Water problems

What’s going on with your water?

Tell us what you’re noticing: a smell, a stain, a taste. We’ll walk you through what it usually means, what’s behind it, how to tell the causes apart, and how to know for sure.

Sand in well water Brown water Yellow water Cloudy water

Or start from one of 9 problems, grouped by how you notice them

You can smell it 1

SmellVery commonRotten egg smellGood news first: at levels you can smell, a rotten-egg smell is usually a nuisance, not a health risk. The cause is most often hydrogen sulfide gas, or bacteria living in your water heater.

You can see it 8

Sand in well waterGrit or sand in well water usually means sediment getting past your well or pump, and a simple…Looks like
Brown waterBrown water is usually iron and rust from your well or old pipes, or stirred-up sediment after…Looks like
Yellow waterYellow water is usually tannins, natural organics from decaying leaves, or a little iron. It…Looks like
Cloudy waterGood news: cloudy or milky water is usually just dissolved air. A one-minute glass test tells…Looks like
White residueThat chalky white film is hard-water scale, dissolved calcium and magnesium left behind as…Looks like
Blue-green stainsBlue-green stains are copper leaching from your pipes, a sign your water is a little acidic.…Looks like
Orange stainsAlmost always iron in your water, and it’s a nuisance far more than a health worry. The one…Looks like
Black specksUsually harmless, and where they show up tells you a lot. The two common culprits are…Looks like

Nothing you can point at? That’s normal.

The stuff that matters most for your health (lead, nitrate, PFAS) has no taste, color, or smell. If you’re here because you’re worried, not because something’s obviously wrong, the best place to start is what’s on record for your area.

See your area’s records Describe a worry instead

What’s going on with your water?

You can smell it 1

You can see it 8

Nothing you can point at? That’s normal.

Water guides and updates, by email