Identify Your Water's Symptoms

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Diagnose your water concerns based on the symptoms you notice about your drinking water. Possible causes are listed with the most likely first. Get answers to these and more questions:

glass filled with dirty brown drinking water.
Problems with brown water? Check our diagnostic information to learn probably causes and possible fixes.

Are there health concerns if I drink the water or shower with it?
What lab test can be done to confirm the problem?
How can I find a laboratory?
If there is a confirmed problem, what are possible fixes?
How can I find someone qualified to do the work?
Can I get any financial help to fix the problem?

List of Water Symptoms

Symptoms about smell and appearance.
My Water Smells	My Water Appears	My Water Stains
Like Gasoline Like Rotten Eggs Like Manure Like Sewage Like Natural Gas Musty Like a Bog or Swamp Like Solvents or Paint Thinner Like Fuel Oil or Diesel Fuel	Rusty or Red To Have Black Particles Cloudy To Have White Flakes Sandy or Gritty Yellow Foamy Brown Bubbly To Have an Oily or Rainbow Sheen	Plumbing Fixtures Red or Brown Plumbing Fixtures Blue or Green Plumbing Fixtures Black or Brown Laundry Black Laundry Red or Brown

Symptoms about taste and feel.
My Water Tastes	My Water Feels	My Water
Metallic Salty	Slippery Gritty As If It Burns Like Soap Won't Lather	Spots My Dishes Etches My Dishes Leaves Slime in Toilet Tank Has Changed in Color, Taste or Odor Leaves White Material on Humidifier Leaves Scum in the Bath/Shower

Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on these pages, especially if your water symptoms aren't listed here. Please contact:

Dorie Turpin

Last Revised: Tuesday November 18 2008