If you notice a yellow discoloration of your tap water, you may be wondering if it's still safe to drink and how to fix it. However, in most cases, yellow water is harmless and easy to treat. The first thing to do is to understand if the water is colored due to a problem with the city aqueduct or with your internal pipes. At that point, once the cause is identified, hire a professional to help you decide on the best solution.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Determine the Cause
Step 1. Do not use tap water until you find the cause of the problem
While the staining may be harmless, the safest choice is to stop drinking the water if you don't know why it makes it yellow. As long as you are in doubt, drink bottled water and don't use tap water for cooking and washing.
Step 2. Open the sink for a few minutes and see if the water turns clear
If this returns to normal, the problem is probably in the plumbing in your home. You need to consult a plumber to pinpoint the exact cause. If, on the other hand, it remains yellow, the problem is probably caused by the aqueduct.
If the water becomes clear, you should still avoid drinking it, using it for cooking or washing until you have identified the problem
Step 3. Ask the neighbors if they have noticed any changes in the tap water
This can help you assess the extent of the problem. If your neighbors' water is also colored, the cause is probably outside your home. If their water is clear, you need to call a plumber to check your plumbing.
To determine the extent of the color of the water, you can try asking neighbors who live further away or even those who live in other neighborhoods for information
Step 4. Call the water company and ask if there are any city-wide problems
If the color of the water is not limited to your home, it can be caused by sediments in the aqueduct pipes. Contact the water supply company right away, ask what is causing the problem and if you need to drink bottled water until the situation is resolved.
Ask the water supply company if the water source has recently been changed, as it may be the cause of the yellow color
Step 5. Check if you live near a swamp
If you recently moved and the water is yellow, the color can be harmless if there are a lot of swamps in your area. Water that flows through peat soils and is filtered can retain a yellow color. Even if the appearance is unpleasant, you can drink it without any health risks.
In Italy these conditions occur in the most marshy areas
Step 6. Notice if the water is yellow or greenish
While yellow water is often harmless, a green or green-blue color indicates that your home's copper plumbing has corroded. Contact a plumber right away and switch to bottled water until you have identified and fixed the problem.
Drinking water with copper residues can cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset
Method 2 of 3: Filter the water
Step 1. Try filtering the water if the problem is not limited to your home
If you live in a swampy area or if there are residues in the city aqueduct, you can filter your water. Contact the water supply company to make sure it is potable. In that case, if you wish to color correct, a filtration system can help you make your tap water transparent.
You can purchase a filtration system at many home improvement stores
Step 2. Ask a professional which filtration system is best suited to your needs
Consult a plumber or water quality expert so you can find a system that is easy to install and can eliminate the cause of the water discoloration. Before deciding which product to buy, ask one or more professionals for an opinion.
Step 3. Install a water filter if sediment is your primary concern
Most filters are capable of removing residues, debris and bacteria from the water. However, they usually fail to eliminate viruses. If you know that rust or peat sediments are the main cause of the color, a filter can solve the problem.
Activated charcoal water filters can remove bad tastes if you have this problem
Step 4. Choose a purifier to sterilize the water
Purifiers use UV lights or chemicals to eliminate pathogens, viruses, sediments and debris naturally found in water. The downside of these devices is that they leave a bad smell or taste in the water.
If your main concern with yellow water is taste or smell, choose a different filtration system
Method 3 of 3: Replace Rusty Pipes
Step 1. Don't attempt to replace rusty plumbing unless you are an expert
Usually repairing or removing rusty pipes is too dangerous for an amateur plumber. If you are not a professional and have no experience with indoor plumbing in a home, don't try to fix the problem yourself.
- Repairing rusty plumbing yourself can lead to serious injury and damage to your home.
- While you may think that repairing the plumbing yourself would save you money, you may end up exacerbating the problem and spending even more money in the long run.
Step 2. Call a professional to find the cause of the water discoloration
A plumber can find the problem with your internal plumbing and evaluate the best way to fix it. If you have determined that the color of the water does not depend on the aqueduct, call a plumber.
While you search the internet for a local plumber, read the reviews. Avoid professionals with a lot of negative reviews, because an incompetent technician can cause further damage to your home
Step 3. Ask more plumbers for advice to get a better idea of the problem
Consult at least two or three professionals and have the plumbing inspected before deciding what to do. This way you will hear more opinions about the cause of the water coloring and choose the best and perhaps least expensive method to solve the problem.
The cheapest choice isn't always the best when it comes to plumbing. Choose the professional with the most experience and the best reviews from previous clients
Step 4. Read home insurance to find out if plumbing problems are covered
Depending on the cause and the repair to be done, a problem with rusty or corroded plumbing may be covered by the insurance. Contact your insurance company once you have determined the cause to understand how much money you will have to pull out of your pocket for repairs.
