Yellow colorization in water is mostly caused by small amounts of rust. But don’t worry! It sounds scarier than it is. Rust is simply the result of iron and oxygen combining. So, when iron and oxygen combine in your water system, it often turns your tap water yellow.
What Causes My Water To Look Yellow?
Red, orange, and yellow are all colors associated with a rust-contaminated water supply and health issues caused by this are very rare. The colors indicate various forms of rust found in the piping throughout the building. Oxidation can also be carried in from outside and lay in the piping till a faucet is opened. City water works usually flush supply lines periodically to release any sediment built up in the lines. If staining occurs on your faucets or sinks avoid using bleach to clean. This has the effect of embedding the stain and causing it to be permanent.
There is however one big concern with yellow-colored water. The real problem comes into play when this sediment remains in the lines and attaches itself to the inner walls of the plumbing. It can cause the linings to degrade and failures to occur. Pressurized with water, pipes can crack and leaks can seep into your building’s plumbing.
Is Yellow Water Safe To Drink or Use?
We know it might look questionable, but thankfully yellow water usually isn’t a dangerous issue.
What Should You Do?
1. Find the source.
If the city is the source of the problem, then invest in a reliable water filtration system. If your source is local, then a plumber should be called out to assess the cost and methods involved to remove and replace the affected piping.
2. Deal with the types of rust.
Ferric imbalances can be treated with filters in line with your water supply. Ferric-based contamination means the iron is in a large flaky form and can be trapped by filter material. Two microns is recommended for this application and can treat many thousand liters. Ferrous iron contamination is the most difficult to deal with as it comes from a variety of sources, and each has its own individual method of elimination that is dependent on conditions. An ionic exchange system can be set up with the goal of separating iron and other minerals such as calcium and magnesium. This is done by charging the water with an electrical field that repels the minerals at the molecular level and, with varying effectiveness, removes these minerals from the water.
3. Carry out the maintenance.
You can keep yellow rust out of your water by cleaning and replacing filters regularly. Follow your manufacturer’s guidelines and ask a plumber to inspect your property every few years.
If you’re put off by the color of your workplace water, try quenchWATER+ filtration systems. quenchWATER+ is Quench’s branded mineral-infused and electrolyte-enhanced alkaline water. Quench bottleless water coolers produce quenchWATER+ using a 5-filter setup, which includes a reverse osmosis filter and/or carbon filter as well as a mineral addback filter. Explore our quenchWATER+ technology and schedule an appointment with a Quench Water Expert to get a free quote on a Quench bottleless water cooler.
