Sensitive Determination Of Iron In Drinking Water, Mineral Water, Groundwater, And Spring Water Using Rapid Photometric Tests

By Katrin Schwind and Gunter Decker

The quality of drinking water is regulated by a variety of guidelines, such as the EU Council Directive 98/831,² and WHO guideline.³ The key principles used to define these limits consider both health hazards and sensory and technical reasons. Iron, for example, does not exhibit a risk for health in concentrations usually found in drinking water.^2,3 However, increased concentrations of iron result in the formation of iron hydroxide products, which can form deposits in water pipe systems and a brown discoloration of the water.⁴