Blue Water Is Caused by What Kind of Pipes
Homeowners experience a variety of problems with their water supply from time to time in the color, odor or cleanliness of the water, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. In addition to the natural properties of water, some types of pipes occasionally cause blue water. Does this Spark an idea?
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Cause
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Water may appear unnaturally blue, which is unusual but is generally the result of copper plumbing corrosion which may itself be a result of the electrical system being improperly grounded to a water pipe somewhere within the home. Low-quality bronze alloys sometimes cause high zinc levels, leading to blue-tinted water as well. Note that water appears blue naturally, as explained in the article, "Why is Water Blue?" by Professors Braun and Smirnov at Dartmouth University.
Testing
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Laboratories perform water testing for both copper and zinc. Contact your local water department or the state Department of Environmental Protection for more information on having your water testing. Choose a state-certified private water testing facility to improve your chance of obtaining valid results.
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Effects
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The human body requires copper, but high levels cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and liver or kidney damage, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Zinc presents no known health risks for humans though it causes a metallic taste. The EPA suggests that levels of zinc be kept to 5 mg/L but it offers this only as a suggestion.
Prevention/Solution
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Contact the local water company for more information on contamination levels in your water supply. Have your water supply tested to determine the cause of the blue tint. Proceed from this point with an experienced plumber, assuming the problem is in your plumbing and not the public water supply.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit blue water image by OMKAR A.V from Fotolia.com
