Poor water quality deteriorates plumbing and well systems and, if let go, is very costly to consumers. Identifying defective water begins with checking the color of the pipes. For example, the color brown is the classic sign that iron is present in the water supply. Iron comes in several forms –

• Ferric Hydroxide appears as a brown or orange color in the water because air has come in contact with the water, before it entered the piping system.

• Iron Bacteria or Algae appears as a brown slime that attaches to plumbing fixtures and piping systems. Iron Bacteria or Algae (Gallinella or Chrenothrix) consumes iron as its food and then uses that food to produce the brown slime that appears inside toilet tanks, piping systems, and well casings.

• Iron Sulfide causes water to have a “rotten egg” odor. Iron Sulfide is usually present when the iron level is very high and there is a presence of natural organic material, such as non-harmful bacteria or algae.

• Tannin is a combination of iron and decaying vegetation. It appears as a yellow or tan color in water and will stay suspended in the water for a long time. If the water is yellow, allow it to stand for 24 hours. If the color is from Ferric Hydroxide, the water will clear and the color will settle to the bottom of the container. If nothing has settled to the bottom of the container, it is Tannin. Tannin is typically found in swampy or wetland areas.

• Organic Iron is similar to Tannin except it has combined with different non-harmful bacteria and appears as a pink color in the water. Repeat the Tannin 24-hour test to identify if Organic Iron is present.

The color blue is the classic sign of corrosion in the piping system. The blue color that stains plumbing fixtures is actually a piece of the copper or brass from the piping system. Copper remains clear in the water until it mixes with air or is heated, which precipitates the copper from the water. That’s why a glass of water from the kitchen faucet might appear to be clear, yet incredible blue staining is present in the shower or bathtub.

pH is the measurement of hydrogen activity in the water and determines if the water will act like an acid or basic solution. An acid will corrode the piping system, while a basic solution will not. A pH value below 6.9 in the water supply is the most common reason for pipe corrosion. The target pH range to stop pipe corrosion is 7.0 to 8.5. Keep in mind that a 6.0 pH value is ten times more corrosive to the plumbing than a 7.0 and that a 5.0 pH value is one hundred times more corrosive to the plumbing then a 7.0.

TDS, or total dissolved solids, expresses how many minerals and metals are dissolved in the water. Water with a 6.0 pH value and 100.0 ppm of TDS will be more corrosive then a 6.0 pH value and a 400.0 ppm of TDS. The reason is that as the TDS increases, the water becomes less hungry (less aggressive) for the minerals and metals.

Carbon Dioxide is a byproduct of decaying vegetation that’s present in most water supplies. Carbon dioxide is the fizz that bubbles out of a soda or seltzer water beverage. It is very corrosive and will attack copper plumbing faster then a low pH value. Carbon dioxide is rare in high concentrations and tends to be regionally concentrated. It may be a factor if the signs indicate pipe corrosion with a normal pH. High levels of carbon dioxide are generally found in heavily wooded or wetland areas. Since carbon dioxide is so gaseous, it has to be tested at the water’s source to achieve an accurate result. The testing procedure for carbon dioxide is as easy as testing for hardness and is reasonably priced.

For More Information: If you have questions about Iron and pH correction techniques or water systems in general (including complete water treatment systems), please contact one of our Water Systems Specialists listed: Don Bartsch (302) 378-7880

James Mays (410) 515-1900 • Jim Schuller (410) 515-1900