Helpful Plumbing Tips

What Does Brown Water Coming From Your Faucet Mean?

Turning on your tap and seeing dirty-looking water pour out is unsettling, but what does brown water coming from your faucet mean exactly, and is it safe? The plumbers in Riverside, CA, at OneStop Plumbers share some common causes below so that you can get your property’s water quality back.

Common Reasons Your Water Turns Brown

Water discoloration typically comes from iron, rust, sediment, and manganese. The contamination could be from your own property’s plumbing or from the water system serving your neighborhood. Common culprits of brown water are:

Rust in water pipes: Iron pipes corrode, and flakes of rust can tint your water orange or brown.
Corroded galvanized pipes: Homes built before the 1960s often used galvanized steel pipes. These degrade from the inside out as zinc coatings wear away.
Sediment in water lines: Mineral deposits and fine particles accumulate inside pipes and get stirred up by changes in water pressure or flow.
Iron and manganese in water: Higher concentrations of naturally occurring minerals in groundwater can cause brown, orange, or even black discoloration.
Water main break: A break in a nearby main line may disturb sediment inside public pipes and send discolored water into the area’s network.
Municipal water system disturbance: Routine maintenance or even firefighting activities can disrupt the local water supply and temporarily churn up rust and debris.

What does brown water coming from your faucet mean? That answer depends on where the contamination problem originates.

How To Tell Where the Water Color Problem Starts

Being armed with some facts about faucets may make it easier to determine whether the water issue is inside your home. Check every faucet in the house to see if brown water is coming out of all of them. If so, the source is likely your municipal water.

Timing is another clue. Water that runs brown first thing in the morning but clears up after a minute or two usually indicates rust in the water pipes. Check your hot-water faucets separately, as the issue may be in your water heater.

What Does Brown Water From Your Faucet Mean for Your Health?

Fortunately, not all brown water constitutes an immediate health emergency. Trace amounts of iron and manganese are not acutely toxic but can affect taste and cause staining. Rust particles from corroded pipes or water main breaks, however, may carry bacteria and other contaminants along with them.

Look out for your local water utility issuing a precautionary advisory, and until the water runs clear, avoid using it for drinking, cooking, or even bathing.

Clear Water Is Within Reach With OneStop Plumbers

What does brown water coming from your faucet mean if it clears up on its own? If you aren’t sure, always check with a professional plumber. Experts can tell you more about water softeners removing iron and similar long-term solutions that may protect your supply.

You can also give OneStop Plumbers a call at (951) 612-6014 and let us help you get the clean, clear water you expect in Riverside, CA.