Why is my water discoloured?

There can be several reasons why your water is discoloured. The most likely reason is due to disturbance of deposits in the mains supply as a result of work carried out by Northern Ireland Water. The water may appear brown or orange in colour. This is usually a temporary problem and can be cleared by flushing the tap.

If your water is brown in colour it is most likely to be as a result of rusty pipes, either from within your home or from the mains pipes. Run some water through your pipes until it runs clear. If the problem persists contact Northern Ireland Water on 08457 44 00 88.

If your tap water appears cloudy, this may be as a result of excess air causing tiny air bubbles to form. The water clears when the bubbles rise to the top. This is more apparent in the winter when the water is cold.

This is probably because there is too much manganese in the water. Manganese is a naturally occurring metal, but when dissolved in water it can react with chlorine added during treatment and turn black. This level of manganese is unacceptable and you should contact Northern Ireland Water on 08457 44 00 88 immediately. An information leaflet on discoloured water (.PDF 141Kb) is available on the Drinking Water Inspectorate (England & Wales) website.