We all have faucets in our kitchen, bathroom, and garden for instant freshwater flow. We always expect fresh water to meet our needs and demand accordingly and don’t want to get contaminated water. But our water pipes or the plumbing pipes play a crucial role here.
You can use PVC, PEX, or Copper water pipes in your water system. When you select the right one, you must keep it simple and ensure safety. PVC & PEX are two good suggestions.
4 reasons why faucet water is blue or green
Your faucet water is blue or green because of four particular reasons. Copper pipe, acidic water, corrosion, and build-up algae are the main reasons your faucet water is either blue or green. If you use copper pipes, the copper will make your water green & blue, but PVC is a good choice.
You will find several types of water pipes in the market. PVC, PEX, and Copper pipes are most popular in the USA and other countries, although copper pipes are rarely used in the modern age.
People used to get copper pipes for their entire water system, but time has changed, and you have PVC and PEX pipes.
You will find much safer water flow from these pipes since they don’t have any copper or anything that can damage the water particles.
If you have such pipelines for water flow, you may get some relief and will love to use them for years. However, you must have some old and previously set-up copper pipes.
The story begins here since the copper pipes may release some copper with your water flow, changing the color to green or blue. If you find such a problem, I’d suggest checking your pipelines by hiring a plumber and replacing them accordingly. Otherwise, you will be tired of repairing them every now & then.
Let’s see what causes your faucet’s green/blue water and how you can solve it accordingly. We will go through everything.
Blue:
Two valid reasons why your faucet is giving you blue water instead of fresh water. The biggest reason is copper corrosion and damaged pipes. Let’s see how they cause your water to become blue.
Copper Corrosion:
If you have copper pipelines in your house, it will indicate that copper is the main reason for getting blue water from your faucet.
Sometimes, the copper particles will be mixed with fresh water, turning it blue and making it dangerous for health. The old or rusty copper pipes will make the water blue and unsafe to eat and use.
You must replace your copper pipes and install some PVC or PEX pipes in that situation. Sometimes, the city water line might get rusty, and the central water flow might be damaged and provide you with blue water.
It’s better to check your city line by asking them over the phone if your house doesn’t have any copper pipelines.
Damaged Sewage or Other Lines:
If your house sewage lines or any other lines connect with the freshwater lines, it’s possible to get blue water out of your faucet. It’s better to get a plumber and check every possible way to find the exact reason.
Sometimes, the damaged water pipes might connect with other damaged pipes and give you blue water.
Maybe you have some issues with sewage lines or the other pipelines of your house. Check them all and get pure freshwater.
Green:
If your water has acidic particles or has build-up algae, it may turn your faucet water into green. It’s a common scenario in most houses that we all get green water suddenly. Then, we need to find out the reason and solve it.
Acidic Particles:
Sometimes, the water might have some acidic particles that will directly cause the water to change its color to green.
Some areas are where the city corporation fails to provide fresh water without acidic particles; maybe the water source has some issues or damages that cause the acidic particles to get through the water and change their color.
Build-up Algae:
Another common reason is build-up algae that will also turn your water into blue/green.
The actual color will depend on the number of algae present. However, the algae in water will damage your health, and getting fresh water might be a serious concern.
Is blue or green tap water safe to drink?
Blue & green tap water is unsafe to drink since they contain different harmful chemicals and particles.
In most cases, the blue/green tap water contains copper from copper pipes. Copper is a harmful particle that can damage your good health and cause diarrhea and stomach problems.
Moreover, the other particles, including acidic ingredients and damaged pipes, may allow the bacteria and some germs to come with freshwater and change the water color.
Drinking polluted water will be a health risk, and you will face trouble in the long run. So, avoid eating both blue and green water from any tap.
You cannot even use the green or blue tap water, let alone drink. If you use that polluted water to wash your utensils, they will get those particles, and you cannot leave them anyway. So, you must stop using both blue & green tap water and try to use fresh water for all purposes.
Can I take a bath in blue or green water?
You cannot take a bath in blue or green water since they can contain bacteria and allergy components.
Sometimes, the blue or green water might come with build-up algae that will directly damage your skin. Significantly, the copper particles will be the main threat of baths with copper components.
You don’t want to damage your hair, skin, and other body parts by using polluted water unless you’re in an emergency and there is no alternative way.
If the water is slightly bluish or greenish, you may consider using them for emergency work, but you should not use them to take a long bath.
Always try to use fresh water to have a good bath since it will cause serious effects on your body & mind.
How to fix blue or green water?
Blue:
Copper is almost certainly present if the water is blue. When water is left to sit in copper pipes, the copper may eventually dissolve, giving the water a bluish hue due to the reaction between the copper and the water.
Additionally, this may impart a metallic flavor to your drinking water and leave blue stains on porcelain bathroom fixtures. Let’s see how you can solve the problem.
Chemical feed pump:
This strategy involves adding a solution of baking soda or soda ash to the water, which is then pumped through the system.
This does not increase the water’s hardness, and the solution’s pH can be adjusted according to the water’s reading.
Acidity Neutralizing Filters:
This neutralizing filter consists of a pressurized tank that holds a filter bed made of calcite or calcium carbonate. When acidic water travels through a filter containing calcium carbonate, the acidity of the water is neutralized.
The water’s natural hardness will become more pronounced due to using this procedure.
Green:
If you have seen green water gushing out of your faucets, the problem is most likely caused by an accumulation of algae in your water distribution system.
Microorganisms known as algae can become prevalent in a plan if a filter or another component is allowed to become clogged with debris over an extended period.
A skilled plumber will be able to determine where the blockage is originating from and remove the algae from your system.
Cleaner:
After using a standard multi-surface cleaner to disinfect your sink and faucet, wipe them dry.
The lemon’s mellow acidity contributes to the dissolution of some of the minerals, causing the accumulation. First, wash everything thoroughly, and then dry it off again.
Baking Soda:
Rub a paste of baking soda and water around your faucet. The ratio should be about three parts soda to one part water.
To allow the paste enough time to try breaking through the stubborn build-up, you should leave it on the areas causing the problem for about an hour.
Vinegar:
Pour about a third of a cup of vinegar into a plastic baggie, then wrap the bag around the faucet and fasten it with a rubber band if the build-up is particularly stubborn.
After allowing the gunk from the faucet to soak in the vinegar for around three hours, use an old toothbrush to remove the deposits. After rinsing, pat the item dry.
Final Thoughts
Copper, acidic particles, copper pipes, & algae are the true reasons why your faucet water is green or blue. You cannot use such water for drinking or taking a quick bath. If there is any concern about using unsafe water, you must hire a plumber and check your entire water system.