Whether
you’ve had it since you moved in or whether it showed up out of the
blue, rust-colored water can be puzzling. And you should likely find
the underlying cause of it, because some of the causes for this water
discoloration can be a health risk. Here are four possible ways this
discoloration can get into your water if you have a private well.
1.
Corroded Pipes
Many
people in the US are at risk for pipe corrosion, and some don't even
know it. No matter how new and well-maintained your well is, the
pipes that connect it to your house could still impact your water
supply. Well water factors, pipe factors, and environmental factors
(such as temperature) can affect how likely corrosion is.
If
your water is soft, for example, or if its pH
is lower than 7
(meaning
it's acidic), the water is more likely to corrode your pipes by
pulling metals out of them. However, if you have plastic pipes, the
water may still try to leach the material out, but is unlikely to
cause rust-colored water.
If
the pipes are your problem, you don’t need to panic. But while rust
is one of the less dangerous types of contaminants to get into your
water, it is not something you should ignore. It can help your water
harbor bacteria, and if the rust comes from galvanized pipes, you
could have lead in your water as well. Plus, rusting pipes will
eventually leak.
2.
Rusted Well Casing
The
inside of your well casing is likely a bit rusted if it's made of
steel (rather than plastic) and the well is more than a few years
old. This doesn't necessarily mean that the well casing is completely
done and needs replacing. However, if you have a problem with rust
and suspect the casing, you should have a well inspection just to
make sure.
3.
Naturally Occurring Iron
If
you've recently moved into your home, you may not have been aware
that iron is in your well water because of the naturally occurring
iron in the soil. If the orange tinge is very slight, for example,
you might not notice it until you try to take a bath.
More
iron could start showing up in your well water over time, too,
especially in drought conditions. That's because, in a drought, your
well's aquifer could run low on water and could start pulling water
from a nearby aquifer. Fortunately, a little iron in the groundwater
is usually just an inconvenience.
One
caveat is that manganese can also cause a rusty-looking effect in
your well water and may be slightly more serious than iron as the
manganese could be a health risk if present in extremely high levels.
So if you haven't already tested your well water, do so now. If
necessary, you can simply filter your drinking water to remove some
or all of the manganese.
4.
Compromised Well Cap
This
final issue can be a huge health risk. If you notice that the water
has turned cloudy and reddish-brown after a rainfall, you could have
a contamination issue. The contamination could come from a nearby
septic system, or it could come from above ground through a
compromised well cap.
The
well cap should keep this from happening, so if contamination has
gotten in, then you'll definitely need well repairs. If you suspect
this is the issue, do not drink any of your well water until you've
inspected and repaired your well and tested your water for problems.
Chemicals, pathogens, and other potentially deadly contaminants could
be present.
These
are just a few of the reasons your private well water could come out
of your faucets with a rusty-looking discoloration. If you've
recently noticed an off color to your water (or any other issues such
as an odd flavor or smell), stop drinking it and get in touch with a
well repair contractor such as Action
Well and Pump
today.
