Have a garden hose? Run it. If brown water comes out there too, the problem is outside your house. It’s the city’s problem now.
Brown or Smelly Water: Causes, Risks, and When to Call a Plumber | POM
If only the inside taps are brown, it’s your pipes. Time to consider a filter or a pipe upgrade. Or just wait. It might clear up on its own.
Fun experiment: Fill a clear glass with brown water. Let it sit for an hour. The rust sinks to the bottom. The water on top becomes clear. Magic, right?
When to Freak Out (A Little)
If your water is brown and tastes like metal and chemicals, that’s weird. Or if it smells like bleach mixed with dirt—that’s a chemical imbalance.
Also, if every tap in your house is brown for days, that’s not normal. Call your water utility. Be nice. They’re just people with a turbidity problem.
One more thing: If you live near a construction site, brown water can come from sediment in the groundwater. It’s like the earth sneezed into your pipes.
