Thread: Green Sandy Water

Hello All,

Have any of you had experience with the following.

If you filled up a bathtub you would see a greenish abrasive sediment (like fine silca sand) left in the tub. It appears only when hot water is run.

In this particular case it is a condo building and is happening in mulitple condos. Hot water is provided by domestic boilers and piped into storage tanks.

Branch piping is type L copper and the water main is ductile iron. the system includes hot water recirculating piping system. The building (and piping) is approximatley 7-8 years old and this has just started. No water softening or conditioning equipment installed.

Working theory: Problem with anode rods.

Water qulity is good and Ph factor is approx. 7.5

Any thoughts, opinions, comments appreciated.

This has nothing to do with HI work.

Thanks,

Corey

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Originally Posted by Corey Friedman

Hello All,

Have any of you had experience with the following.

If you filled up a bathtub you would see a greenish abrasive sediment (like fine silca sand) left in the tub. It appears only when hot water is run.

In this particular case it is a condo building and is happening in mulitple condos. Hot water is provided by domestic boilers and piped into storage tanks.

Branch piping is type L copper and the water main is ductile iron. the system includes hot water recirculating piping system. The building (and piping) is approximatley 7-8 years old and this has just started. No water softening or conditioning equipment installed.

Working theory: Problem with anode rods.

Water qulity is good and Ph factor is approx. 7.5

Any thoughts, opinions, comments appreciated.

This has nothing to do with HI work.

Thanks,

Corey

I have seen it with tan/greenish sediment from dip tubes that were bad and disintegrated in hot water tanks.

Originally Posted by Corey Friedman

Hello All,

Working theory: Problem with anode rods.

Good theory, anode rods sacraficed in storage tanks.

Another possiblity, which you've already eliminated was localized building system water treatment system (if present) media.

Final theory from this end, recent work has caused protective scale to bust up and its still showing up on the hot water side (perhaps tanks need to be flushed, or the scale is continuting to be broken up downstream from the original work) Work such as on the water main (city side), supply, within the general building distribution system, or boiler/hot water distribution system, or even the individual hot water riser for the section of units, or individual to the unit. Often a riser pump for example has been replaced, recently serviced, or in need of service - such as for the hot water riser.

It may have broken up developed and somewhat protective scale which then collected in the hot water system, and occasionally blows though, as it is forced along it breaks up into finer bits.

The greenish tint suggests the possiblity of copper pipes plus treated Lake water scale due to plumbing or sacrificed anode rods in storage tank(s) to me.

Thanks Guys,

I appreciate your assistance.

Sincerely,

Corey