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Shortlist

Contaminant

Manganese in drinking water

Stains black-brown and affects taste. Often paired with iron in well water.

This page can’t tell you what’s in your tap water.
Only a test of water from your own tap can. Public-system results describe the system, not your home.
7 sources
01Check your water systemWater Check · system results, not your tap02Test your tapHow to get a reliable result03Treatment approachesWhat can reduce it at the tap
On this page · 10 sections
  1. 01Reference values
  2. 02Is it in my water?
  3. 03Where it comes from
  4. 04Testing
  5. 05Water filters
  6. 06Treatment
  7. 07Evidence
  8. 08Next steps
  9. 09Ask about manganese
  10. 10References
Reference values

No numeric reference held.

Each value says what kind of reference it is, and they mean different things. A lower or missing number never means water is safe.

No numeric reference held

WaterDecoder doesn’t hold a verified reference value for manganese in drinking water. That doesn’t mean any level is safe. It means we haven’t verified one to show you.

Is it in my water?

Only a test of your own tap can tell.

Choose what you have. We’ll show what it can and can’t tell you.

If you haven’t tested
Nobody can tell without a measurement, including us.

Three things you can do, in this order.

Test water from your tapThis is the only way to know your level. Testing guidance ↓See what your system reportsSystem results aren’t a tap measurement. Open Water Check →On a private well?Public-system reports don’t cover wells. Open Well Water →
Where it comes from

Where it comes from

  1. Naturally occurring in groundwater and surface water from mineral deposits in soil and rock
  2. Human activities including mining, industrial discharges, steel and alloy manufacturing, and battery production
  3. Use in fertilizers, fungicides, varnish, and other industrial products that can leach into water supplies
Why it matters
Neurological effects in infants and children, including changes in behavior, lower IQ, speech and memory difficulties, and lack of coordination and movement control
Metallic-tasting water and black stains on plumbing fixtures, toilets, tubs, showers, and laundry
Testing

How to test your tap water for manganese

Have your water tested for manganese at a certified drinking water laboratory; contact your local drinking water authority for a list of certified labs or search EPA's drinking water lab certification page.

  1. 01Use a certified labA state-certified lab, or a kit that sends samples to one.
  2. 02Follow the sampling stepsHow and when you collect the water changes the result.
  3. 03Check the reportIt should state units and the detection limit.
Certified labNot sponsored
Use a state-certified labYour state keeps a list of labs certified for drinking water.

Choosing a filter for manganese

None qualify
No products currently qualify for a manganese pick here.

Nothing in our database has a manganese claim for an exact configuration we can verify.

Find a fit in FinderRead treatment approaches
Treatment

How to reduce manganese in water

Removing manganese requires technologies such as cation exchange, distillation, filtration, or reverse osmosis.
How to reduce manganeseTreatment mirrors iron: oxidizing filters capture it, and some softeners reduce low levels. Because it’s harder to oxidize than iron, the media and pH have to be right, so match the system to a well test.
Whole-house systems and point-of-use filters treat different water. A whole-house system treats water where it enters the home; a point-of-use filter treats the tap it’s installed on. Check which one a claim is for.
Evidence

What the evidence means

We keep evidence types apart. A result for one configuration never stands in for another, and we never average across types.

No product in our database holds a reduction record for manganese yet.

How we read evidence →

Next steps

Take the next step

Match a system to your homeFinder asks about your home first.
Ask about manganese

Still have a question?

Answers come only from WaterDecoder’s reviewed sources and show citations. Ask can’t interpret your test result or choose a product. Don’t include personal details.

AI assistant

Ask about Manganese

Answers draw on cited public-health sources and the filters certified to reduce Manganese. Every source is linked, and if the sources don’t cover a question, the answer says so.

Questions to start with

Educational information from cited sources. Not medical or professional advice.

References

Where these facts come from

  1. 1Knowledge BaseManganese FAQWater Quality Association (WQA)
  2. 2Knowledge BaseDrinking Water Health Advisory for ManganeseU.S. EPA Office of Water
  3. 3Knowledge BaseToxicological Profile for ManganeseATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) / CDC
  4. 4Knowledge BaseIron and Manganese in Private Water SystemsPenn State Extension
  5. 5Knowledge BaseSecondary Drinking Water Standards: Guidance for Nuisance ChemicalsU.S. EPA
  6. 6Knowledge BaseManganese in Drinking WaterMinnesota Department of Health
  7. 7Knowledge BaseOverview of Drinking Water Treatment TechnologiesUS EPA (SDWA program)

Written and maintained by WaterDecoder. A review date appears only once we have confirmed one.

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