Imagine a hot summer’s day.

You’ve been outside for hours, and you’re looking forward to gulping down a nice, crystal-clear glass of water.

You turn on your tap to fill your cup, and your well water is yellow.

Yellow well water. You don’t want to see it, and you don’t want to drink it.

Yellow water can come from a variety of sources, few of which render your water unsafe to drink.

If you’re still uncertain, you can test for yellow or orange water specifically.

People are becoming more concerned about their water and its safety.

If you’re wondering what to do when your well water comes out yellow, keep reading this guide and follow the steps you can take to treat it.

My Well Water Is Yellow

Is your well water yellow?

Oftentimes, yellow well water is due to iron-related bacteria.

The yellow tint is caused when small iron bacteria combine iron and manganese with oxygen and form a yellow build-up that appears in the water.

Your yellow well water could also contain organic materials.

Nature’s fermentation process creates tannins, a group of bitter and astringent compounds, when water passes through peaty soil and decaying vegetation.

This process is another culprit for yellow well water after rain.

It’s not a major concern when well water is yellow, but it should be addressed before it worsens.

If you get water from a private well, make sure you’re testing its quality every three years.

A home supplied by well water means all the drinking, bathing, and cleaning water come directly from a private well.

You won’t receive a water bill from the city, but you’re ultimately responsible for the quality of your property’s water.

How to Fix Yellow Well Water

Step one in learning how to fix yellow well water means testing the water with a water testing kit.

This process can help you determine what build-up of materials could be causing its yellow appearance.

These kits include chemically treated strips or an alternative made from various materials that react to different contaminants when dipped in the water.

Each color refers to a corresponding one on a chart.

This will help you discover what is chemically wrong with any yellow well water coming out.

These at-home tests can also help a homeowner determine some treatment options.

Tannins in your water can be treated with an organic scavenging anion exchange resin.

This process increases tannin absorption to remove it from your water.

If you’re experiencing high levels of iron and manganese, ion exchange or oxidation and filtration is a good treatment option.

If all else fails, get your water tested by a professional.

Advanced tests can determine any inefficiencies or potential health and safety issues when well water is yellow.

Take Control of Your Well Water System

When well water is yellow, you might need the help of a professional.

Take control of your well water system and pumps with Empire Pump Corporation.

The leading provider of water well-pump services in the State of Arizona, Empire Pump Corporation provides services specializing in the installation and rehabilitation of well water systems and pumps.

Our company is built around honesty, respect, and excellence.

If you want to take control of your well water system today, give us a call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my well water always yellow?

Iron build-up, Iron is the most common cause of yellow or orange well water, especially if the water tastes metallic. Most often, iron builds up in well groundwater supplies together with manganese. Exposed to oxygen, ferrous iron will react and turn water yellow or orange.

Why is my well water yellow after sitting?

Your water appears to be discolored, either right when it comes out of the tap or after it sits for a few minutes. If it comes out red, yellow, or orange right from the tap, you probably have ferric iron present in your well water.

Why is my well water yellow after bleaching?

Well water with very high iron and sodium hypochlorite bleach are just not very compatible. The bleach active reacts with the iron and changes it to the chemical form as rust. This new yellow/red discoloration then deposits on clothes, causing discoloration.

Is your well water yellowdiscolored or foul- smelling? The team at Empire Pump and Pump It Up, Pump Services, Inc. can help you diagnose and fix the problem. Since 1946, we have been helping Arizona residents ensure they have reliable and safe well water all year long! Give our team a call today at (623) 582-5069 or request service online.

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