Clear, fresh-tasting water is both hydrating and an indicator of good water quality. However, any change in the color of your water indicates poor water quality.
The most common occurrence is your water turning brown. When your water changes color, sometimes you will need to schedule repairs and sometimes you won’t. Offering Oahu plumbing repairs, All Aloha Plumbing has compiled a list of reasons for brown water, what they mean and how to resolve the problem.
Why Water Is Brown
Over time, minerals, sediment or rust can accumulate in your water supply, causing it to turn brown or discolored. These deposits can turn tap water brown when there is a disturbance in the water main. If the water main breaks, or there is adjacent construction, there is a possibility of your water turning brown.
An extremely common reason for brown water is damaged or recently replaced water pipes. Water will also turn brown if rust becomes dislodged from the water pipes and sneaks its way into the water supply.
Thankfully, brown water will usually turn to clear, drinkable water again within a few hours. However, if a few hours pass and the brown water doesn’t clear up, you will have to call a professional.
Is Brown Water Poisonous Or Harmful?
When water isn’t clear, the first thing on homeowners’ minds will probably be its toxicity. In short, brown water is not poisonous, but it is also not recommended to drink. The brown water can be an indicator that iron, a naturally occurring metal found in soil, has become overly present in it.
A more serious problem would be if the brown water is being caused by a rusty pipe. Rusty pipes mean rusty water, something that looks disgusting and, beyond that, is a bacteria breeding ground.
Additionally, rust build-up causes pipes to corrode and crack, exposing water to air contaminants. We don’t know about you, but we wouldn’t want to drink contaminated water.
Aside from poor water quality, leaking pipes can cause mold and mildew to grow, resulting in health hazards beyond dirty water. To keep both your water and your household safe, call a professional plumber for assistance.
Ways To Get Rid Of Brown Water
Sometimes, your water will only be brown when hot water is running. This usually comes down to the water heater needing to be flushed out and inspected. Rusting can also indicate that the water heater is reaching the end of its life. In this scenario, replacement is required.
Running cold water from your tap for roughly 20 minutes is a simple, at-home remedy for clearing away brown water. If you do this and the water is still brown, consider calling your town or city and asking if the brown water is coming from the city’s pipes.
You can also call your city’s utility provider and have them inspect the pipes. Often, they will be able to flush out the brown water using a fire hydrant. If this is done and brown water is still coming out of your tap, extra measures will have to be taken.
Finally, ask around your street and see if your neighbors are experiencing the same problem. If they are, that means there’s an issue with the piping that has to be resolved by the utility provider. However, if your neighbors aren’t experiencing any problems, you will need to call a professional to flush out any rust buildup in your pipes.
Call For Oahu Plumbing Repairs Today
No one wants to drink brown water: a beverage that should be clear and refreshing. To keep your water supply safe to drink, pay attention to when your water fogs up or starts turning brown. When it does, and at-home remedies fail, call All Aloha Plumbing and finally enjoy fresh water again.