Resident's mysterious blue water exposes common problem in Aussie homes
A bathtub filled with bright blue water concerned locals, wondering if it was safe to drink. But there's a simple explanation and one that can be problematic.
A concerned resident has shone a light on a common household problem after sharing an image of her bathwater sporting an unusual shade of blue. And while it's not necessarily alarming in most situations, it can come with health risks, experts warn.
"I just ran the bath and the water is so blue. Does anyone else have this problem?" the woman asked residents in the Greenwood area in Western Australia, thinking there might be a problem with the suburb's water supply. "This is the water we are drinking, as the cold water is blue as well."
While some other locals expressed having a similar problem in their homes, it's understood no waterworks or scheme changes contributed to the change in water colour, meaning another factor is clearly at play. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, water expert Ian Wright from Western Sydney University says it's most likely evidence of too much copper in the pipes.
"Often you see a bluish stain where water drips from a tap on light-colour porcelain," he told Yahoo. "So yes, copper pipes are the likely source."
Is blue water from copper safe to drink?
According to North East Water in Victoria, more than 90 per cent of all Australian buildings use copper pipes and fittings for their internal plumbing, and copper corrosion is a common problem.
Cloudy, blue or blue-green water coming from the cold water tap is a telltale sign that copper levels in the water might be elevated. Low levels of copper usually leave a green/blue stain on taps, pipes, hand basins, showers or toilets. With this, there is no bitter or metallic taste and this water is still safe to drink.
However, high levels of copper can leave a metallic or unpleasant bitter taste. "This water may not be safe to drink. Advice on the condition of your pipes should be sought from your plumber," the website reads.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) state the level of copper in drinking water should be less than two milligrams per litre. This is equivalent to approximately 5ml in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Signs of constant over-exposure to copper include nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Severe corrosion can also cause a range of other problems including pinhole leaks, which could lead to flooding and costly repairs over time.
Locals baffled as popular creek mysteriously turns bright blue
Calls to fix 'putrid' problem affecting 'whole series of Aussie towns'
Residents advised to call in the experts
"I would recommend that people should notify their water provider," Wright said. "The chemistry of their water supply might have changed recently and the water may become 'aggressive' and strip copper from the pipes".
Wright said a lot of the time "it's not harmful for people" if consumed in small amounts, adding "much of our food is high in copper", a detail many might not know.
"But I would not put this water in a goldfish pond or aquarium — aquatic life is super-sensitive to copper," he warned.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
