What does high iron content in water mean? Willful ignorance and the harmful consequences.

In late 2021, after receiving two COVID-19 vaccinations in May, I began experiencing a range of new symptoms. These included heightened arthritis-related joint pain, a shift in skin color to a yellowish hue, severe fatigue and weakness, abdominal pain, and frequent irregular heartbeats, even at rest.

Out of concern, I sought an iron blood test in August 2021, which also checked ferritin levels. The results were unexpected: both my iron and ferritin levels were high, contrasting with my usual anemic condition. This led me to examine potential causes, starting with the supplements I was taking, but I found no connection to the elevated ferritin levels. Numerous doctor visits also didn't shed light on the issue.

A significant clue emerged when I revisited old study notes on my external hard drive, pointing to high iron content in water. After observing a brownish residue in my Britta filter after several uses, my suspicions grew.

In May 2022, a conversation with my landlord uncovered a history of dirty water problems in our building for the last five years. This prompted me to get a water test from a reliable lab. The results in June 2022 were concerning: Iron (Fe 2+ + Fe3+) levels were at 656 μg/l, far exceeding the safe threshold of 200 μg/l. Additionally, the colony count at 22 °C CFU/ml was 1450 (limit: 100), and turbidity measured at 4.55 NTU.

When I shared these findings with my landlord, and they were discussed in a meeting with the apartment owners, there was controversy. Despite the concrete evidence, some owners, worried about repair costs, disputed the lab results and denied any water quality issues. Even with the high iron levels confirmed, one owner mentioned having new steel water lines, and the then apartment manager dismissed the concerns as unfounded.

To address the high iron in my blood, I spent €159,90 on a water filter and an additional €24,90 bi-monthly for replacement cartridges.

Despite a year of reviewing the evidence and a change in apartment management, the building's maintenance staff remained skeptical, with one member even making cynical comments about my concerns. It was also disheartening to hear that another resident had labeled me a "confused old woman."

Finally, in December 2023, the new management held a meeting with an expert who verified high rust particle concentrations in the building's water lines. Since this confirmation, those residents and owners who initially denied the issues now noticeably avoid me in the corridors, treating me as if I were an outcast.

It is never wrong to fight when evidence is present. 

© 2000-2025 Sieglinde W. Alexander. All writings by Sieglinde W. Alexander have a fife year copy right.

Library of Congress Card Number: LCN 00-192742

ISBN: 0-9703195-0-9

Some stories are a part of her new book. No part of this article or any other text can be used for publication or reproduction in any form without written permission from the author.