Iron Speciation Water Test Kit: Ferrous vs Ferric Iron (Certified Lab)
Separate dissolved (ferrous) iron from oxidized (ferric) iron so you choose the right iron filter design, not just the right size.
Not sure if you need a iron speciation water test kit?Call or text Aidan. Tell him what you are seeing (iron staining where you are unsure if the iron is dissolved or already rusted) and he will tell you whether this test is the right next step or if a broader panel or a simpler answer fits better. Free, no obligation.
✓ Digital lab report from the independent testing lab, emailed when complete
✓ Personal results review and equipment recommendation from our team
Collect early in the week so your sample reaches the lab before the weekend. Lab analysis takes about 8 business days once the sample arrives.
1
Order Your Kit
We ship the kit to your door with free shipping. It contains everything you need to collect a sample: bottles, vials, instructions, and a prepaid return label.
2
Collect Your Sample
Follow the simple instructions to draw a sample from your tap. About 5 minutes, no technical knowledge required.
3
Mail It Back
Drop the prepaid package at a carrier location. It goes to the nearest independent, certified lab in the SimpleLab network so your results stay accurate.
4
Get Results + Expert Review
Your independent lab report arrives by email in about 8 business days. Then Aidan personally reviews your numbers and tells you exactly what they mean and what to do.
What makes step 4 different from every other water test
Other companies hand you a lab report and say good luck. We are a water treatment company that has solved well and city water problems for over 30 years. The testing is done by an independent, third-party certified lab so the data is unbiased. Then we tell you exactly how to fix what the lab found, and we have the equipment and expertise to back it up.
What This Test Measures
3
Ferric Iron, Ferrous Iron, Iron.
Total iron tells you how much iron you have. Speciation tells you what form it is in, and that changes how you treat it. Ferrous iron (clear-water iron) is dissolved and invisible when first drawn, then turns orange as it oxidizes in the air. Ferric iron (red-water iron) is already oxidized into rust particles and comes out of the tap cloudy or orange.
The split matters because different forms favor different filter media and oxidation methods. A system tuned for dissolved ferrous iron is not always the best choice when a large share is already ferric, or when organic-bound or bacterial iron is in play. This test reports ferrous, ferric, and total iron separately so the filter is matched to your actual chemistry.
Method: Ferric, ferrous, and total iron reported separately (ferrous preserved at sampling)
Reference: EPA secondary (aesthetic) standard for total iron: 0.3 mg/L. Speciation is a treatment-design tool, not a health limit.
What fixes it: Iron Filters for Well Water
Air-injection Katalox-Light filters handle both forms; speciation confirms the right oxidation setup.
When your independent lab report comes back, it goes to Aidan, one of our owners and a water treatment specialist with over 30 years of hands-on experience. Because the testing is done by a third-party lab, the data is impartial. He reads your numbers, knows what matters for ferrous vs ferric iron, and gives you a clear recommendation for your situation.
You Get a Clear, Specific Recommendation
→ Whether this contaminant needs treatment, and how urgently
→ The exact equipment and size for your home, if any is needed
→ The correct installation order alongside anything else you treat
→ Estimated cost and what maintenance to expect
If Your Water Tests Clean, We Tell You That
We would rather earn your trust by being honest than sell you equipment you do not need. If your result comes back within safe limits, Aidan will tell you exactly that. No upselling, no fear tactics.
"I had my water tested and sent Aidan the results. Within hours he told me exactly what I needed: an iron filter and a neutralizer. After watching his YouTube videos I already trusted him. The recommendation was spot on and the system works perfectly." ★★★★★
Amber G., Verified Buyer
"I did two water tests at home and got inconsistent results. Called Aidan and he walked me through everything. Explained what the numbers meant, which ones mattered, and put together the right package for my house. No pressure, just honest advice." ★★★★★
Jerry S., Verified Buyer
"Water treatment is confusing. There's so much hype out there. I sent my test results to Mid Atlantic Water and Aidan cut through all the noise. Told me exactly what I needed, no more, no less. Been running the system for months now and the water is perfect." ★★★★★
Chuck B., Verified Buyer
The Form of Your Iron Decides the Filter. This Test Reveals It.
Ferrous, ferric, and total iron measured separately at an independent certified lab, plus a personal filter-design recommendation from a 30-year well water expert.
Two wells can have the same total iron and need different systems. The reason is speciation: whether the iron is dissolved ferrous iron that turns orange in the air, or ferric iron that is already rusted into particles. Treat the wrong form and even a correctly sized filter can let cloudy, staining water through.
This test preserves and measures ferrous, ferric, and total iron separately at an independent, NELAC/ELAP-accredited lab, so you know not just how much iron you have but what form it is in. That is the difference between guessing at a filter and engineering the right one.
Aidan reviews the full breakdown and recommends the exact iron filter media and oxidation setup for your water chemistry and flow rate. It is the test we reach for when iron is stubborn, when a previous filter fell short, or when the number is high enough that getting the design right the first time really matters.
