Camano Cooperative Water & Power Company

Brown Colored Water

Can be caused when sediment is stirred up in the water lines.  To clear the sediment from the lines try the following:

1. Go to your outdoor hose bib and run the water for a few minutes till it runs clear
2. Back inside, go to the faucet that you believe is the furthest from where the water comes into your house via your plumbing.  Run that faucet till the water comes clear.
3. Make your way through your house turning on each faucet until each separate one runs clear.

A special note, if you have used a lot of hot water, your hot water tank may need to be flushed as well.  This can be done by running the hot water from any faucet.

You should notice your water turning clear rather quickly.  If the issue persists, please call our office to let us know and we can have a professional come out to assist.

 

Smelly Water (Hot Water Tank issue)

Harmless bacteria normally present in tap water can multiply in a water heater and give off a “rotten egg” smell or give the water a discolored/rusty appearance. In most cases, to eliminate smelly, discolored, or rusty water, you must destroy the bacteria that are causing the issue. In some cases, replacing the standard anode rod with a special zinc anode rod may help reduce smelly water odor.

If your water heater was recently replaced, you may experience smelly water even if you didn't with your old water heater. The metal on your old water heater's anode rod was most likely depleted and no longer able to react with the harmless bacteria to create a "rotten egg" smell. Since your replacement water heater comes with a new anode rod, the reaction starts and can produce smelly water.

In cases where smelly, discolored, or rusty water is pronounced, you can raise the tank temperature to 140°F in order to reduce bacteria growth in the tank.

In some cases, rust-colored water may actually be caused by sand and/or clay sediment. The sand and clay may get into the water heater during the repair of a water main. In addition, water coming into the home brings in particles of rust and other foreign materials and deposits them at the bottom of the water heater tank, which in turn may cause rust-colored water. It is recommended that the water heater be drained and flushed every six months to get rid of built-up particles and sediment.