Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a garden hose attached to your outside faucet? If the water is turned "on" but suspended from flowing by a hose nozzle, this may allow the water to back up into your house system and the strange taste may be coming from the garden hose at the outside faucet. If the hose is not the problem, the District can send someone out to flush the water main and help you troubleshoot the problem.

This may be a result of high chlorine in the water. The District can send someone out to help you troubleshoot the smell. They will flush the main line if necessary.

Yes. There is one part of fluoride per million parts of water.

This water is soft, 1.40 grains per gallon.

• There are many reasons for discoloration. One of the most common problems is the need to flush the hot water tank.
  • Sediment settles in the bottom of the tank and should be flushed out annually. This will help with discolored water that is generally noticed in the bath tub. It will also improve the longevity of your hot water tank. So, if your hot water is discolored and the cold water is clear, this may be a simple solution to your problem. Flushing instructions are available at the District office.
• Another common cause of discoloration could be a dead-end main line serving your home. This would be noticed in the cold water.
  • The same sediment that ends up in your hot water tank also comes to rest in the bottom of the main line and, even more so, in dead ends. If you think this problem is occurring, contact the District office. We have ability to flush sediment from the dead ends. All dead end lines will need this service on occasion.
• Construction activity in your neighborhood may cause discoloration. This problem occurs from a broken water line or fire hydrant usage.
  • Anything that causes the water to flow at a higher velocity than normal can stir up the sediment which may result in discoloration.
  • After a main repair or shut down, the field crew takes great efforts to flush the sediment from the line to insure clear water at your tap.
• Its important to realize that even though your water is discolored, it is still safe to drink.

Each year, a few Woodinville Water District customers call to ask about a slimy black substance that sometimes forms in moist areas around their homes. They most frequently observe it in toilet bowls, on the surfaces in shower stalls and bathtub enclosures, in sinks, and in pet water dishes.

Black Fungus/Slime

A black fungus or mold is thought to be the cause of the black slime. These types of fungi are common inhabitants of our environment and can be found in many places, including human and animal feces, dust, soil, and in surface water. The mold will grow in any moist location where phosphorous containing materials or fatty substances accumulate. Sources of these substances include soap residues in bathing areas, feces in toilets, soap and food residues in pet water dishes. The fungus can also grow in tap water in locations such as toilets in guest bathrooms where the water is left standing long enough for the chlorine residual disinfectant to dissipate.

Certain types of normal environmental bacteria may also grow with it. The fungus is not known to cause any waterborne diseases.

Cleaning

Once established, the growth usually cannot be eliminated entirely. However, periodic and thorough cleaning of the surfaces where the slime occurs, followed by disinfection with chlorine bleach appear to be the best way to control it. First, scrub the surfaces where the mold grows or where phosphorus and fatty substances accumulate with a brush and a household cleanser. Then disinfect the surfaces where the slime grew with a strong chlorine bleach solution. Leave the disinfectant solution on the affected surface(s) for 10 to 20 minutes before thoroughly rinsing it away with clean water.

To control black mold in toilets, clean the bowl thoroughly and spray chlorine bleach into the bowl and under the bowl rim. Also add ¼ cup of bleach to the toilet tank. Let the bleach stand for 15 to 20 minutes. After 15 to 20 minutes, flush the toilet a couple of times to rinse the disinfectant out of the tank and the bowl. Number e: Bleach should not be left in the toilet tank for prolonged periods; it will damage the rubber valves and seals inside. Whenever the black slime starts to reappear, repeat the cleaning and disinfection process.

Questions

If you have any questions contact Tim Cantwell our Water Quality/Cross-Connection Specialist at 425-487-4125 or by email.

Each year, a few Woodinville Water District customers call to ask about a slimy pink substance that sometimes forms in moist areas around their homes. They most frequently observe it in toilet bowls, on the surfaces in shower stalls and bathtub enclosures, in sinks, and in pet water dishes.

Pink Mold

A red or pink pigmented bacteria known as Serratia marcescens is thought to be the cause of pink stuff. Serratia bacteria are common inhabitants of our environment and can be found in many places, including human and animal feces, dust, soil, and in surface water. The bacteria will grow in any moist location where phosphorous containing materials or fatty substances accumulate. Sources of these substances include soap residues in bathing areas, feces in toilets, soap and food residues in pet water dishes. Serratia can also grow in tap water in locations such as toilets in guest bathrooms where the water is left standing long enough for the chlorine residual disinfectant to dissipate. Serratia marsescens is not known to cause any waterborne diseases.

