That brownish or reddish color is caused by accumulated rust and sediment that is released in the water delivery system, which can be caused by the following:
Plumbing fixtures and water delivery pipelines - Your water contains naturally occurring minerals. Overtime, those minerals will accumulate and deposit on plumbing fixtures and water delivery pipelines. If you notice the discoloration first thing in the morning, run the water for a few minutes to see if the brown or red color clears. If the water starts running clear, it is likely within your home or business plumbing fixtures. If you see Valley County Water District working nearby your home or business, it is possible that the water system repairs being completed may have caused some of the water delivery pipeline sediment to become disturbed. This type of disturbance usually lasts between two and four hours. Although the color is not appeasing or pleasant, the water is completely safe to drink.
Water supplies being served - Your water is supplied from four active groundwater production wells. If there is an unforeseen emergency or if Valley County Water District is required to obtain water from an imported water supply, the water chemistry of the imported water supply may be different than what is typically produced by Valley County Water District from the groundwater production wells. This may cause the water to scour the accumulated rust and sediment in the pipeline delivery system and may give the water a brown or red color. Although the color is not appeasing or pleasant, the water is completely safe to drink. Click Here for More Information on Water Discoloration This handout is also available in Spanish.