What to do when faucets spew dirty water

Dirty Water Problem. (Photo Credits)

When murky or brownish water suddenly comes out of the faucet, homeowners are usually left weirded out and trying to find out what could be done about it.

It is not only unsightly, it is also very much unsanitary and could even cause illnesses to some extent.

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In its official blog site, the Environmental Working Group came up with a comprehensive explanation on why tap water color would suddenly change.

One of the reasons it cited is organic material settling in the plumbing system. Plumbing Association of San Diego

“Dirt and other naturally occurring sediments settle at the bottom of water supply lines. If something causes the water passing through the pipes to speed up – such as a water main break, high service demand or even firefighting – the faster flow can stir up the sediment and cause your water to appear yellow or brown.”

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Read the whole explanation here.

Rust from the pipes

Bobvila.com also explained why brown water may be coming out of the tap. Rust from the iron pipes could be causing it, a water main break, or from the home water heater. A/C and HVAC

“The most likely culprit is rust leeching from an aging galvanized iron pipe. If you mainly notice the discoloration first thing in the morning—or after being away from your home for a while—chances are it’s a supply line. That’s especially true if only one faucet in your home is spewing the brown stuff. Before you replace any pipes, though, call the local water department to see if anyone else in your neighborhood has reported the same issue. If so, the discoloration may be due to a water-main break (or hydrants being flushed). In either of those cases, you could expect the discoloration to clear in an hour or so.”

Read the whole material here.

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Treehugger.com also came up with an explanation on why tap water would suddenly turn brown.

“Your drinking water may be brown because it has too much iron in it. Iron is a common, naturally occurring metal in soil, and as a result, is normally present in your drinking water. Under normal conditions, drinking water provides about 5% of the iron that you are supposed to drink or eat each day. You need iron to survive, as iron is a key part of red blood cells and is used to trap oxygen and carry it from your lungs to other parts of your body.”

Check out the whole explanation here.

Murky water can be annoying, and can either be harmless, or plain dirty. To find out why this happens exactly, seek the services of a professional plumbing contractor.