Common Water Quality Questions & Answers
Q. Why is my water discolored or muddy looking?
A. 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. Both of these minerals are not harmful and are found in most vitamin supplements. These minerals can accumulate at the bottom of the main lines over a number of years. When pressure changes occur in the water lines from line breaks, improper flushing of hydrants, fire use of hydrants, filling swimming pools or rapid turning on of the water (bath tub filling) these minerals can re-dissolve in the water and make it appear muddy. This situation is remedied by Flushing from your outside hose spigots. If this is ineffective, contact Customer Service.
Q. My water smells of chemicals or bleach. Are there a lot of chemicals, or extra chlorine, in the water?
A. No! Chemicals such as chlorine are always kept at safe and unnoticeable levels. The chlorine is maintained in the distribution system from 0.2 to 2.5 mg/l which is a fairly low level. Household bleach for example is 50,000 mg/l chlorine. These smells and possibly tastes can be from a number of sources.
- The small amount of chlorine reacting with smells in the air, in the drain or plumbing fixtures. Chlorine itself has no odor, but when it comes in contact with organic material like skin or odors it will react and give the characteristic bleach smell. Try smelling the bleach in the jug (not much odor). Then put a drop on your skin and smell (bleach). This is caused by a chemical reaction with your skin (an organic substance). Remedy this by cleaning sinks and drains and by running enough water to diminish the smells.
- Chemical smells can come from a garden hose that is connected to the house. If this hose has water left in it this water can make its way back into the house by reverse pressure and make the water in the house taste and smell horrible. It can also affect tea and ice. Remedy this by keeping the hoses disconnected when not in use or install a back-flow device designed for hoses.
Q. Why does my water look milky white?
A. This is caused by air in the water lines in excessive amounts. Air can get trapped in high places in household lines or mains. This trapped air then saturates the water passing through it under pressure and gives it the white milky look. Fill a clear glass with water and let it sit on the counter and watch as the milky look disappears with time. This situation is remedied by Flushing from your outside hose spigots. If this is ineffective contact Customer Service or your landlord.
Q. Why do my strainers keep stopping up with white particles?
A. This is caused by a defective dip tube in the water heater. This plastic tube if defective sheds its plastic, which then makes its way through your plumbing and gets trapped in the strainers. To remedy this, consult a plumber or the water heater manufacturer.
Q. Why do my toilets and sinks have black or pink rings or spots on them?
A. This is caused by mold and mildew spores in the air. These spores land in these moist environments and form colonies that look pink or black. These organisms are not in the water, but in the air (they are not harmful). The remedy for this is to try to minimized these spores in the air. You may try allergy free filters, keeping lids down, sealing toilet tanks and fixing leaky faucets.
Q. Why does my water smell like rotten eggs or rotting materials?
A. This is caused by a couple of things.
- Sulfate reducing bacteria in the hot water heater. These are non harmful bacteria that can grow in extreme temperatures. They are even found in some hot springs. These bacteria take sulfate and change it into hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell). Remedy this by turning the water heater all the way up for 24 hours and then flush it and return it to its normal temperature. Caution: Be extremely careful of scalding water during the 24-hour period this water will burn very quickly. Extra caution should be used around children.
- Bad smells can come up from drains and be mistaken for being in the water. Remedy this by checking to see if it is actually the water. Do this by filling a clean glass with the water and then take it away from the sink and smell it. If there is no smell it is the drain and a plumber should be consulted. If it is the water call the number at the bottom of this page for other possibly explanations.
Q. What is the hardness of my water?
A. It is between 20 and 50 mg/l or 1 to 3 grains per gallon.