Sometimes changes in tap water are impossible for us to see. Other times they are impossible to miss. One of the easiest changes to spot is tinted water. It may not smell bad, yet it certainly raises some questions. Fear not and read on–because we have some answers.

The good news is that, most of the time, yellow water does not pose a significant health risk. Still, it's worth investigating. While we always recommend testing if you notice any changes to your drinking water quality, it’s helpful to answer a few questions:

With these answers in mind, our guidelines below can help you understand why your water is yellow and what to do about it.

Likely causes of yellow tap water from a municipal supplier include:

Your water utility is performing repairs: Every water distribution system needs to be repaired from time to time. Utility repair work upstream might be the culprit for yellow tap water, as rust and other materials may enter into your water supply during maintenance work.

Your water utility is “flushing” the water lines: In order to clear out stagnant areas of your system, water suppliers must occasionally increase the water pressure in your pipes and water mains. During this “flushing,” it is common for yellowish rust in the pipes to loosen. As a result, your water quality may change temporarily. You will know that “flushing” is the cause of your colored water when only your cold water is affected.

Both should be temporary. To be sure it's best to call your water supplier to confirm what's going on. If no repairs or maintenance is going on, see heading 4 further below.
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Your Water Could Contain Iron-related Bacteria: Iron bacteria are small organisms which naturally occur in soil and water. They are not known to cause disease, but can tint your water. This occurs when these bacteria combine iron and manganese with oxygen to form a yellowish, slimy buildup.

If you drink water from a private well, we recommend that you test your well water every 3 years.

Your Water Could Contain Organic Materials: Byproducts of nature's fermentation process, tannins are created as water passes through peaty soil and decaying vegetation. They are one of the most common causes of water coloration. While they do not pose a health risk, tannins can turn your water yellow. The best way to remedy this type of coloration is to treat your water with:

It Might Be a Build Up of Iron And Manganese: Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are common in groundwater supplies and often occur together. Elevated levels of either do not pose any known adverse health risks. In fact, both are regularly required by your body as mineral nutrients to stay healthy. However, they do have less than desirable effects on your water color.

Their presence in water may be in multiple forms. When the water comes from the tap with a yellow tint, the Fe and Mn have combined with organic matter and is called colloidal. While difficult to remove, it can be treated. Treatment options include sequestering, ion exchange, oxidizing filters, and oxidation and filtration or settling.
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Test your water professionally. Because certain contaminants are more well-suited to some filtration technologies than others, we always recommend you test BEFORE you treat. This can save you money in the long-run, as you will know the best type of filter for your specific water chemistry.

If you run your tap water for an extended period of time and the color does not clear up, it is likely that the issue caused by a disturbance of pipeline sediments in the water main. These disturbances occur when dissolved iron is stirred up in naturally-occurring sediments that exist in all water systems.

The best thing to do is to contact your water authority. Drink bottled water until the yellow-ish color subsides. Alternatively, you can have a strong home filter installed.

If the color clears after a few minutes, but it's not because of your public utility provider, the issue is most likely in your house plumbing. Old pipes tend to accumulate rust, which in turn can leach into your water.

The best solution is likely to fix your rusty pipes. However, we recommend having expert do an assessment of the pipes before deciding to replace them in order to make an informed decision.