✔3 Parameters
✔Independent Certified Lab
✔Expert Review Included
✔Results in ~8 business days
✔Free Return Shipping
✔Ferrous vs Ferric Iron
Feature
Our System
Others
What You Get
✔
3 (lab-certified)
Color strips: a rough guess, not a number
Accuracy
✔
Parts-per-billion (ICP-MS)
Rough color estimates
Lab Certified
✔
NELAC/ELAP accredited
No lab involved
Designed For
✔
Ferrous vs Ferric Iron
Generic, no targeted method
Expert Review
✔
Included (30-year specialist)
Not available
Treatment Plan
✔
Personalized equipment recommendation
Generic or none
Return Shipping
✔
Free overnight (prepaid)
Not included
What You Get
✅ Us3 (lab-certified)
❌ ThemColor strips: a rough guess, not a number
Accuracy
✅ UsParts-per-billion (ICP-MS)
❌ ThemRough color estimates
Lab Certified
✅ UsNELAC/ELAP accredited
❌ ThemNo lab involved
Designed For
✅ UsFerrous vs Ferric Iron
❌ ThemGeneric, no targeted method
Expert Review
✅ UsIncluded (30-year specialist)
❌ ThemNot available
Treatment Plan
✅ UsPersonalized equipment recommendation
❌ ThemGeneric or none
Return Shipping
✅ UsFree overnight (prepaid)
❌ ThemNot included
✔ Get a Full Report With Every Test
Every test includes a personal review of your results by Aidan, a water treatment specialist with over 30 years of experience. Call, text, or email anytime before, during, or after your test.
📞 Call Us800-460-5810
✉️ Email Supportsupport@midatlanticwater.net
🕒 Live Hours7 days a week
Frequently Asked Questions
Most homeowners start with the basic Iron Water Test to get total iron, which is enough to size a standard air-injection filter. Choose speciation when the form is genuinely in question: water that is clear then turns orange (ferrous) versus already rusty (ferric), a previous filter that underperformed, or a high iron number where you want to confirm the oxidation approach before investing in a system.
Ferrous iron is dissolved and must be oxidized into a particle before a filter can catch it, which is what air-injection systems do. Ferric iron is already a particle and behaves more like sediment. Knowing the split confirms whether an oxidizing iron filter is correctly configured, or whether added pre-oxidation or sediment handling is warranted.
A properly configured air-injection Katalox-Light filter oxidizes ferrous iron and captures both ferrous-turned-ferric and existing ferric iron. The speciation result helps us confirm the air draw and backwash settings are right for your water, so the system performs as designed instead of letting cloudy water slip through.
Aidan reviews the ferrous, ferric, and total iron numbers and recommends the exact iron filter and configuration for your water and household size. If a simpler total-iron approach would serve you just as well, he will say so.
Absolutely. Call or text Aidan at 800-460-5810. He is available 7 days a week. If you are not sure whether you need this test, he can help you figure that out in a few minutes. No sales pitch, just straight answers. You can also email support@midatlanticwater.net.
Iron Speciation Water ...$139.00
The Cost of Guessing Wrong
A focused lab test vs thousands in wrong equipment.
What happens when you skip the test
Without a lab number, you are guessing. We have seen it hundreds of times: a homeowner buys the wrong system, or the wrong size, because staining or smell or scale looked a certain way. Wrong equipment means wasted money, an unsolved problem, and an eventual second purchase.
A focused lab test tells you exactly what is in your water so you buy the right equipment the first time. It is not a cost. It is insurance against a much larger mistake.
The Real Comparison
Guessing (No Test)
$1,000-$3,000
❌Lifespan: Fails in 3-4 years
❌Result: Frequent repairs, poor water quality, leaks
❌Support: None
Wrong or mis-sized equipment
Best Long-Term Value
Test First, Then Buy Right
$139
✅Lifespan: Lasts 15+ years
✅Result: Done right the first time, peace of mind
✅Support: Lifetime USA Support
Right equipment the first time
The test costs a small fraction of a single piece of water treatment equipment. If it keeps you from buying the wrong system even once, it has paid for itself many times over.
What this test gets you
A certified-lab measurement of ferrous vs ferric iron using Ferric, ferrous, and total iron reported separately (ferrous preserved at sampling), plus a personal recommendation from a 30-year water treatment expert. The exact number you need to make the right decision, done right the first time.
Contact Us
800-460-5810
We're here to help.
Accuracy Guarantee
Independent Certified Lab · Ferric, ferrous, and total iron reported separately (ferrous preserved at sampling)
The Guarantee: Your sample is analyzed by an independent, NELAC/ELAP-accredited lab using validated methods. If your kit does not arrive, the lab loses your sample, results are delayed beyond 13 business days, or anything else goes wrong in the process, we will send a replacement kit at no charge or issue a full refund. No questions, no hassle.
30+YEARS EXPERIENCE
10,000+HOMES HELPED
5.0★Success Rate
Your test is processed by a third-party certified lab in the SimpleLab network, independently accredited under NELAC/ELAP standards. We never touch the testing. The lab runs validated, EPA-standard methods to produce results you can trust. Then Aidan reviews your numbers and tells you exactly what they mean.
Why DIY Test Strips Can't Compare
+
DIY test strips test a handful of parameters with color-changing pads you match against a chart. They cannot detect contaminants at the low levels that matter for health, and they miss critical analytes entirely.
Our test uses the same certified-lab method state and federal drinking-water programs use: Ferric, ferrous, and total iron reported separately (ferrous preserved at sampling). The difference between a strip and a certified lab is the difference between guessing and knowing.
How Our Testing Process Works
1
Test Your Water
Order the kit, collect your sample, and mail it back. Your water is analyzed by a NELAC/ELAP certified lab using Ferric, ferrous, and total iron reported separately (ferrous preserved at sampling).
2
Get Expert Analysis
Aidan reviews your results and creates a specific recommendation for your household: what to do, what equipment, what size, and why. No generic advice, no upselling.
Fix It Right the First Time
If you need treatment, we help you select the right system, ship it to your door, and provide free lifetime technical support for installation and maintenance. One company from test to treatment.
I have been solving well and city water problems for over 30 years. Send me your ferrous vs ferric iron result and I will tell you exactly what you need, or exactly why you do not need anything at all.
