Treatment for High Iron Content in Remote Alaskan Water Supplies

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This article discusses a problem with high iron content in the well water supply of three Alaskan towns. Such water supply situations are widespread in remote Alaskan communities. High hardness in all three supplies presented a treatment challenge that was magnified by lack of continuous electric power and very low winter temperatures. Batch lime treatment, settling, and decantation reduced the iron content and the hardness at two of the three towns. Aeration, batch lime treatment, settling, and decantation reduced the iron content and the hardness at the third. The resulting waters were free of chlorine demand and tastes and odors. Jar tests were used to determine the optimum lime doses.