Blue Water Syndrome

We have just moved back into our house after nine months of major renovations. Almost every aspect of the house has been changed in some manner, including a new kitchen and bathrooms. The two upstairs bathrooms both have brand new tubs: a traditional tub/shower in the hall bathroom and a whirlpool tub in the master bathroom.

Although I wasn’t ready to venture into the whirlpool, I did want to check that it at least worked, so I filled the tub with water. As it filled up to about six inches, necessary to operate the jets, I started noticing that the water was a very pretty bluish color. I didn’t think too much of it, focusing on the operation of the tub. The tub worked fine, creating frothy cauldron of water. I turned my attention back to the blue water and considered its source. Perhaps the internal plumbing of the tub has some kind of anti-freeze or lubricating residue that would be washed away. I didn’t think that it was the water as I never noticed this before. The water in the toilets, also white, had no blue appearance, although there is much less water in a toilet.

I checked the hall bathroom which is just a standard white tub and the water in this tub had the same bluish color. It must be the water. Nothing in either bathroom would create any hint of a blue reflection.

Now I had to question if this was new or had always been there? Our old tub was coincidently blue, so we never would have noticed.

My wife called the water department and told them how we had not been in the house for some time. The offered explanation was that perhaps algae had grown during the time of non-use and caused this color. We would not be making soup anytime soon. As a rule, we drink bottled water even when home. Normally, I find this practice kind of silly, but reconsidered this as prudent until I get to the bottom of this issue.

In researching what could be causing the water to be blue, I have found the probable cause to be copper in the water. The copper most likely comes from the copper pipes that transport the water through the house. There are a few reasons why the copper in the pipes could be dissolving:

• Low pH: Low pH indicates acidic and corrosive water that can break down the pipes and would cause a higher concentration of copper.
• New pipes: The copper in new pipes breaks down more quickly in the first year of usage.
• Electrolysis: The water pipe that enters the house is normally used to ground the electrical system. A variety of different scenarios can cause a very small electrical charge to be present in the plumbing. This electricity can cause a chemical breakdown of the copper.

If the contaminant is indeed copper, I will need to find what is causing it and rectify it. I also need to do a bit more detective work to narrow down the mystery.

Action items:

• We have emailed our neighbors to see if anyone else has noticed this issue.
• I have a spigot right after the water meter in the basement that allows access to water prior to it going through the house plumbing. I will cart some buckets up to the tub to see if this has the same bluish hue. This should eliminate the new plumbing as a cause of the color.
• I also have a fire hydrant at the foot of my driveway. If daring, I could check this water for color which would indicate that the issue is not specific to my house.
• Get water tested for pH, copper, algae, and other nasties.

I will post my findings.

Has anyone out there ever seen this problem?

4 comments January 18th, 2007