# What came out of this restroom sink? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-out-of-this-restroom-sink/342102 "2006-01-29T19:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-out-of-this-restroom-sink/342102/1 "2006-01-29T19:08:18Z")
Yesterday, I was in this public restroom, and I went to wash my hands. When I first turned on the faucet the water had a yellowish brownish tint to it. Then the water went back to clear. What was this? EWWWWW! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-out-of-this-restroom-sink/342102/2 "2006-01-29T19:12:46Z")
If there was work done recently on the plumbing, rust sediment may have been dislodged, not unlike the tint seen in water when the water authority is flushing hydrants. Essentially harmless. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-out-of-this-restroom-sink/342102/3 "2006-01-29T19:13:33Z")
[Iron](http://www.terrylove.com/wwwboard/messages/16707.html) > [@](#): > > Iron is a common element in nature. It is not surprising that most surface or ground water contains some > iron. Natural iron usually occurs as an insoluble oxide, but the ground water recharge process collects iron in a > soluble form that is dissolved in water. At concentrations of 0.3 parts per million or greater, iron can produce > brown or red stains on plumbing fixtures, laundry or masonry surfaces. In higher concentrations, it can produce an > unpleasant metallic taste in the water. Iron can also produce favorable conditions for the growth of “iron bacteria”. > Left untreated, these bacteria results in a jelly-like slimy mass. This mass can cause clogged pipes and filter > screens and produce a foul tasting water. Other indications of the presence of iron are: > At levels above 0.3 PPM, water drawn from a faucet appears clear, but when allowed to stand takes on a > yellowish tint. > Water appears rusty or has a red or yellow color when drawn from a faucet. > Slimy brown or red film in plumbing fixtures, especially inside a toilet tank. > Manganese > Manganese is rarely found alone in a water source, but is usually paired with iron. At concentrations of > 0.05 parts per million, manganese can cause black staining of fixtures, laundry or masonry. Deposits of > manganese can collect in plumbing systems and produce a dark brown or black sediment and black turbidity ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-out-of-this-restroom-sink/342102/4 "2006-01-29T19:14:43Z")
That is pretty common. I took a bath in a hotel a little while ago and the same thing happened. I drained it after a little while and there was light sludge. A little while later it cleared up. It was from construction. ---
**Author:** ![Ty\_Cobb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ty\_Cobb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ty_Cobb)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-out-of-this-restroom-sink/342102/5 "2006-01-30T00:58:31Z")
Usually it’s due to the magnesium bar in the water heater being completely disolved. It’s there to precipitate free ions that damage the pipe. Actually, all pipes have some residue when they sit. In copper pipes it’s a blue-green tinge. The one you don’t see is lead, present in nearly every faucet, due to a strong lobby in Washington. It’s a known problem that saves the manufacturers less that a dollar per faucet, but that’s how D.C. works. You should always run water until it’s clear. And you should only use the cold water for anything you will eat or drink.