Water and sewerage

Yellow to rusty-brown water or rusty stains on washing

Causes
 

• Rusting galvanised iron pipes on property.
• Ageing galvanised iron pipes within properties are a common cause of discoloured water and an unpleasant taste.
• Choked with rust, they can also drastically reduce water pressure. The best solution is to replace the old pipes with new copper or plastic pipes.
• Stains on washing may be due to rusting iron pipes but they can also be caused by other factors, e.g. fabric softeners.

What you can do

• Turn a tap on full for a few minutes. If the water clears, the colour or sediment probably results from rusting galvanised iron pipes on your property.
• Contact Yarra Valley Water, for help in determining the exact cause.

Small particles in the water supply system

Causes

• This can be caused by rusting pipes or from the resuspension of natural sediments in our pipes.

What you can do

• If you cannot clear the water by turning a tap on full for a few minutes, the problem probably lies outside your property with the water supply system. This can become a particular problem with courts and dead-end streets.
• In most cases such problems only persist for a short time. If not, contact Yarra Valley Water for assistance.

Water with a blue or green tinge
 

Causes

• Corroding copper pipes on property

What you can do

• This is a complex problem and it is best to contact Yarra Valley Water for advice.

White, cloudy or milky water

Causes

• Air in the water.
• Hold a glass of cold water to the light and you will see tiny bubbles start to clear from the bottom.
• Water can also become aerated in the hot water service.
• Cloudy water (not air bubbles) can also be due to corroding copper pipes.

What you can do

• Aerated water cannot do you any harm, but if the problem persists contact contact Yarra Valley Water.

Brackish, metallic or stale taste
 

Causes

• Rusting galvanised iron pipes on property.
• Ageing galvanised iron pipes within properties are a common cause of unpleasant taste.
• Choked with rust, they can also drastically reduce water pressure. The best solution is to replace the old pipes with new copper or plastic pipes.

What you can do

• Turn a tap on full for a few minutes. If the taste disappears, it probably results from rusting galvanised iron pipes on your property.
• Contact Yarra Valley Water, for help in determining the exact cause.

Slight smell of chlorine

Causes

• Chlorine in water.
• Mild chlorination is an essential part of the process of purifying water, but just occasionally the chlorine taste is noticeable.
• Yarra Valley Water tries to balance the need for safety with taste.

What you can do

• Contact Yarra Valley Water as we can usually take steps to improve the situation.

Poor lathering of soap

Causes

• The presence of calcium in water affects soap and various saucepans.
• Calcium is leached from new cement lined mains and occurs most often in new subdivisions.

What you can do

• In time the pipes will stabilise, but if you have a problem, Yarra Valley Water can offer assistance.
   

Blackened aluminium cooking utensils

Causes

• The presence of calcium in water affects soap and various saucepans.

• Calcium is leached from new cement lined mains and occurs most often in new subdivisions.

What you can do

• In time the pipes will stabilise, but if you have a problem, Yarra Valley Water can offer assistance.

   

White deposits on utensils & stainless steel sinks

Causes

• Calcium is leached from new cement lined mains and occurs most often in new subdivisions.

What you can do

• In time the pipes will stabilise, but if you have a problem, Yarra Valley Water can offer assistance.