Is It Safe to Use Discolored Water in My San Diego, CA Home?

Whether you are on a municipal city line or a private well, discolored water is a common plumbing red flag that prompts every homeowner to ask, “Is this dangerous? Can I shower in it? Will it dye my favorite shirt in the wash?”

Without examining your tap water, our Craftsman Plumbing experts can only tell you that some colors are a nuisance and others are a health risk. As professional plumbers, we see a rainbow of water issues in San Diego, CA, homes, and recommend treatment solutions to eliminate the offending chemicals.

Let’s take a closer look at water discoloration, what the colors mean, and how you can reclaim your pure, clean, and colorless water supply.

What Makes My Tap Water Brownish-Red?

Iron or rust is the likely culprit. It happens when galvanized pipes corrode or when the city flushes a nearby fire hydrant, stirring up sediment in the main lines.

Rusty brown water isn’t typically a health risk at low levels, but it tastes metallic and looks unappealing.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies iron as a secondary contaminant that can cause laundry to stain reddish-orange. It is okay for bathing, but it might irritate sensitive skin.

Secondary contaminants can cause aesthetic issues, such as unpleasant taste or odors, and technical effects, such as scale buildup in pipes and heat exchangers. Some secondary contaminants can cause cosmetic issues, such as discoloration of teeth or skin.

What Makes My Tap Water Look Blue-Green?

This is a sign that your water is likely acidic, and it is eating away at your copper plumbing. You’ll often see blue-green stains around your sink drains when your water has a low pH.

Refrain from drinking it. You probably wouldn’t enjoy its metallic taste, anyway. High levels of copper can cause gastrointestinal issues and long-term health complications.

Can you shower in it or use it for laundry? We wouldn’t recommend it. It can leave a greenish tint on your hair, especially light-colored hair, and stain your favorite white shirt blue-green.

What Makes My Tap Water Look Milky and Gray?

Trapped air bubbles or silt, clay, or sand sediment can cause cloudy water. If you fill a glass with water and it clears from the bottom up, it’s because the air has trapped the water. If it remains milky-looking or particles settle at the bottom, it’s sediment.

Is it safe? Air is safe, and sediment is mostly a nuisance. However, sediment can clog your faucet aerators and damage appliance valves.

What Makes My Tap Water Look Black or Dark Brown?

That’s manganese. It tastes bitter and metallic, and can stain fabrics and plumbing fixtures. At high levels, manganese is a neurotoxin. Don’t drink it. Call us at Craftsman Plumbing for an assessment and a solution.

What Are Options for Purifying My Water Supply?

Tired of discolored water? Here are three options to fix it:

Install a Point-Of-Use Reverse Osmosis (RO) System

We recommend installing a reverse osmosis system under your kitchen sink to improve the purity of drinking water. In this type of system, water flows through a semi-permeable membrane that catches 99 percent of contaminants, including lead, microbes, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals. The result is crystal clear, safe, and clean water for drinking straight from the tap and for cooking.

Install a Whole-House Filtration System

Our Craftsman Plumbing experts install this system at the point where the main water line enters your home, using various filters to remove the contaminants that affect your water. We can remove iron, chlorine, sediment, and many other chemicals before the water reaches your faucets and appliances. Whole-home filtration protects your skin in the shower and your laundry.

Install a Water Softener in Your San Diego, CA, Home

If your water supply leaves white buildup on your fixtures and spots on dishware, it contains an overabundance of calcium and magnesium, making it “hard” water. We can install a water softener to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions, preventing mineral stains and scale buildup in your plumbing and appliances.

What Can I Do If My Water Suddenly Turns Brown?

Turn on your bathtub’s cold tap and run the water until it is clear, flushing out sediment.

Ask your neighbors if their water is brown. If it is, the discoloration is a city issue.

If only your home has brown water, the problem is likely inside your plumbing or your well in San Diego, CA.

If discoloration occurs only with hot water, your water heater has a sediment buildup and needs to be flushed or replaced. Call us at Craftsman Plumbing for an evaluation and water heater service. We recommend flushing and inspecting water heaters annually.

Let Craftsman Plumbing Clear Up Your Tap Water Issues

Water quality problems can be complex, especially with well water. Craftsman Plumbing can help you identify contaminants in your water and design a filtration system that fits your San Diego, CA, home and budget. Call us at 619-704-7585 or request service online.