Why is my water discolored or muddy looking?
First, there is not actually any mud in the water delivered to your home and no mud can enter our pressurized water lines. However, there are minerals in the water that can settle in the main lines or accumulate on older household plumbing made from galvanized steel pipe. The two minerals that can cause the water to be discolored are iron and manganese. Neither of these minerals are harmful. They are found in most vitamin supplements. These minerals can accumulate in the bottom of the main lines over a number of years. When pressure changes occur in the water lines from line breaks, fire use of hydrants, flushing fire hydrants, filling swimming pools or rapid turning on of the water (bathtub filling) these minerals can re-dissolve in the water and make it appear muddy. This situation is remedied by flushing your lines from your outside hose spigots.

Show All Answers

1. Why do my pipes bang or why do I have low pressure?
2. Why does my water smell like kerosene, cat urine or sulfur?
3. My water smells like chlorine/bleach. Are there a lot of chemicals or extra chlorine in the water?
4. Why do my toilets and sinks have black or pink rings or spots on them?
5. Why is my water discolored or muddy looking?
6. Why does my water look milky white?
7. Why do my pipes freeze?
8. How to prevent frozen pipes.
9. How to thaw pipes if they are frozen.
10. What is the hardness of my water?
11. Do you add fluoride to the water?
12. What happens if the sewer backs up? What can you do?
13. How do I tell if my sanitary sewer problem is in my house plumbing or in the public sanitary sewer main?
14. If my sewer backs up, is it my responsibility to pay for it?
15. How can I avoid future backups?
16. Check your cleanout.
17. I think I have a leak, what do I do?
18. I am moving. What is needed to end my water service?
19. I am moving. What is needed to start my water service?
20. Who do I contact about backflow prevention or conservation?
21. How do I know my water is safe to drink?
22. Where does our water come from?