The Common Causes of Reddish-Brown and Dirty Well Water

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The Common Causes of Reddish-Brown and Dirty Well Water

Ruan Marinho • Oct 14, 2019

While you may not investigate for bacteria contamination in your well water, brown or red-colored water after heavy rains may gesture you of a contamination problem.

There are several reasons why well water becomes contaminated or dirty, depending on the age or type of the well.

What Are the Common Causes of Reddish-brown Well Water?

1. Rust

Rust may result from piping or plumbing fixtures. If the water in certain parts of your home is red while the outlets of other faucets remain clear, then it is likely to be a result of rusty pipes.

2. Iron (and Manganese)

Iron results from rainwater or melting snow water that runs through iron-bearing rock or soil. They can also result from corrosion of water pipes, iron, or steel well casing. Though iron is harmless, it can affect the taste, odor, and use of water.

3. The Well Itself

Water level or supply in the well might change if the pump pulls up a bit of the mud or if the pump gets wrecked a bit and hits the side of the well hole. It helps to indicate that there is a problem with the water level or well structure when the water turns red or brown.

We advise that you not exceed 40-50 feet of well casing since this red clay and Balls Bluff Siltstone at this depth doesn’t need a casing.

Is It Essential to Test Your Water?

Having your water tested is essential. This is to determine the stretch or your iron issue and possible treatment options. The treatment options should test for the pH, concentration of the iron, hardness, dissolved solids, and iron bacteria.

Tests for e-coli bacteria, fecal coliform, and total coliform should also be done. The results from these tests will help determine the type of water treatment that you’ll need.

What Are the Treatment Options?

Automatic Iron Filter Systems

Mosman Well Works recommendations for iron treatment are the Pro-OX-AIR for the odors or the long-lasting Pro-OX Iron Filtration. We also recommend pre-chlorination feed for water with high concentrations of iron with high manganese levels.

You can also use carbon filters to get rid of any traces of the chlorine taste or odor.

With over 20 years of experience, you can trust Mosman Well Works for safe and quality water services. Our professional technicians are readily available for emergency services throughout the year. Contact Mosman Well Works today for any assistance.

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Mosman Well Works provides safe water and quality service to both residential and commercial customers throughout Connecticut. When you hire Mosman Well Works, expect superior service, honesty, and dependability. We stand by our work and no job is too challenging for our team. Mosman Well Works are experts that you can trust. We serve Greater Waterbury and all throughout CT.

We have over 20 years of experience in the well industry, including manufacturer specialized training and safety training. Our team of technicians are available for emergency service 365 days a year and our customer service line is open 24 hours a day to answer your questions.

We will work with your schedule to minimize any inconvenience or impact to your daily agenda. We strive to continually expand our industry knowledge with all the latest advancements utilizing technology, to be the leading well company. If you’re experiencing low water pressure from your well or need a well pump replaced, give us a call. Mosman Well Works operates out of several locations in Connecticut including Naugatuck, Derby, Shelton, Waterbury, and Oxford but services the entire state.