Red Water Treatment

Iron is a ubiquitous element worldwide. It is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust after oxygen, silica and aluminum, and is also found in water in dissolved and particulate forms. “Red water” is the term commonly used to describe drainage water from iron mines. The reddish colour is from iron oxides that form when the rock in the ore deposit comes into contact with oxygen and water. The red dust that covers the surface of many iron mine complexes is another sign of this oxidation process.