Iron and sulfur filters
When well water stains fixtures or smells like rotten eggs, a softener alone usually is not enough.
Iron and sulfur filters remove dissolved iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide before water reaches the softener and the rest of the house. They're mostly for rural homes and acreages around Sioux Falls on private wells or water that isn't treated for these minerals.
Signs you need one
- Orange or rust stains in sinks, toilets and laundry
- Black specks or staining from manganese
- A rotten-egg smell, especially from hot water
- A softener whose resin keeps fouling
- Metallic taste
- Slimy buildup in toilet tanks
Why it comes up here
City systems in the area treat for these minerals. The Minnesota Department of Health describes Lewis and Clark's filters as removing iron and manganese, and Brandon's plant expansion added aeration and detention for iron removal. Private wells don't get that treatment. A local water treatment business owner quoted in a 2025 trade article named iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide as common issues in the Brandon area. The EPA notes that private well owners are responsible for their own water quality.
Options
- Air-injection or oxidizing filters that convert iron and sulfur so a media bed can trap them.
- Chemical feed with a filter for heavier loads.
- Softener-only for light iron, when the test supports it.
Which one fits depends on the levels in your test, your flow rate and your well's pH. Bring results when you call.
What affects the cost
The type of filter, how high iron, manganese and sulfur are, whether the well needs shock chlorination first, and space near the pressure tank.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will a water softener remove iron?
Some softeners can handle small amounts of iron, but higher levels foul the resin. A dedicated iron filter is usually installed ahead of the softener.
What causes the rotten-egg smell?
Usually hydrogen sulfide in the well water, or a reaction in the water heater. A test helps tell which.
Related services
- Water softener installation
- Water softener repair
- Water softener replacement
- Reverse osmosis drinking water
More background: Sioux Falls hard water guide.
Scale on everything? Softener not keeping up?
Call and get connected with a water treatment company that works in Sioux Falls and nearby towns.