Ferruginous water

Ferruginous water is mineral water rich in iron. Due to the iron content of ferruginous water, it was long believed that this type of water could prevent or cure alcoholism by producing the iron provided by alcohol.

Ferruginous water, turns red easily

When the iron dissolved in water oxidises, it generates a red colour, in the same way that an iron object rusts in when it oxidises. Ferruginous water, rich in iron, is therefore more likely to turn red.

This phenomenon takes place in nature when groundwater, high in minerals and rich in iron, comes into contact with the air and oxidises when it reaches the surface.

However, oxidation can also be observed in water pipes. In fact, water with a low mineral content and a weak pH may form iron oxides when it passes through pipes. The longer the water stays in the pipes, the more iron oxide it picks up, and the more it reddens. Therefore if tap water is red (this is often the case when people are absent from a home for a while), the water should be left to run for a short time and it will return to a neutral colour.