Your water company will normally warn you in advance when it is carrying out planned work on
the water mains and there is a risk of discoloured water and they will advise you of the actions
to take. If you have not been warned and you notice brown water at your tap you should run the
tap until the water is clear again. If the water does not clear after 30 minutes you should contact
your water company.

Are your neighbours also getting discoloured water?

If not, the problem may be with the pipework in your home and you should contact a
professionally qualified plumber.

Is water staining your laundry?

On some occasions iron in water can stain your laundry. If this happens firstly
check that your mains water is clear, then re-wash your clothes after
following a few simple tips:
• Keep the clothes damp and run the tap until the water runs clear.
• Use a synthetic detergent rather than a natural soap.
• Do not add bleach.
• Do not boil clothes.
• Rinse clothes by hand.
• If the discolouration has been caused by the water supplied to your
property, your local water company may be able to provide you with
citric acid crystals which will help to remove any staining. It is
essential that the clothes are kept damp until these have been used.

WARM WATER?

Warm water from your cold water tap?

This may happen if your cold water pipe runs very close to a hot water or central heating pipe
in your home. Mixer taps can also cause this problem. As a result you may need to run the cold
tap for some time wasting significant quantities of water until the temperature drops. Installing
insulation around and between your pipes will overcome this problem.

WATER FILTERS

The quality of tap water in the United Kingdom is very high and is subject to strict testing and
monitoring. It is perfectly safe and healthy to drink. However some people prefer to use filters to
remove the slight traces of chlorine from the drinking water. These filters can either be plumbed in
to the mains supply or be separate such as jug filters. Some filters also reduce temporary hardness
in the water that can cause scale build up in kettles and affect the appearance of hot drinks. With all
types of filter, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and use.

Jug filters are designed to be small and portable and filter the water into a glass or plastic container.
The water they produce should be treated like any food and used as soon as possible. It is best
stored in a refrigerator and should be discarded after 24 hours or the water may become
contaminated by bacteria.

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