Discolored or Odd-Tasting Water in Wake Forest

Start with Raleigh Water's explanations

Raleigh Water's FAQ says customers can always report water quality issues by calling Customer Care and Billing at 919-996-3245, and the Town of Wake Forest's utilities contact page lists 919-996-2737 for water quality issues. Before you assume your plumbing has failed, it helps to know the common causes the utility itself describes.

If a house has been unoccupied for several weeks, Raleigh says, the water can be discolored when first turned on but should clear in a few minutes or less. The same is true of a seldom-used bathroom. Running the cold tap for a few minutes is the first test.

The March chlorine switch

Raleigh Water normally disinfects with chloramine, which it says has no associated taste or odor. Every year during March, it switches to chlorine-only disinfection to properly control microbial growth in the distribution system, and customers may notice a chlorine taste or smell. The utility says the water remains safe to drink.

Its suggestion for the taste is simple: fill a pitcher with tap water and leave it in the refrigerator for several hours so the chlorine taste and odor can dissipate. A chlorine smell in March is therefore not a plumbing problem and does not call for a plumber.

When the water heater is the source

Raleigh's FAQ also recommends checking your water heater, because old or poorly maintained heaters can accumulate rust and sediment and cause water quality issues. If only the hot water is discolored, the heater is the likely source. If both hot and cold are discolored at every tap and it does not clear, report it to the utility.

A heater that produces rusty water, rumbles, or leaks may be near the end of its life. North Carolina law allows a licensed plumber to replace a water heater like-for-like without a permit under specific conditions; see water heater replacement and license checks.

Pressure changes and discoloration

Raleigh Water's leak page says its distribution staff perform emergency repairs on public mains, hydrants and valves, and team with water quality staff to perform annual flushing of the distribution system. Leaks or damage to hydrants, mains and valves can be reported at 919-996-3245. If discoloration lines up with nearby utility work or a main break, mention that when you call.

If discoloration came with a sudden pressure drop, see low water pressure, and report any visible main break to Raleigh Water at 919-996-3245. Backflow events, which Raleigh describes as reversals of flow into the public supply, are what its cross-connection program is designed to prevent; see backflow testing.

When a plumber is the right call

Call a plumber when the problem is clearly inside the house: only hot water affected, only certain fixtures affected after the cold tap clears elsewhere, or visible corrosion or leaks on pipes and valves. A plumber can also check the pressure reducing valve and the water heater's condition.

If water quality issues come with a jump in your bill, there may be a leak as well; see leak detection. For anything urgent, start with our emergency steps.