How to Boost the Iron Removal Capacity of Birm Iron Filters with Air Injection

Dear Sir, 

I have a Birm iron filter I bought from a local water treatment company.  It has never worked very well and we still get rust stains.  I have 5.0 ppm of iron, and our pH is about 7.  My well guy says that iron filters for water wells need aeration.  I need to put in an aerator, to put some air in the water.  Do you have those, and how do those work? 

- Bill S.Utah

Hello Bill, 

Yes you can boost the iron removal capacity of your current Birm filter system by adding an air injector followed by an air tank with a vent on top. Birm filter media requires some dissolved oxygen in the water for the iron to be removed properly.  

Here are the items you would need:

Waterite Air Injector  

These are the same air injector that is used in our Terminator Air Injection Systems

• Flow rate recommended 4.0 to 16 gallons per minute.
• Use with air vent tanks to create your own venturi type air injection system.
• The Micronizer is a compact and versatile air injector that uses an internally moulded venturi and bypass to draw air into the water stream.
• The rate of air injection is fully adjustable with a turn of the bypass screw

Air injectors are used to intoduce oxygen into the water to allow for ozidation of various contaminents such as hydrogen sulfide. 

Birm Iron Filter Time Clock 1.0CF (9x48)

Birm Iron Filter CWS Time Clock Series 0.75 Includes 3/4" or 1" pipe connectors; by-pass valve; 0.75 cubic feet of Birm filter media; and NSF-Certified 115v control valve. All the filter media you need for the system is included. 

Efficient and economical method of removing iron and rust from well waters under the right conditions. No chemicals are required for regeneration of the filter media backwash and cleaning is accomplished with raw water. 

No chlorine, hydrogen sulfide gas, or tannins should be present in the raw water. Because sufficient dissolved oxygen is required for Birm to work properly, an air injection system (not included with this Birm filter) may be required for the Birm iron filter to work properly, particularly in deep wells over 100 feet deep. 

If the Birm iron filter is installed after a holding tank or cistern, no air injection is required. Filter tank is NSF certified one piece seamless polyester construction for long life. Max pressure recommended is 100 psi. Maximum water temperature recommended 100F.

Vent Tank 844 w/Brass Vent

Vent Tank 8" x 44" with industrial quality HoneyWell Brass Air Vent includes inner inlet water diffuser and riser tube.

Birm Blend Iron Filter 2510 1.0 CF

Birm Blend Iron Filter 2510 1.0: includes pipe connectors; by-pass valve; 1.0 cubic feet of Birm Blend filter media; and Fleck 2510 115v control valve.

The filters contain a mix of Birm and Calcite media.

All the filter media you need for the system is included.

Birm Blend iron filters are an efficient and economical way to correct acidic pH and remove dissolved iron compounds from well waters under the right conditions.

No chemicals are required for regeneration of the filter media backwash and cleaning is accomplished with raw water.

No chlorine hydrogen sulfide gas or tannins should be present in the raw water.

For manganese removal Birm Blend works only if the pH is over 8.2.

Sufficient dissolved oxygen must be present for Birm Blend to work properly so typically an air injection system is used or the filters are used after holding tanks.

Filter tank is NSF certified one piece seamless polyester construction for long life.

Max pressure recommended is 100 psi.

Maximum water temperature recommended 100F.

Rugged heavy-duty Fleck 2510 backwash control valve features fully adjustable backwash and rinse cycles saving water and allowing maximized performance.

Time-tested hydraulically balanced piston seal and spacers provide years of trouble-free service.

Non-corrosive high-tech material construction.

12-day time clock can be programmed so the filter backwashes at any time of the day at intervals of every 1 2 3 4 6 or 12 days.

The recommended maximum flow rate for best filtration performance is 5.0 gallons per minute but a peak flow rate for several minutes of 12 gallons per minute is possible.

The backwash flow rate is 5.0 gallons per minute.

Radial Flow Iron RFFE20-BB

Pentek Filter Cartridge: Radial Flow Iron RFFE20-BB for 20"

Easily and effectively reduces up to 3 ppm of dissolved iron from water.

Improves flavor and reduces the metallic taste caused by iron.

Reduces the possibility of pipe and water heater damage.

The RFFE20-BB cartridge is designed to provide an easy and effictive method of reducing iron from water, which greatly improves the taste.

This cartridge helps to eliminate the orange and brown stains often found in sinks, toilets, tubs and other plumbing fixtures.

RFFE20-BB reduces the possibility of damage to pipes and water heater and reduces up to 3 ppm dissolved iron.

It adds no harmful chemicals to the water, making it completely safe for drinking water applications.

The RFFE20-BB cartridges should be installed on the main cold water line after the pressure tank or water meter.

For best results, pre-sediment and post-carbon treatment is recommended.