Fleck Metallic-Tasting Water Filter

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Metallic Taste Is Often Attributed to Manganese, But Regional Data Clarifies the Issue

Homeowners experiencing a metallic taste in their water may suspect manganese as a common cause. In Arapahoe County, water samples taken from aquifer 111ALFP provide a clear record of manganese presence. These results help differentiate perception from measurable data without making assumptions about any single household’s water.

How the Fleck System Removes or Neutralizes Manganese

The Fleck Metallic-Tasting Water Filter is designed to address manganese in water by employing filtration and oxidation methods that reduce the dissolved manganese responsible for unpleasant tastes. This technology handles manganese effectively, improving water’s sensory quality and making it more enjoyable for household use. It ships ready to configure for ease of setup.

Questions Commercial and Industrial Operators Consider Beyond the Household

While residential concerns focus primarily on taste and minor staining, commercial or industrial users in Arapahoe County assess manganese's impact on equipment longevity, product quality, and regulatory compliance. These operators often require higher flow rates and sustained treatment capacity, and they analyze manganese concentrations to avoid operational disruptions. Households generally do not need these extensive considerations.

Comparing Arapahoe County to Neighboring Areas Without Overinterpreting Data

The manganese median concentration in Arapahoe County aquifer 111ALFP samples is 2870 micrograms per liter, with a range spanning approximately 10 to 8100 micrograms per liter. These figures derive from 183 samples taken between 2010 and 2025 at depths of 20 to 25 feet. Comparing this to neighboring counties’ data requires caution: differences in geology, sampling depth, and well type can produce variability that does not directly translate to one another.

Fixtures and Appliances That Show Effects First

Metallic taste attributed to manganese and other minerals typically appears first in drinking water taps, coffee makers, and ice machines, where water contact is frequent and taste sensitivity high. Appliances using heating elements or water storage tanks may also exhibit slight discoloration or film if manganese is present, though this is not common in all households.

Understanding Sampling Terminology: Detected, Median, and Range

In the USGS sampling record, manganese was detected in all 183 samples, meaning it was measurable above the instrument’s detection threshold. The median value represents the middle concentration level across all samples, indicating a typical manganese presence in the area’s groundwater. The range shows variability between the lowest and highest measured concentrations in these wells, but no measurements exceeded federal manganese thresholds.

How Sample Depth and Well Characteristics Affect Expected Water Quality

The USGS samples were taken from wells 20 to 25 feet deep, representing relatively shallow groundwater sources. Water quality, including manganese presence, can vary at different depths or in wells with different construction. Deeper wells or sources drawing from surface water may show different manganese profiles, so local testing is necessary to understand a specific well’s condition.

Confirming Your Water’s Manganese Level Is Key

The only way to know if manganese is causing a metallic taste in your household water is to conduct an individual water test focusing on manganese concentration. A test result showing manganese at concentrations associated with noticeable metallic taste would confirm the need for treatment. Otherwise, the metallic taste might stem from other causes that require different approaches.

Where this information comes from

Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2025-12-12. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.

On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Manganese in the 111ALFP aquifer (Arapahoe County): 183 results from 3 wells, median 2870.0 ug/L, range 9.66-8100.0 ug/L; none above any federal threshold