Experiencing Brown Well Water? Everything You Need to Know

When you turn on your faucets and see brown, muddy, and murky water, it makes for quite a nasty surprise. Worse still, it may not be as harmless as you first believe, as it often points to contamination of the water you and your family use—or drink—every day.

Anytime your water changes color or taste, it’s a cause for concern. Inconsistencies in appearance or flavor after heavy rain can indicate one of several issues, such as rusty plumbing, contamination from rainwater runoff, or even septic cross-contamination. 

Whatever the cause, you want to get a repair as soon as possible. Here are the steps you can take when you notice brown well water in your home.

What Causes Brown Water? 

Your drinkable well water comes from an aquifer, a storage component that collects water after it’s been filtered through a gravel barrier that removes sediment. But some things can sometimes disrupt this filtration system.

• Heavy Rain:

  If your area has received more rainfall than usual, brown well water is often the result of rainwater runoff contamination or septic cross-contamination caused by the newly disturbed earth. 

• Excess Iron:

  When water collects and remains in iron pipes too long, it can create what is known as iron water. Excess iron can cause sink and clothing stains and impact your water’s taste, smell, and appearance. Water with too much iron is known for its brown or black appearance and a bitter taste.

• Rusted Pipes:

  Rust in your home’s pipes can cause one faucet to release brown water. If one room’s faucets have discolored water while some run clear, it’s a good indication that you have rusty pipes. Often, this does not pose a significant risk to your health, but it can cause costly repairs if left untreated.

Why Is Brown Well Water a Problem?

Brown well water goes beyond just an unappetizing appearance—it can pose a significant risk to your health and your well’s function. 

First, brown water usually means that some system in your well is failing. Whether it’s the casing, the cap, the filters, or the pipes themselves, you should not see brown water. Letting this issue linger can eventually lead to costly repairs.

Second, brown water can put your health in jeopardy. When we experience heavy rainfall, the rainwater stirs up the dirt and sediment around it. As this water and the moved sediments move, it can get into your well water, carrying everything from parasites to bacteria and even septic waste. 

If you have young children or immunocompromised people in your family, being exposed to these materials can turn deadly in some instances, and they’re not good for anyone to be exposed to. That’s why we recommend you stop drinking, cooking, or showering if you notice your well water has turned brown after heavy rainfall. 

Next Steps to Take After Experiencing Brown Water

So what should you do if you notice brown water? Here’s what we recommend in order to protect your family and your home. 

1. Confirm There’s a Problem

Before we assume the worst, it’s important to ask a few questions. When was the last time the faucet or spigot in question was used? The plumbing to and from most water wells will deteriorate over time, especially in older homes without CPVC piping. If the discoloration or taste dissipates after a few minutes of running the tap, it was likely caused by rust or sediment collected while not in use.

If you’ve answered the first question, next ask yourself, “Is there a problem with both hot and cold water?”

If the issue is only present when the hot water is on, it’s an indication that there is an issue with your hot water heater or one of the supply lines from the water heater. It may be wise to have a professional inspection of your water heater before contacting a professional well pump repair company. If you have a water softener or water treatment system, make sure these systems are also working properly before moving forward.

If these questions don’t fix your brown water issue, it’s time to move to the next step.

2. Inspect Your Well

It’s not normal for a functioning water well with a properly fitted cap to be impacted by heavy rain. But over time, fittings and seals can wear out.

As such, we recommend taking a good look at your well and addressing a few questions.

• Is the well cap still intact and undamaged?
• Do you notice any cracks in the casing or seals between the cap and casing?
• Is water pooling around the casing?
• Are there mud deposits or erosion on the casing?

Cracks in the casing, seals, or cap can allow stormwater to enter and contaminate your well. If you notice any of these irregularities, it’s important to contact a professional immediately, as they can indicate a much larger problem.

3. Test Your Well Water

Poor water quality associated with recent heavy rains could come from any number of issues, the worst of these being a leaky septic tank or surface water infiltration. If you can’t visually diagnose the issue, it’s best to test the well water and work backward to identify the root problem.

At a minimum, a complete water test should include the following measurements:

• Total coliform
• Fecal coliform
• E-Coli bacteria
• Hardness
• Iron concentration
• Dissolved solids

For those who feel comfortable, a self-administered water test kit can be picked up at most Florida counties’ departments of health. However, clean water is something that you really can’t afford to postpone, and self-administered tests can take days to return a result. 

That’s why at Perry’s Pump Repair, we have our own private lab that is able to immediately test for common contaminants such as chemicals, particles, and bacteria, and also for hidden contaminants such as lead, nitrile, nitrates, bactin, and minerals.

Accurate testing will allow you to properly address the issue and put your money toward the best solution. For instance, if the issue is a leaky septic tank getting into your well water, the water test will identify certain bacteria and help concentrate future repair efforts.

4. Keep Your System Maintained

If your well becomes contaminated, you and your family can quickly experience the negative consequences. Therefore, it is vital to regularly inspect and maintain your well pump to ensure your family has the highest water quality. Consistent maintenance will not only extend the life of your water pump but will also help you avoid brown water contamination in the future.

Protect Your Health & Your Water

The bottom line is, if you have brown water or you notice a change in your drinking water’s taste, you need to take it seriously. Clean water is not something we can take for granted, and contaminated water can quickly become a serious health risk.

If you are experiencing an issue with your well water or would simply like to discuss how to safeguard your well system, contact the professionals at Perry’s Pump Repair to keep you and your family safe.