Cleaning

Once established, the organism usually cannot be eliminated entirely. However, periodic and thorough cleaning of the surfaces where the pink slime occurs, followed by disinfection with chlorine bleach appear to be the best way to control it. Scrub the surfaces where phosphorus and fatty substances, or the bacteria accumulate with a brush and a household cleanser. Then disinfect the surfaces where the slime has formed with a strong chlorine bleach solution. Leave the disinfectant solution on the affected surface(s) for 10 to 20 minutes before thoroughly rinsing it away with clean water.

To control pink "stuff" in toilets, clean the bowl thoroughly and spray chlorine bleach into the bowl and under the bowl rim. Also add ¼ cup of bleach to the toilet tank. Let the bleach stand for 15 to 20 minutes. After 15 to 20 minutes, flush the toilet a couple of times to rinse the disinfectant out of the tank and the bowl. Note: Bleach should not be left in the toilet tank for prolonged periods; it will damage the rubber valves and seals inside. Whenever a pink film starts to reappear, repeat the cleaning and disinfection process.

Questions

If you have any questions contact Tim Cantwell our Water Quality/Cross-Connection Specialist at 425-487-4125 or by email.

You may have a defective hot water tank "Dip Tube".

What Is a Hot Water Tank Dip Tube?

The dip tube is a plastic tube that carries cold water from the cold water inlet at the top of your hot water tank to the bottom area of the tank where the heating elements and controls are located. Each time you draw hot water from your tap, hot water flows out of the top of your hot water tank and cold water flows via the dip tube into the bottom.

What’s Wrong with My Hot Water Tank Dip Tube?

Between late 1992 and spring 1996, the plastics manufacturer that supplied 90% of the dip tubes used by most of the major hot water tank manufacturers in the United States used a defective plastic to make the tubes. It is estimated nearly 21 million hot water tanks made in this time period may have been built with these defective dip tubes. After a period of use, the defective tube breaks down inside the tank and disintegrates into thousands of tiny grains or flakes of white or bluish -white plastic. These tiny chips of plastic float. When hot water is drawn from the tank, they flow with the water into the plumbing, where they often clog up the fixtures and appliances attached to the system.

The signs and symptoms that this has occurred in your hot water tank are:

• Faucet screens or appliance inlet screens are plugged with white or bluish-white material.
• Reduced hot water capacity or hot water run time. (When the tube disintegrates cold water flows into the top of the tank as you draw out the hot water. The cold water "short circuits" to the outlet piping and the hot water appears to turn quickly)
• Reduced warm or hot water flow at your washing machine.
• Suddenly reduced or low flow at your kitchen and bathroom taps.
• White or bluish white flakes floating in your bathtub when you fill it with bath water.

If you are not sure if you have this problem, you can call the District and ask them to come look at the particles and help identify them.

How Do I Correct This Problem?

If you have confirmed you have a failed dip tube, your dip tube or possibly your hot water tank will have to be replaced. If you know how, you can do this work yourself, or if not, you may want to hire a plumber to do it for you. Regardless of whether just the dip tube or the entire tank is replaced, your plumbing will have to be flushed to remove the plastic particles caught in it. All of the screens, strainers, aerators showerheads and appliances connected to your hot water plumbing should be disconnected and cleaned. At the same time, all of the hot water lines should be flushed. If you only replace the dip tube, the hot water tank will also have to be drained and thoroughly flushed prior to cleaning the piping and appliance and fixture screens.

Can I expect any help from the hot water tank manufacturer?

No. The homeowner must cover the cost of repair and replacement. Because many of the dip tubes failed in the first two or three years of use, settlement of a nationwide class action lawsuit only required the manufacturers to pay for repair or replacement of dip tubes that failed prior to December 31st, 2000. Tanks that fail now are typically 5 to 8 years old and are outside normal warranties for defects in workmanship and materials. Since most hot water tanks only last 8 to 10 years, you may want to consider replacing yours if the dip tube fails and your tank is already 7 or 8 years old.