron has already oxidised in the borehole or the pipes, often in old steel pipes.
- A yellowish colour that does not settle even after standing for a long time: the iron is bound to organic matter. A standard iron removal filter copes with this poorly; you need a test that includes colour and oxidisability.
- Slimy, rusty deposits in the toilet cistern: iron bacteria. Then the borehole and the system are disinfected first, and only after that is a filter fitted.
In Cabinet Regulation No. 547 on drinking water, iron is an indicator parameter with a value of 200 µg/l, or 0.2 mg/l. A laboratory report may show iron in µg/l or in mg/l: 1 mg/l is 1,000 µg/l. For a private well or borehole this is a reference value, not a mandatory requirement.
Cabinet Regulation No. 547 of 26.09.2023 “Mandatory Safety and Quality Requirements for Drinking Water, and the Procedures for Monitoring and Control Thereof”, Annex 1: iron 200 µg/l, manganese 50 µg/l (indicator parameters). Sub-point 4.5: the regulation does not apply to supply points used by fewer than 50 persons or supplying no more than 10 m³ a day on average. Source: likumi.lv, checked 03.11.2026.
Iron removal system: which one to choose
All systems work on the same principle: the iron is oxidised, the filter media holds back the deposits, and the filter flushes them out regularly. What differs is the oxidation method and the media.
| System | How it works | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Aeration iron removal filter | A compressor or an injector adds air to the water in an aeration tank, and a catalytic medium holds back the oxidised iron | A lot of iron, also hydrogen sulphide; no reagents needed |
| Filter with oxidising media | The media oxidises iron and manganese, and the media is regenerated periodically with a reagent | Iron and manganese together, little room for an aeration tank |
| Multi-media filter | An ion exchange mix removes iron, manganese, hardness and ammonium and is regenerated with salt | A moderate amount of iron and hard water as well |
It is not only the amount of iron that matters. If the pH is low, iron oxidises slowly, and you need pH correction or a different medium. Manganese usually needs a higher pH than iron. Ammonium and hydrogen sulphide use up oxygen, so the aeration has to be more powerful. That is why we compare each medium against the manufacturer's requirements for the incoming water rather than choosing by name.
Installing an iron removal filter: what to consider
- Backwash flow: the filter cleans itself with a reverse flow, and this flow must be higher than normal consumption. So we check what the pump and the pressure tank can deliver.
- Drainage: the backwash water with rust goes into the sewer or another suitable place. We decide this before the installation, not after.
- Pressure system: a column filter usually goes after the pressure tank. Aeration with an open tank needs a second pump, which then supplies pressure to the house.
- A sediment filter before it, if the water carries sand from the borehole or the spike well.
- A garden tap before the filter, so the filter does not work needlessly for watering.
How we do it
- Test You need at least iron, manganese, pH, hardness, ammonium and oxidisability. If there is no test, we take a sample: borehole water testing.
- Choice Based on the test and the consumption (number of people, bath, sauna) we choose the type of system and the column size.
- Installation We connect it with a bypass and a drain for the backwash water, load the media and rinse it before use.
- Setting up We set the backwash frequency by the amount of iron and the consumption, and choose a time at night when no water is used.
- Follow-up After a few weeks we recommend a test after the filter to see how much iron is left in the water.
How much does iron removal cost
An iron removal system with installation costs from €600. The price goes up with a high iron concentration (which needs a larger column or aeration), manganese and ammonium, high water consumption, a second pump for an aeration system and pipework changes in the utility room. If you have bought the system yourself, the installation labour is from €40/h. Other prices: prices.
What to do afterwards
An iron removal filter works for a long time if it is looked after: the backwash and the valve settings are checked, and the media is replaced after a few years. What to do and how often: water filter maintenance. If the water also smells, read about the rotten egg smell in water, and if limescale is a problem, about water softener installation.