Why does my well water have iron and sulfur?

If you are on a private well in Parker, Wise, Denton, Hood, or Tarrant County, the water feeding your home comes from the Paluxy or Trinity aquifers — and both are loaded with naturally occurring dissolved iron and hydrogen sulfide gas. Iron levels of 1-5+ ppm are common, and even trace amounts of sulfur produce that unmistakable rotten-egg smell the moment you turn on a faucet.

What problems do iron and sulfur cause?

Left untreated, iron and sulfur wreak havoc on your home:

• Orange and rust staining on toilets, sinks, showers, and laundry
• Rotten-egg odor that permeates hot and cold water lines
• Clogged fixtures and appliances — iron deposits build up inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers
• Iron bacteria slime that coats well components and plumbing

These are not just cosmetic issues. Iron buildup shortens the lifespan of your water heater, pressure tank, and every appliance connected to your water supply.

Legacy Water Well installs air-injection oxidation systems that remove iron and sulfur without adding chemicals to your water. Here is how it works:

1. Air is injected into the water stream, oxidizing dissolved iron into a filterable particle and converting hydrogen sulfide gas so it can be captured.
2. The water passes through a catalytic filter bed that traps oxidized iron and sulfur.
3. The system automatically backwashes on a programmed schedule, flushing trapped contaminants to drain and refreshing the air pocket.

The result: clear, odor-free water from every tap — no chlorine, no potassium permanganate, no chemical tanks to refill. The system is self-cleaning and low-maintenance.

For wells with extremely high iron (5+ ppm) or iron bacteria, we may recommend a chlorine injection system with a contact tank and carbon post-filter. We match the solution to your water test results — never a guess.

Not every iron filter is created equal. An undersized unit will channel, fail to backwash properly, and leave you with the same orange water within months. We size every system based on:

• Iron concentration (measured in parts per million)
• Sulfur levels (measured by odor threshold and lab analysis)
• pH — air injection works best above 6.8 pH; low-pH wells may need pre-treatment
• Flow rate — your household peak demand determines the tank diameter and media volume
• Manganese — often present alongside iron and requires the same oxidation process

We pull all of these numbers from a comprehensive water test before we quote anything. That is how you avoid buying the wrong system.

Iron and sulfur removal systems are installed after your pressure tank and before any downstream filtration (softeners, UV, etc.). Most installations are completed in a single day.

Maintenance is minimal:

• The system backwashes automatically — no daily attention required
• Filter media typically lasts 5-8 years before needing replacement
• We recommend an annual water test to confirm iron and sulfur levels have not changed
• An annual inspection ensures the control valve, air injector, and drain line are functioning correctly

If you already have a whole-house filtration setup and want to add iron and sulfur removal, we can integrate it into your existing system. Learn about our whole-house filtration approach.