Analytical Determination of Iron and Manganese Concentrations in North Georgia Well Water Via Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence

Domestic groundwater wells are largely unregulated and a potential source of heavy metal contamination. Iron and manganese are commonly found together in well water and can pose a potential health hazard in concentrations over 0.3 and 0.05 mg/L, respectively. This project examines a case with manganese levels elevated over 5 times the recommended level. TXRF testing is used to determine the concentrations of iron and manganese in samples of raw well water, water run through a charcoal-based filter, and water run through an ion-exchange filter. While the charcoal filter shows little to no difference compared with the raw well water, the ion exchange filter effectively removes nearly 95% of the manganese from the water, as well as decreasing other trace metal concentrations. The efficacy of this type of filter provides an accessible option for people dependent on private well water to prevent the adverse effects of manganese toxicity.