What Causes Water Discoloration in the Faucet?
In old plumbing systems, faucet water discoloration often stems from mineral deposits, rust, or corroded pipes. Construction, maintenance work, and high iron or manganese levels can also disturb sediments and affect water quality. Regularly checking pipes and testing water quality with the best plumbing services in San Diego from Voyager Plumbing can help identify and resolve these issues.
What Causes Water Discoloration?
Discoloration of tap water, such as brown or rusty water, typically results from plumbing issues, environmental factors, or interference in the water pipes. Knowledge of these causes ranks as the top priority in guaranteeing a clean water supply.
1. Iron and Rust Accumulation
Yellow or orange-colored water is usually the result of iron sediment from rusty pipes, especially for homes built before 1960. Rust develops in older pipes, and pipe maintenance by cities can stir up and contaminate the water supply. Even though these incidents clear within hours, they will last sometimes for days. Repetitive flushing by water authorities may also color water temporarily.
2. Corroded Plumbing Fixtures
Rust or sediment in older pipes can lead to rust or debris in the water, making the water reddish or brown, typically from specific faucets. Regular checking of fixtures for rust is required to prevent discoloration.
3. Sediment in Water Supply
City maintenance or well water can disturb sediments, leading to discolored or cloudy water. While clarity usually improves as sediments settle, ongoing issues can be fixed with sediment filters like SedimentShield. Seasonal changes, like reduced water volume in the fall, can also stir up sediments.
4. Presence of Algae or Bacteria
Cloudy water typically results from algae blooms, not common in domestic plumbing. In well water more frequently, the iron-related bacteria cause clouding, sliminess, and odors. Proper testing keeps our drinking water protected from harmful microbes.
5. Copper Corrosion in Pipes
Blue-green discoloration shows copper corrosion from old or poorly maintained pipes. This affects taste and water quality. Monitoring of copper levels will avoid long-term health risks.
6. Hard Water and Mineral Build-up
Hard water has too much calcium and magnesium, which makes it look cloudy and creates crusty plugs in pipes. The plugs result in water being stuck and can stain the water. Testing the hardness of water and water softeners can avoid all these issues.
7. Methane Gas in Water
Methane-contaminated water, though uncommon, will be bubbly or cloudy and smell like rotten eggs. This is serious enough to be a health hazard, so it’s best to test the water promptly to identify and adjust the problem.
8. Tannins from Natural Sources
Rural areas can develop tannins from decaying organic matter making water yellow and tasting and smelling unpleasant. Regular monitoring keeps the water healthy, safe, and acceptable.
Types of Water Discoloration
Water discoloration can take place for any number of reasons, and all of these have different problems behind them. Knowing the types helps us identify the problem and, thus, the solution. Besides being an eyesore, discoloration can indicate serious safety and quality concerns. Read further to learn about the most common types of discoloration and the reasons for them.
Yellow or Orange Water Causes
Yellow or orange-tinted water usually means iron contamination, otherwise known as “brown water blues.” This might happen when old homes have rusty pipes that leak iron particles and turn the water reddish-brown. Iron might also be caused by naturally high-iron wells or city maintenance like hydrant flushing. If the color lasts more than a few days, think about installing a whole-house filter or using an iron removal solution for cleaner water.
Brown or Murky Water Causes
Disrupted vegetation usually produces turbid green water that is not harmful, occurring frequently when water mains are fixed. Well, water may contain intrinsic impurities like iron or manganese. Ongoing sediment issues could indicate pipe deposition. Monitoring the clarity of the water can determine if cleansing or filtration is required.
Green or Blue Water Causes
Green water may signify algal growth in drinking water, whereas blue-green discoloration often indicates copper corrosion in pipes due to heat. Proper checks for leaks, contamination, and water sampling avoid such situations.
Cloudy or White Water Causes
Cloudy water can be caused by harmless air bubbles that clear in a short time, or minerals in hard water and suspended solids. If the water tastes or smells bad, then further investigation is required. A point-of-use system like RevitaLife RO offers easy access to clean and tasty drinking water.
Oily Appearance in Water
Oily sheen in water can be indicative of iron bacteria, but petroleum contamination is less common. Rapid testing will be necessary to identify the source. Monitoring can be used to control these hazards before they affect health.
Factors Contributing to Discoloration
Discoloration of water in household faucets may result from several factors, including aged water pipes, external environmental conditions, or interference in the municipal supply of water. All these issues of water give rise to varying degrees of clarity of water, and it takes a more scrutinized look to identify the source of the issue.
Corrosion in Aging Pipes
Aging pipes, especially pre-1960 galvanized steel pipes, corrode and leach rust-colored water into beverages, causing discoloration to yellow, orange, or brown, which affects appearance as well as safety. Regular plumbing checks will reveal damage in its early stage. Low water pressure or recurring discoloration are some of the indicators that pipes may require replacement. Corrosion can also stimulate iron-sustaining bacteria, which increases discoloration and forms biofilm that lowers water quality.
Changes in Water Pressure
Changes in water pressure can resuspend sediment and biofilm in pipes and release particles into tap water. Pipe repairs or hydrant flushing are routine activities that cause such pressure changes. Sudden pressure changes can be harmful to plumbing, so caution must be exercised to observe any sudden discoloration of the water.
Heavy Rainfall Impact
Severe storms have the potential to intensify the amount of sediments in surface water through increased total suspended solids (TSS). Stormwater may add soil, algae, and organic material into reservoirs, leading to green or turbid water. This will lead to temporary disruptions in municipal water supplies, with customers experiencing colored water.
High Water Demand During Drought
Drought tends to stress water resources by propelling demand, which can perturb sediment within reservoirs or wells. It can lead to higher concentrations of contaminants like iron and methane and cause tap water to be cloudy, milky, or have a rusty appearance. It needs to be closely monitored to help ensure tap water quality.
Understanding the Causes of Faucet Water Discoloration
Understanding water discoloration helps solve safety problems early. Rust, sediment, or pipe issues are common reasons, and fixes like corroded pipes and system flushing can improve water quality. Plumbing upkeep is required periodically. If discoloration persists or causes health concerns, consulting with a plumber can prevent bigger issues and supply safe water.
Read More: Trustblogs
