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If you recently had your water tested and discovered elevated levels of manganese, you’re most likely on the hunt for the best whole house water filter for manganese. Firstly, manganese is one of the most abundant metals on Earth. Secondly, if you noticed black stains around your plumbing fixtures, this is a telltale sign of manganese. Additionally, water high in manganese will have a foul taste. Typically, manganese causes water to have a disagreeable metallic flavor.

Beyond taste, ingesting too much manganese may lead to neurological issues, especially in children. Common issues that children may experience are a lower IQ, memory issues, and poor coordination. Clearly, too much manganese isn’t something you want in your drinking water.

The good news is that in most cases, there are quick solutions in the form of water filters. Since manganese is more common in private wells, water filter manufacturers take this into account when designing their systems. The purpose of this article is to introduce you to the filters that most effectively remove manganese.

Top 5 Whole House Water Filters for Manganese

Product Description
#1) SoftPro Iron Master Ultimate Filtration

SoftPro Iron Master AIO Water Filtration System
  • Max Manganese Level: 7 ppm
  • Filter Media Life: 8 to 10 Years
  • Flow Rate: 6 to 12 GPM (Peak)
  • Dimensions: 48″ to 54″ H x 9″ to 12” Diameter
  • Model: AIO 1.0, AIO 1.5, AIO 2.0
  • Warranty: Lifetime on Tank, Limited Lifetime on Control Valve
#2) Fleck 2510SXT Greensand Filter System

Fleck 2510SXT Greensand Filter System
  • Max Manganese Level: 5 ppm
  • Filter Media Life: 5 to 10 Years
  • Flow Rate: 6 to 12 GPM (Peak)
  • Dimensions: 44″ to 54″ H x 10″ to 12” Diameter
  • Model: 2510SXT
  • Warranty: 10-Year on Tank, 5-Year on Control Valve, 1-Year on Distributor
#3) Springwell Whole House Well Water Filter System

springwell Whole House Well Water Filter System
  • Max Manganese Level: 1 ppm
  • Filter Life: 1,000,000 gallons
  • Flow Rate: 12 to 20 GPM (Service)
  • Dimensions: 54″ H x 10″ to 13” Diameter
  • Model: WS1, WS4
  • Warranty: Lifetime on Tank & Valve, 6-Month Money-Back Guarantee
#4) iSpring WGB32BM 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

  • Max Manganese Level: 1 ppm
  • Filter Life: Up to 1 year or 100,000 gallons
  • Flow Rate: 15 GPM (Peak)
  • Dimensions: 24.25″ x 7.75″ x 27.75″ (LxWxH)
  • Model: WGB32BM
  • Warranty: 1-Year
#5) Fleck 5600 Birm Filter for Iron & Manganese

Fleck 5600 Birm Iron Filter
  • Max Manganese Level: 1 ppm
  • Filter Life: 5 to 10 Years
  • Flow Rate: 5 to 9 GPM
  • Dimensions: 48″ to 54″ H x 9″ to 10” Diameter
  • Model: 5600 Birm
  • Warranty: 10-Year on Tank, 5-Year on Control Valve, 1-Year Distributor

Reviews: Best Whole House Water Filter for Manganese

Below, I share reviews of each system. Depending on your manganese concentration, you may find that the top two systems are your best bet. For this reason, a water test is required to identify your manganese levels.

Luckily, there are plenty of certified labs throughout the country that deliver accurate results. In the case of manganese, it’s best to leave it to the pros rather than using a home test kit. This way, you know for sure which filter is best for the job.

#1) SoftPro Iron Master Ultimate Filtration

SoftPro Iron Master AIO Water Filtration System copy

The SoftPro Iron Master was previously included in my guide to choosing the best drinking water filter for well water. Overall, this is one of the most complete whole house water filters on the market that’s perfect for well water. As you probably already noticed, this filter is the most powerful in this guide for manganese removal.

Comparatively, this filter removes manganese at concentrations up to 7 ppm. This is a full 7X greater than most of the other top filters on the market. In addition to manganese removal, the Iron Master also takes care of high concentrations of iron and hydrogen sulfide. As a result, you may find that this filter is an all-in-one solution for your home, outside of sediment removal and UV purification.

Finally, the Iron Master is available in several sizes to suit both small and large households. Currently, there are three models, including AIO 1.0, AIO 1.5, and AIO 2.0. Be sure to match your household size to the right filter. Generally, 2.5 GPM is the flow rate for showers, so homes with four or more bathrooms will want to opt for the AIO 2.0 with a 12 GPM peak flow rate.

Pros
  • Removes the highest concentrations of manganese up to 7 ppm
  • Also removes iron and hydrogen sulfide
  • Outperforms Greensand Plus and Birm
  • Easily programmable control valve
  • Multiple sizes available for all households
  • Longer filter media life
  • Lifetime warranty
Cons
  • Higher upfront cost

#2) Fleck 2510SXT Greensand Filter System

Fleck 2510SXT Greensand Filter System

You may already be familiar with Fleck control valves since they’re one of the most common in the water filtration space. Presently, Fleck’s greensand filtration system is one of the best for manganese removal. Plus, it also filters iron and hydrogen sulfide. Thus, you won’t need to add an extra filter to remove hydrogen sulfide. If you’re unfamiliar with hydrogen sulfide, it’s the culprit in well water with a rotten egg odor.

