Iron or copper in your water can cause it to appear black, brown, orange, red, yellow or blue.
If your tap water has been discoloured for hours or days and you answer yes to some or all of the following questions then follow the advice in the section below.
Does your tap water look black, brown, orange, red or yellow?
Does your tap water look clearer after you run the tap for a while?
Was your tap water turned off recently?
Is your pressure lower than normal?
Is the water discoloured at all taps in your property?
Are your neighbours experiencing the same issue?
Discoloured water advice – hours or days
If you answered yes to the questions above it is likely that the issue has been caused by work on the water mains and iron sediments have been stirred up. This would normally last about 24 hours. Iron sediments aren’t harmful although they might not look pleasant.
You can try the following steps to clear the issue:
- Run your taps for 30 minutes or more
- Don’t do any laundry, the discoloured water may cause staining
- Contact us on 01582 344374 to check if there has been any work in your area
- If the problem lasts longer than 24 hours we may need to flush the water mains, contact us on 01582 344374
If your water looks different to the description above, or if it has a funny taste or smell, contact us on 01582 344374 and we’ll carry out further investigations
If your tap water has been discoloured for weeks or months and you answer yes to some or all of the questions below then follow the advice in the section below.
Does your tap water look black, brown, orange, red or yellow?
Does your tap water look clearer after you run the tap for a short while?
Is your water only discoloured at one tap?
Is the water discoloured in your property but clear in your neighbour’s property?
Discoloured water advice – weeks or months
If you answered yes to the questions above it is likely that the issue has been caused by iron pipework, plumbing or tanks that can be present in older properties. Sometimes these can start to rust and iron sediments then discolour the water.
You can try the following steps to clear the issue:
- Check where the tap is fed from. If it’s supplied from a tank then the tank might need cleaning or replacing, ensure that any tanks have well-fitting lids.
- If your tap is fed straight from the water main but your neighbour’s water looks fine then your supply pipe might be causing the problem.
- If the problem persists contact an approved plumber (watersafe.org.uk) for advice
How to tell if you have an iron pipe
Find the point where the water pipe enters your property, usually at the internal stop tap
Unpainted iron pipes are grey or rusty brown in colour
Use a magnet and if it sticks to the pipe it is iron
We can provide advice on replacing your iron pipes, contact us on 01582 344374
If your water appears blue then follow the advice in the box below.
Blue water advice
Hot water tanks and most household pipes are made from copper. In very new buildings or buildings with new plumbing, small amounts of copper can dissolve into the water. Usually this doesn’t cause any problems other than the slight risk of staining, particularly on white baths and sinks. However, the water can sometimes develop a distinct blue tint if it has stood in contact with the pipes for a long time.
What should I do?
Usually, this problem only lasts for a few days until a layer of limescale builds up on the inside of the pipes. If the problem has been happening for several weeks or months, we would advise you to contact either the company who built the property or carried out the renovations or an approved plumber (watersafe.org.uk). This is more common if you have a water softener installed at your property.
Other causes
Blue water can also be caused by the use of toilet blocks in cisterns. Inadequate backflow protection has been known to cause blue water at other taps within properties. If you notice this, we advise that you contact an approved plumber (watersafe.org.uk) to assist and let us know as well.
