Usually disturbed sediment in the mains. The Drinking Water Inspectorate says: “Brown, black or orange coloured water is normally caused by the disturbance of sediments from older pipes in the network.”
Source: Drinking Water Inspectorate, Brown, Black or Orange Water ↗
Causes in the water mains
- A burst on a water main
- The opening or closing of valves in the network
- Reinstatement of a main after repairs
- The use of water by third parties such as fire fighting
“Most of the older water mains in this country are cast iron.”
Source: Drinking Water Inspectorate, Brown, Black or Orange Water ↗
Causes inside your property
- The condition of the service pipe connecting a property to the water main
- The condition of internal plumbing inside a property
- An internal tank which may need cleaning
“If the cause is internal it is likely the discolouration will persist for many weeks or months.”
Source: Drinking Water Inspectorate, Brown, Black or Orange Water ↗
What to do
“If the problem has been present for less than 24 hours, run the tap to help clear the water.”
“If your tap water is suddenly discoloured, you should not assume that it is safe to drink until you have sought advice from your water supplier.”
Source: Drinking Water Inspectorate, Brown, Black or Orange Water ↗
Contact your water company
If brown water lasts more than a day, or it smells or tastes unusual, contact your water company.
Find your water company from your postcode
Related pages
Sources
- Drinking Water Inspectorate: Brown, Black or Orange Water ↗ · Open Government Licence v3.0 · read 14 October 2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.