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Compensated Hardness is the amount of
ferrous iron present in the water as well
as hardness content.
To determine compensated hardness
in standard measurements you should
increase your water hardness setting
by 5 grains per gallon (86 mg/L) for
every 1 ppm (1mg/L) of ferrous iron.
Use the section below for guidance and
fill in the blank chart below to determine
your Compensated Hardness.
NOTICE:
If the water supply contains ferrous iron, a commercially available resin bed cleaner should be used
every six months. Follow the instructions on the container. You should increase your water hardness setting by
5 grains per gallon (86 mg/L) for every 1 ppm (1mg/L) of ferrous iron.
IRON
DESCRIPTION
Ferrous Iron
(a/k/a clear water or dissolved iron)
Only type of iron that can
be treated with a water softener.
Ferric Iron
Insoluble and the particles can eventually
foul a resin bed. It should be filtered out
before the water reaches the softener.
Organic Iron or Bacterial Iron
Attached to other organic compounds in
the water. Additional treatment is needed
to remove this type of iron.
Colloidal Iron
Not dissolved, yet stays in suspension.
A softener cannot remove this type of iron.
DESCRIPTION
RESULTS
Actual Hardness
20 gpg
*
Ferrous Iron
times five (x5)
15
Compensated Hardness
(20+15)
35
* Add five times (x5) the iron content in ppm
or mg/L to the actual hardness
DESCRIPTION
RESULTS
Actual Hardness
342 mg/L
*
Ferrous Iron
times eighty-six (x86)
258
Compensated Hardness
(342+258)
600
* Add eighty-six times (x86) the iron content
in ppm or mg/L to the actual hardness
Standard Example
This example uses 3 (ppm or mg/L)
of ferrous iron present in the water.
Metric Example
This example uses 3 (ppm or mg/L)
of ferrous iron present in the water.
DESCRIPTION
RESULTS
Actual Hardness
(use your test results
for hardness)
Ferrous Iron
(x5 for standard)
or (x86 for metric)
+
Compensated Hardness
(add first two results for
final result)
=
FERROUS IRON AND COMPENSATED HARDNESS
7
Ferrous Iron
Determine Your Compensated Hardness
