A question for anyone else who is on a public water supply-

[tenguzero]

Have you ever experienced your water turning a yellowish color? My town uses a local lake as its water supply, and I'm aware of the filtration and chlorine treatment process that towns put their water supplies through. This is my first apartment, and since I've always lived with one of my parents (in a house) I've grown up on well-based water. Today our water is doing this thing where it's developed a yellowish tint, and it's sort of on and off -- one minute it'll be clear, the next it'll be a noticeable yellow. Could this perhaps be a result of the treatment process? The normal chlorine-odor that is barely detectable is definately apparent, so that's what I'm assuming it is. My roomate suggested rust in the pipes perhaps, but I'm of the opinion that would produce a reddish-brown hue, and there would be rust flecks in it.

We keep one of those big 2 1/2 gallon containers of bottled water in the fridge for drinking, leaving the tap water for cooking, showering, brushing teeth, and filling my rats' water bottle (they don't seem adversely affected at all.) My concern has to do with the fact that, in my research, I've come across the notion that it's not healthy to shower in heavily chlorinated water, since the steam from the hot water is a natural carrier for the chlorine -- thereby distilling it to a more concentrated vapor form.

Should I be concerned about showering until the water goes back to normal? Or am I overreacting, and just reading too much into it... anyone else have experience with this?

[dayna240sx]

at my parents house, the water would get really dark orange once in a while, so we just flushed it until i got clear again. I wouldnt worry about it.

[96Civ]

Ewww, I have never had water turn colors on me.. Ever! I'm lucky around here where I live because our water is really clean and they don't have to add too much chlorine to it.

I wouldn't worry about it too much though what does the water taste like? If it is rust, I'm sure you would be able to taste it.

[93rollaracer]

it did that at my house a few years ago. pretty much the same thing as you described...it's some sort of non-harmful bacteria that gets in the water or something.

don't worry about it, though...nobody i know got sick because of it

[ghostguy6]

It could be rust in the pipes, the rust mixed with water will produce a light yellow color then slowly darken over time to a redish brown color. Best bet is to call the landlord and ask

[Rbraczyk]

Im on well water.

[TexasF355F1]

Mine does here at the apartment at times. It's generally from rust, calcium, and lime build up in the pipes. At least thats' what I was told.

[tenguzero]

Well, aside from a stupid ring left in the toilet, the case of the tinted water has mysteriously cleared itself up. As long as it doesn't happen while guests are over (not like most of the people who frequent our place care much anyways) I won't put too much stock in it. The posted assumptions of bacteria or rust/calcium in the pipes as the culprits were probably correct. That or gremlins.