Have you ever lifted the lid on your toilet tank only to find black staining inside the tank? Or perhaps you are seeing some black stains in your toilet bowl or dishwasher? These unsightly stains may be a result of high levels of manganese in your water.
Manganese is a natural element that is commonly found in water, soil, and some foods and, at appropriate levels, plays a role in keeping us healthy. Too much manganese in your water, however, can have an adverse effect on your laundry, appliances, and plumbing. Manganese can build up inside pipes, water heaters, and other appliances restricting water flow and shortening the life of appliances.
While we need to consume small amounts of manganese to be healthy, too much manganese in our drinking water can lead to some health concerns, including neurological and behavioural effects, and deficits in memory, attention, and motor skills. Health Canada has established guidelines for safe levels of manganese in drinking water at 0.12 mg/L
If you are wondering what the level of manganese is in your family’s drinking water, a simple test performed by a water treatment specialist will put your mind at ease. If the test does show a higher than recommended level of manganese, there are effective ways to remove it.
Many homeowners believe that a water softener or Reverse Osmosis system will remove the manganese from their water. In reality, without pre-treatment, manganese can foul your water softener’s resin and clog your Reverse Osmosis membranes. Manganese is chemically similar to iron, so an iron filtration system like Water Depot’s Iron Slayer is an ideal pre-treatment step in your water treatment system.
The water treatment experts at Water Depot can test your water for manganese and other undesirable elements and recommend the correct water treatment system to provide your family with clean, clear water.
Water Depot
Did you find the information in this article useful? Water Depot are your local water treatment experts, carrying a large selection of water treatment solutions. Contact us today for your free water test.
