Tap water looks dirty

[Brutè]

I just moved into a new house (actually the house is 10 years old) and suddenly, after about a week of living there, the water in the toilets is dark (looks like someone peed and didn't flush). It's the same when I fill up the sink. You don't notice it unless you have a full container of water. It looks clear coming out of the faucet.

This house has a water softener which I've never had before. Could it be related to that?

[rekrap]

Is the water source from the city or a well or what?

I've seen high Iron content in well water (especially at a relative who lives near the railroad tracks), which caused the water/fixtures to turn brown. Water softener was eventually purchased to help, still some residue, and now drinking the tap water makes one even more thirsty, and you never feel like you've gotten the soap/shampoo off in the shower. :tup:

[Suthrn]

Does the water softener have a filter that needs to be replaced?

[The President]

and you never feel like you've gotten the soap/shampoo off in the shower. I can't stand that! Seems like more and more hotels are using some sort of water softener, or maybe it is just the difference in local water, because I get that alot when I travel.

The opposite extreme was in mexico where even with 85 degrees and 99% humidity your skin still felt dried out just from taking a shower.

[Lois Lane]

did the water company fix any broken pipes outside lately? the same thing happened w/our water every time a water main broke and got fixed at our apartment complex. it happened very often. btw, make sure you have extra gallon jugs of water in your new home, just in case. i guess i'd better buy some for our new home, too.

[Roto]

Did you recently shut the water off for some reason?

If you have old piping, and you shut it down, the settiment will get into water flow when you fire it back up.

It should only be temporary though.

[Brutè]

It's city water, not well water. I didn't shut off the water recently. Maybe I'll ask the neighbors if they are having the same issue.

[Judge Dredd]

maybe its guiness and you have hit the jackpot!

[LoneGirl]

When I was growing up, our town's water would do this every once in awhile. It'd last for about a day. So, it'd be a good idea to ask the neighbors to see if they have the problem too. I just remember it being a real pain when you'd go to take a shower and brown water came out when you turned on the faucet!

[Maine-iac]

Call the city water department and ask if they did any work recently in your neighborhood. Where I grew up, the city used to put a notice in the paper when they were working on the lines in a given section of town to warn people that the water would likely turn dark. IIRC, they recommended waiting until it was all over, then running the water until it turned clear again.

If the city hasn't been working on the system, then ask for a water test, or pay for one yourself if they won't do it.

[Actuary321]

Is the water source from the city or a well or what?

I've seen high Iron content in well water (especially at a relative who lives near the railroad tracks), which caused the water/fixtures to turn brown. Water softener was eventually purchased to help, still some residue, and now drinking the tap water makes one even more thirsty, and you never feel like you've gotten the soap/shampoo off in the shower. :tup:First time I experienced softened water it was the same experience and I was complaining and I was told that hard water has minerals in it that are kind of like microscopic particles of dirt. When you dry off the water goes away but these microscopic particles stay on your skin and form an almost cement like structure mostly covering your skin.

With soft water these particles are removed so there is no residue left on your skin. So that slick feeling is what you skin is supposed to feel like when it is really clean, otherwise it is not really clean.

[Iranian Uranium]

I just moved into a new house (actually the house is 10 years old) and suddenly, after about a week of living there, the water in the toilets is dark (looks like someone peed and didn't flush).How dark? Maybe going to see a urologist should be a higher priority.