Comparatively, the Fleck 2510SXT Greensand Filter System removes manganese at up to 5 ppm. While not quite as high as the Iron Master, it’s still an impressive number when compared to most other manganese water filters. One important consideration to make when choosing this filter is that it does require the separate purchase of potassium permanganate.

Potassium permanganate is required in greensand filters to oxidize manganese for more efficient removal. To keep the filter running smoothly, there’s the requirement to add potassium permanganate to the included feeder tank once or twice per month. For this reason, you may prefer the convenience offered by other filters in this guide to skip over adding potassium permanganate.

Pros
  • Powerful manganese removal up to 5 ppm
  • Also removes iron and hydrogen sulfide without additional filters
  • Greensand media lasts 5 to 10 years before needing to be replaced
  • Compatible with water in a wide pH range (6.2 to 8.5)
  • Available for homes with up to 4 bathrooms
  • Competitive warranty terms
Cons
  • Potassium permanganate must be added monthly
  • The addition of the feeder tank instead of a single-tank system

#3) Springwell Whole House Well Water Filter System

springwell Whole House Well Water Filter System

For people on well water who have manganese concentrations below 1 ppm, Springwell’s WS1 is the best whole house water filter for manganese. Firstly, Springwell is one of the most trustworthy water filter suppliers with its lifetime warranty and 6-month satisfaction guarantee. With the 6-month guarantee, you get complete protection on your investment for the first six months of ownership.

Next, you’ll never need to worry about adding potassium permanganate or other chemicals to this filter. Instead, its operation is set-it-and-forget-it. Plus, the convenience of the Bluetooth control valve allows you to remotely monitor your water from your smartphone. In total, this filter removes black stains due to manganese, orange stains due to iron, and the all-too-familiar rotten egg odor caused by hydrogen sulfide.

To give you an idea of how this filter works, it utilizes an oxidation process to trap manganese. Then, the control valve automatically backwashes the filter to reset it with a fresh air pocket. Meanwhile, you get to enjoy manganese-free water throughout your home.

Pros
  • The highest service flow rate to prevent drops in water pressure
  • No need to add potassium permanganate or other chemicals
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Wide pH range of 6.5 to 10
  • The best warranty terms and satisfaction guarantee
Cons
  • Does not remove manganese at concentrations above 1 ppm
  • Higher upfront cost

#4) iSpring WGB32BM 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

One of the best all-in-one water filters for manganese is iSpring’s WGB32BM model. Comparatively, this system won’t set you back as much as the first three systems. However, it does not offer the same filter life and capacity as the preceding three filters. Additionally, it handles manganese concentrations up to 1 ppm, which falls short of the first two options.

However, beyond that, this is a great whole-house filter for singles, couples, and small families. First, your water enters a multi-gradient sediment filter to eliminate small and large sediment. Second, it enters a carbon block filter to remove common water contaminants. Third, it goes through the iron & manganese filter to remove iron up to 3 ppm and manganese up to 1 ppm.

For this reason, this filter is one of the best whole house water filters for iron and manganese. Lastly, this system pairs well with other home water filtration solutions, including water softeners and sediment filters. And with a peak flow rate of 15 GPM, there’s no drop in water pressure after installation.

Pros
  • Budget-friendly
  • Easy installation
  • Includes sediment and carbon filters
  • Effective iron removal as well
Cons
  • There are better choices for water with high concentrations of manganese
  • Multiple filters to maintain
  • Shorter filter life than single-tank filters

#5) Fleck 5600 Birm Filter for Iron & Manganese

Fleck 5600 Birm Iron Filter

One final option for manganese removal is a Birm filter. Firstly, this type of filter is usually more affordable than filters that use Katalox or Greensand media. However, the reduction in cost also comes with less efficient manganese removal. With that being said, the Fleck 5600 Birm filter does match the Springwell and iSpring filters above in the manganese removal department.

Plus, this filter does a good job of removing iron at concentrations up to 5 ppm. Other than that, it’s important to consider that this filter does not remove hydrogen sulfide, which is one of its greatest drawbacks. Because of this, you want to know exactly what’s in your water before choosing a Birm filter.

Several reasons you may want to choose this filter over others are no chemicals needed, the user-friendly mechanical control valve, and the system only requires occasional backwashing. With the control valve, the system will automatically backwash itself weekly to ensure consistent performance.

Pros
  • More affordable than other single-tank systems
  • Minimal maintenance
  • No chemicals required
  • The mechanical control valve automatically backwashes the system
Cons
  • Does not remove hydrogen sulfide
  • Manganese removal up to 1 ppm

Bottom Line

As a reminder, the first step to choosing the best whole house water filter for manganese is to test your water. A professional water test gives you the accurate results you need to select the right filter for your home. Once you have the results in hand, you’ll be able to ensure that you fall within the recommended manganese range, iron range, pH range, etc.

Additionally, you’ll be able to get an accurate idea of your water hardness. Since hard well water is very common, you might need to install a water softener after your manganese filter for the best results. If you already have an existing system that’s not effectively removing manganese, the filters in this guide are all great solutions.

You may find that you need to replace your current system completely or simply add another filter, such as the iSpring 3-stage filter. If you’re unsure about how to design your system, it’s always wise to consult a professional for advice.