How To Identify and Fix Tannins In Your Water

Does your water have a yellow or brownish tint? Does it have a unique odor or taste? These may be the result of tannins in your water.

What Are Tannins?

If you’ve ever enjoyed one of our local springs or rivers, you’ve probably seen the result of tannins in our groundwater. Wade out to the point where the spring meets the river and you’ll notice a distinct line where the water turns from crystal clear to something that more closely resembles iced tea. The reason that water is dark and murky is the presence of this material.  

Tannins are the byproduct of water passing through decaying leaves or soil. For example, a teabag full of tea leaves can create tannins and cause your water to turn brown. In the same way, water passing over leaves, branches, and other vegetation in our lakes, streams, and aquifers cause the water to absorb tannins and become discolored.   

Though tannins don’t present any health hazard in your drinking water, they can cause noticeable stains to your laundry, hair, and home appliances over time. While they tend to be more of a cosmetic problem, their presence alone can be a cause of concern for some people. 

This is especially true during the summer months when the water tables are high. As the rain raises the water level, areas that were previously unsaturated become saturated which results in high levels of tannins in our water. 

How To Remove Tannins In Water?

First, it’s important to confirm that the discoloration in your water is truly a result of tannins and not something worse. Once you’ve received the confirmed water test results, the next step will be to address the problem at hand.

While not all tannins are the same, most water treatment professionals recommend removing them with a quality water treatment system that utilizes a water softener for pretreatment. Like all water treatment, though, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to treating the water, and tannins can often be difficult to treat based on a number of factors, like:

• The specific vegetation or material it came from 
• The amount of time the water was exposed to the material
• The concentration of material 

Because of this, it’s important to have an expert in water treatment to assess the situation and make a professional recommendation. 

Trust Perry’s Pump Repair To Help With Your Water Treatment

Perry’s Pump Repair has been servicing North Central Florida for 3 generations and we’ve seen our fair share of yellow and brown water. If you suspect your water is discolored as a result of tannins, give our team of experts a call for a free consultation.

We will provide a free on-site water test to confirm the issue and provide expert recommendations for improved water quality based on your needs and budget.