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Brown Water? These are the Reasons This Could be Happening

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Melbourne Plumber

Are you experiencing discolored water coming out of your tap? Want to know what is causing your water to look brown or reddish? Look no further. We have an answer.

The most common reason water can come out of your pipes with a brown or reddish color is that it contains rust or minerals. They make their way into your water when it passes through old and outdated plumbing systems. Here is a brief list of how else your water may be getting its brownish color.

• Iron particles that have rusted and weighed down long-standing water
• An increase in water flow via the pipes as a result of higher demand
• Fire departments using fire hydrants in an emergency
• Restoring water flow following maintenance or regular cleansing
• The service line that connects your home pipes to the mains distribution system may be old or broken.

Whatever the reason may be, one thing is for certain, you don’t want to drink or bathe in brown polluted water. That would be gross and unsafe. Drinking clean and safe water is important.

The main purpose of drinking water is to remove the waste and toxins from your body. If you put it into your body already containing these ingredients then it simply won’t be able to do its job. 

Identifying the Source

A licensed plumber will be able to run some simple tests to identify what is causing your water discoloration. Once he identifies the issue he will be able to fix the problem. You may need to have some corrosive pipes replaced or it could even be the fixtures. 

Talk to your plumber about having a whole home water filtration system installed. This system treats water as it enters your home. When you shower or drink in your home it will be clear of any impurities it picked up on its journey from the water plant. 

Before you call the plumber, make sure to run the water for 5-10 minutes to make sure it’s not just a temporary problem. If the water discoloration returns then you have an issue which should definitely be addressed.