Brown water in Florence, SC: causes and what to do

Brown water in Florence, SC usually means rust or sediment is in the water. It can start in the city’s water mains. It can also come from older pipes in your home or from your water heater. Quality Service Company plumbers can help you find the source and explain your options.

The fix depends on where the color starts. A few quick checks at your own taps will tell you a lot.

What turns tap water brown?

Brown, tan or rust-colored water usually comes from iron or sediment. These are the usual sources:

• Stirred-up city mains. Sediment settles in water mains over time. A main break, hydrant flushing or a sudden pressure change can knock it loose.
• Rusting pipes in your home. Galvanized steel pipe can rust from the inside as it ages.
• Your water heater. Sediment collects in the bottom of the tank. A tank that is rusting inside can tint the hot water.
• Iron in well water. Iron and manganese occur naturally in a lot of groundwater. A private well isn’t treated by a city plant.

Is it the city’s water or my house?

Try these checks before you call anyone.

• Run cold and hot separately. If only the hot water is brown, look at the water heater.
• Check several taps. If only one tap is brown, the problem is likely in that line or fixture.
• Check the outside spigot near your meter. Brown water there points to the city side.
• Ask a neighbor and check city notices. If the whole street has it, the cause is likely in the mains.

City of Florence water comes from wells and the Pee Dee River. The city’s 2024 water report says most of it comes from wells and the rest from the river. The system serves about 79,745 people. Timmonsville has been on City of Florence water since 2013.

Big events shake that system. On Christmas Day 2022, the city had a water main break. That break and leaks in homes and businesses cost at least 20 million gallons. In August 2024, flooding from Debby shut the city’s water plant.

Both times, the city put out a system-wide boil advisory. Breaks and pressure swings like these can stir sediment loose in the mains.

Is brown water safe to drink?

Don’t drink it or cook with it until it runs clear. You can’t tell what’s in the water by looking at it.

If the city issues a boil advisory, follow it until the city lifts it. With a baby or an older parent at home, use bottled water until the tap runs clear.

The city’s 2024 report flagged no violations. It also lists no iron figures. And it covers the water the city delivers, not what your own pipes add.

What should I do when brown water comes out?

1. Stop using hot water. That keeps sediment from being pulled into your water heater.
2. Hold off on laundry. Iron can stain clothes.
3. Run the cold tap nearest your meter, like an outside spigot or a tub. Let it run until the water is clear.
4. Run the other cold taps in the house, one at a time.
5. If it won’t clear, call your water provider. Ask whether they’re working nearby.
6. If the city side is fine but your water stays brown, call a plumber.

Why is only my hot water brown?

When only the hot side is brown, the water heater is the usual source. Sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank. Rusty hot water can also mean the tank is corroding inside.

Your tech will check the tank and the parts that protect it from rust. Then you’ll hear whether flushing, a repair or a new heater makes sense. Your tech will quote any repair before starting.

If the tank is worn out, read our page on water heater installation and replacement.

Do older homes have more rust in the water?

Older homes are more likely to have pipe that rusts. In the City of Florence, the median home was built in 1983. Nearly half of homes there were built before 1980, per Census figures.

Some nearby towns have older homes still. In Darlington, the median home was built in 1967. See the towns we serve across the Pee Dee.

Galvanized steel pipe is common in homes this age. As it rusts inside, it can tint the water and slow the flow. Watch for these signs:

• Brown water first thing in the morning that clears as the tap runs
• Low pressure at several taps
• Rust stains in sinks, tubs or toilets
• Dull gray pipe where the water line enters the house

Your tech will check what your pipe is made of and how it’s holding up. Then you’ll get your options, from a spot repair to repiping part of the house.

Can a water filter fix brown water?

Sometimes. It depends on the cause.

• Rusting pipes or a rusting tank: a filter only treats the symptom. The real fix is in the plumbing.
• Brown water after a main break: it can clear on its own. A one-time event doesn’t call for new equipment.
• Iron in the incoming water, as with many wells: treatment can help. A softener or whole-home filter may fit, depending on your water.

We look for the cause first, then talk about equipment. Learn more about water treatment for homes in Florence and the Pee Dee.

Common questions

How long does brown water last after a main break?

Brown water from a main break can clear as flow settles. Run your cold taps until the water is clear, starting near the meter. If it stays brown after the city finishes, or keeps coming back, check your own plumbing. The cause may be your pipes or water heater.

Will brown water stain my laundry?

Yes, iron in brown water can stain clothes, especially whites. Wait to run the washer until your cold water runs clear. If a load picks up rust spots, keep it wet and skip the bleach. Bleach can set rust stains, so use a rust remover made for fabric.

Does brown water mean I need new pipes?

Brown water doesn’t always mean you need new pipes. After a main break or hydrant flushing, it can come from the city side and clear on its own. If it keeps coming back, shows up only in your house, or comes with low pressure, have a plumber check your pipes and water heater.

Why is my well water brown?

Brown or orange well water usually points to iron or manganese in the groundwater. It can stain fixtures and laundry and change the taste. A city plant doesn’t treat a private well, so the owner handles testing and treatment. A tech can look at your setup and explain your treatment options.

If brown water won’t clear or keeps coming back, we’ll help you find the cause. Call (843) 920-2004 or book online.