My water appears dirty or has a yellow color to it. What should I do?

The water supply for Moscow comes from wells that are drilled in basalt which naturally contain iron and manganese.  The iron and manganese can accumulate on the inside of customer and City pipes and, when water use is high, can dislodge from the pipe and make the water appear dirty.  Dirty or discolored water can sometimes occur if we are working in the area or if the area is due for flushing.  However, it can also occur due to issues within your home.  The correct action to take depends on whether the issues is being experienced with the hot or cold water of your home.  

If your water appears dirty or yellow when you turn on your cold water: Turn on the cold water in your bathtub or faucets to flush the dirty or discolored water out of the system.  It should take 5-10 minutes to clear up.  If it doesn't clear up, please call us at 208-882-3122 and we will have a licensed water operator help you further.

If your water appears dirty or yellow when you turn on your hot water:  If the problem is only occurring when you turn on the hot water, it is likely that your hot water tank needs to be flushed.  If you do not know how to flush the hot water tank yourself, we recommend contacting a plumber. 


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1. My water bill is high compared to last month and we have not done anything different. Where did the water go?
2. What do I do if I have a water emergency after hours?
3. My water appears dirty or has a yellow color to it. What should I do?
4. How do I know my water is safe?
5. My water pressure seems low or I have low flow. What could be the problem?
6. When can I water my yard?
7. How can I purchase bulk water?
8. Where is my meter located?
9. Where is my water shut-off?
10. Where does my water come from?
11. Do Irrigation Systems in Moscow Require Backflow Protection and Annual Testing?
12. Is there lead or copper in my water?
13. Is there Fluoride in my water?
14. Why does the City flush water mains? Isn't that a waste of water?
15. How do I view the City's Annual Water Quality Report?