Why Is My Water Brown, Yellow, or Orange?
By TapWater.uk Research··Independent research
Symptom
Water is discoloured brown, rusty, yellow, or orange
What causes this?
- Iron or manganese deposits disturbed in water mains — often after nearby maintenance work.
- Old iron pipes in your home corroding internally.
- Water main burst or change in water pressure disturbing sediment.
Is it dangerous?
Usually not dangerous to health, but don't drink discoloured water. Iron and manganese at these levels aren't toxic, but the water quality is compromised.
What to do
- 1.Don't use discoloured water for drinking or cooking.
- 2.Run the cold kitchen tap slowly for 15-20 minutes. It should gradually clear.
- 3.Don't use hot water — the hot water cylinder may have filled with discoloured water.
- 4.Check with neighbours — if they have the same issue, it's likely a mains problem.
When to contact your water supplier
Immediately if you haven't had recent plumbing work, or if it doesn't clear after 30 minutes of running the tap.
Related contaminants
These contaminants may be associated with this symptom. Check postcode-level data on our contaminant pages.
Check what's in your water
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