The water coming from your tap should be crystal clear. If it’s not, that’s a sign there’s a problem either with the water supply or plumbing in your home. The type of discoloration can help plumbers diagnose the problem. If your water is discolored, it’s important to seek advice from a plumber before drinking the water.
What Does It Mean if Your Water Is Discolored?
Discolored water coming out of your faucets can be caused by a variety of issues.
Light Yellow Water
If you have a well and your water has turned yellow, this could be a warning sign that your pump or screen is damaged and is allowing contamination through. Fortunately, this is relatively easy to fix. Sediment contamination of this type can sometimes make it into city tap water as well.
Red Water
Red tap water may be a sign of rust coming from corroded pipes. It’s usually not a good idea to drink this, as the corrosion could have led to other harmful contaminants, such as lead, getting into the drinking supply as well. We can help you by replacing the corroded pipes, giving you peace of mind that the water supply is safe to drink.
If some of your pipes are corroded, it’s likely you have an old plumbing system and may benefit from pipe lining or repiping your property. This gives you peace of mind that all your pipes are in good condition and will serve you and your family clean water for many years to come.
Cloudy Water
Cloudy water may be contaminated with methane gas, especially if it’s bubbling. Other gases that can lead to cloudy water include nitrogen and oxygen. You’re more likely to see this sort of contamination if the water has been frozen, or if you live in a hard water area. There are tests experts can carry out to show what contaminants are in your water, to make sure it’s safe to drink. Water filtration systems can remove excess minerals from hard water.
Brown Water
Brown water usually has sediment in it. Not all sediment is necessarily dangerous; however, it’s not a good idea to drink it because sediment can taste unpleasant and there’s a chance bacteria may be growing in the water.
Another cause of brown water is rust, although rust can also make water look red. People who live near a fire hydrant, or who are in a city area where there’s construction work going on, might notice some brown discoloration to their water from time to time.
If your water comes from a well, you might see it turn brown sometimes if there’s gravel or sand in the water source. This can indicate a problem with your well pump or screen.
Blue/Green Water
If your water supply is discolored with blue or green tinges, this may be an indication of algae growing in it, and there may be other contaminants and microorganisms too. Another common cause of blue/green tinges to your water is high levels of copper. It’s common to see blue/green water in new properties, or if you’ve just had your pipes replaced with copper ones.
In rare cases, an incorrectly installed toilet cistern can cause blue/green-tinted water. In these instances, the discoloration is caused by the water from the cistern flowing back into the internal plumbing, and the blue comes from the disinfectant products used in the cistern. A plumber can fix this by installing a backflow prevention device.
Other Types of Discoloration
The above are just a few of the most common kinds of discoloration. If you notice something else, such as oily water, it’s important to call a plumber to have your water checked. Oily water can be a sign that the supply is contaminated by petroleum and is not safe to drink.
At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, we’re committed to helping people keep their water supply safe and clean. We can assist with discolored water caused by problems on your property. If the problem is further down the line, such as an issue at the water treatment plant, we won’t be able to help with this. However, we can confirm that the problem isn’t on your property, and help you contact the people who are responsible for the main water supply in your area.
Call Us for All Your Plumbing Needs
Whatever plumbing problems you’re having, you can count on bluefrog Plumbing + Drain to fix it. Our licensed plumbers offer polite, professional and punctual service. Call us now to book a visit or request a free, no-obligation estimate from one of our experienced team members.
