Taste, Odor or Discolored Water Concerns

Brown water is often caused by disturbances in a water main or pipe. For example, if a water main breaks or a fire hydrant is used in your area, those actions often stir up sediment that has settled at the bottom of the main or pipe. While brown water might look unsafe, it’s not; brown water is caused by sediment or silt particles from the river and they’re harmless. If you experience this problem, we recommend not using water for one or two hours, so it has more time to clear. If the water is still unclear after a few hours, call 253–502-8207.

White or cloudy water is typically caused by tiny air bubbles trapped in the water. The bubbles could cause a slightly metallic taste or odor. This is harmless and usually temporary. Water odor and taste vary throughout the year because of changing water sources (i.e., did it come from a river or a well), seasonal algae in the Green River, or fluctuating chlorine concentrations. Those slight variations are normal, harmless, and isn’t a sign of unhealthy water. 

Rust particles in your water could appear when we shut down water mains or when your property-side water is turned off to make repairs. This could also happen when you haven’t used water in your home or business for awhile, such as when you are away on vacation. With older water mains or property-side plumbing systems (typically found in older homes with galvanized pipes, which are old pipes that rust from the inside out), small or even large amounts of rust can break loose from the plumbing system when waters starts to flow. This causes orange-brown water to appear when you turn on the tap. 

Running the cold water for three minutes should solve the issue and provide clear water. However, sometimes this problem goes on for several days before it clears up. We suggest periodically cleaning the aerators on your spigots to remove any rust particles that collected. As a regular precaution, use only clear water from the cold water tap for drinking and cooking.

If you have sand-like particles or grit in your home plumbing, it likely comes from rust particles and minerals coming loose from inside a galvanized or copper pipe. While we expect this from time to time, it can wear out your faucets sooner. Sand and grit will also accumulate in faucet aerators, so it is best to clean them every now and then. This could be one of the reasons why your washing machine fills too slowly. To fix this, clean or replace the screen filters where the hot and cold water hoses enter the back of the machine. 

Hardness refers to amount of dissolved minerals in the water, which interferes with the sudsing or foaming agents in your soap. The harder the water, the less sudsing that happens. The water we provide is softer than that, which means washing your clothes requires less soap than areas that use hard water. 

Blue stains on fixtures happen when water interacts with copper pipes, which are commonly used in newer plumbing systems. Copper dissolves into the water when water sits in the pipes overnight or isn’t used during the day. 

To solve this, if the water sits unused in the pipes for more than 6 hours, run the water for about 30 seconds, or until your feel a change in the water temperature or you smell chlorine. Keeping the fixtures dry and drip-free also helps prevent the problem.

Pink stains on fixtures, shower/sink drains, toilet bowls, and pet dishes are usually caused by an airborne bacteria not associated with the drinking water. This bacteria thrives in damp areas, so keeping the surfaces dry will help prevent this problem.  Bleach solutions also help remove the stains. 

Metallic-tasting water is usually associated with either yellow water or air bubbles in the water. This is harmless and isn’t a sign of unhealthy water. 

We add chlorine to our water supply to kill bacteria and other potentially harmful microbes. Normally, you don’t even notice it. However, chlorine’s taste and odor may appear higher during the late spring and summer. This is because chlorine and naturally occurring plant materials in the Green River combine at that time. After September, those levels generally decrease, and the chlorine odor and taste lessen. 

To help minimize taste and odors, fill a pitcher of water and let it stand in the fridge overnight.

You may occasionally notice an earthy taste or odor in our water, most often in July, August and September. The odor comes from an increase in algae growth due to warmer weather and more sunlight. 

If your cold water has an earthy odor after running it for three to five minutes, it is most likely from the water main. 

If you experience water quality problems and would like to speak with a water quality specialist, call 253-502-8207.