Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content
  • myStratford

City of Stratford Logo

Contact Us
  • Visit Us
    • Parking
    • Public Restrooms
    • Destination Stratford
  • Live Here
    • Applications, Licenses & Permits
    • Britannia Street Housing Project
    • Cemetery
    • Children's Resources
    • Climate Action
    • EarlyON Perth County
    • Education
    • Emergency Services
    • Extreme Heat
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Garbage Collection
    • Heritage Stratford
    • Library
    • Maps
    • Parking
    • Pet Ownership
    • Property Taxes
    • Social Services
    • Stratford Police Services
    • Transportation
    • Utilities
    • Wastewater and Stormwater
    • Water
    • Wildlife
    • Senior's Resources
  • Play Here
    • Community Organizations
    • Advertising
    • Facilities
    • Parks & Forestry
    • Recreation Programs
    • Register for Programs
    • Sports Wall of Fame
    • Upcoming Events
  • Do Business
    • investStratford
    • Available Properties
    • Bids and Tenders
    • Business Licensing
    • Community Profile
    • Our Industries
    • Stratford Perth Centre for Business
  • Inside City Hall
    • A to Z Services
    • Accountability and Transparency
    • Accessibility
    • Advisory Committees
    • Animal Control
    • Applications, Licenses & Permits
    • Awards
    • Bid Opportunities
    • Budget
    • By-laws
    • City Council
    • Contact Us
    • Cooper Block
    • Departments
    • Employment
    • Market Square
    • Mayor
    • Municipal Accommodation Tax
    • Municipal Elections
    • News & Public Notices
    • Privacy Statement
    • Procedural By-law Review
    • Respectful Community
    • Strategic Priorities
    • Terms of Use
    • Website Feedback
HomeLive HereWaterDiscoloured Water

Discoloured Water

  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via Pinterest Pinterest
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Live Here

Occasionally, the water coming from the taps in your home may appear yellowish or rusty coloured.
Here are some frequently asked questions about discoloured water:

What causes tap water to be discoloured?

Stratford draws its drinking water from deep well aquifers, which makes it rich in minerals. One of those minerals is iron, and over time, iron deposits build up in the City’s watermains. The discolouration is a result of oxidized iron entering the water stream. Aging iron watermains also contribute to the issue. There are no adverse health or safety issues with discoloured water.

How does oxidized iron enter the water stream?
Normally, it remains largely contained within the infrastructure (watermains), but when that infrastructure is disturbed as a result of nearby construction, a watermain break or hydrant use, for example, the iron deposits are stirred up and enter the water stream.

Why do you flush the hydrants?

Typically in the spring and fall, the City of Stratford flushes it hydrants to remove some of those iron deposits that may have settled in the watermains. Because this stirs up the deposits, nearby residents may notice discoloured water for a short period.

Will it affect my laundry?

It may stain your laundry, particularly whites, so we recommend waiting until the water clears before doing laundry.

How can I get rid of discoloured water in my home?

When a discolouration event occurs (watermain break, construction, hydrant flushing), it is important to flush the lines in a systematic manner to ensure the discolouration does not spread throughout the plumbing system more than necessary. Choose a tap as close as possible to where the water service enters the house, and run the cold water for 10-15 minutes until it clears. If it doesn’t clear in that time, turn the tap off for 30 minutes and then try again. 

Will my internal plumbing cause discoloured water?

Internal factors, including issues with hot water heaters, water softeners, or galvanized steel or iron plumbing, may contribute to discoloured water. If you suspect there is an internal issue, and there have been no known external events like hydrant flushing or a watermain break, a plumber may be able to help. If you live in an apartment, contact your landlord.

Who do I call at the City if I have a concern about discoloured water?

You can contact Stratford’s Water division by calling 519-271-0250 ext. 5222.

 

Other water issues

Does your tap water smell unusual?

If your tap water has an unusual smell only when the hot water is running, the issue could be coming from your hot water tank. Over time, sediments like iron can accumulate inside the tank, leading to unpleasant odors. To address this, it's a good idea to periodically drain the tank and, if necessary, replace internal components.

If you notice a smell when both the cold and hot water are running, there could be a few possible causes. One common source is the drain trap under your sink, where debris like food scraps, grease, or other materials can accumulate and create unpleasant odors. If cleaning the drain doesn't resolve the issue, check the aerator on your tap. This small mesh screen at the end of the faucet can collect mineral deposits over time, which may also contribute to the smell.

Does your tap water look cloudy or milky?
This is usually caused by tiny air bubbles trapped in the water. If you let the water sit for a few moments, the air will naturally dissipate, and the water will clear up on its own.
  • Water
    Toggle Section Water Menu
    • Water Annual Reports
    • Water and Sewer Rates
    • Drinking Water Source Protection
    • Frozen Water Services
    • Discoloured Water
    • Service Line Warranties of Canada
  • View Full Live Here Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Applications, Licenses & Permits
      Toggle Section Applications, Licenses & Permits Menu
      • Bicycle Licensing
      • Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates and Change of Name
      • Business Licence
      • Encroachments
      • Lottery Licensing
      • Marriage and Civil Ceremonies
      • Pet Ownership
      • Special Events and Municipal Alcohol Policy
      • Outdoor Special Events
    • Britannia Street Housing Project
    • Cemetery
    • Children's Resources
    • Climate Action
      Toggle Section Climate Action Menu
      • Green Recognition Program
    • EarlyON Perth County
    • Education
    • Emergency Services
      Toggle Section Emergency Services Menu
      • Ambulance
      • Fire
        Toggle Section Fire Menu
        • Community Reports
        • Communications
        • History
        • LODD Memorial
        • Stations and Apparatus
        • Suppression
        • Emergency Preparedness
        • Fire Prevention
          Toggle Section Fire Prevention Menu
          • Fire By-Laws
        • Public Education
          Toggle Section Public Education Menu
          • Fire Extinguisher Training
      • Health Care
      • Police
    • Extreme Heat
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Garbage Collection
      Toggle Section Garbage Collection Menu
      • Green Bin
      • Hazardous Waste
      • Landfill Site
      • Leaf and Yard Waste
      • Recycling Collection
      • Textiles
      • Treasure Hunt Weekend
    • Heritage Stratford
      Toggle Section Heritage Stratford Menu
      • Award Programs
        Toggle Section Award Programs Menu
        • Blue Plaque Program
        • James Anderson Award
      • Heritage Permits
      • How to Designate Your Property
      • Designated Properties
      • Non-Designated Properties
      • Heritage Conservation District
      • Heritage Conservation Loan and Grant Programs
    • Library
    • Maps
    • Parking
    • Pet Ownership
    • Property Taxes
      Toggle Section Property Taxes Menu
      • Property Assessment
      • Property Tax Rates
      • Tax Bill Information
      • Tax Bill Payment Options
      • Tax Calculator
      • Tax Sales
    • Social Services
      Toggle Section Social Services Menu
      • Anne Hathaway Daycare
      • Children's Services
      • Homelessness
      • Housing
        Toggle Section Housing Menu
        • Housing Access Centre
        • Perth and Stratford Housing Corporation
      • Ontario Works
    • Stratford Police Services
      Toggle Section Stratford Police Services Menu
      • About Stratford Police
      • Services and Reporting
        Toggle Section Services and Reporting Menu
        • Background Checks
        • Police Fee Schedule
        • Freedom of Information Requests
        • Community Equity Action Team
      • Crime Prevention
      • Careers
    • Transportation
      Toggle Section Transportation Menu
      • Stratford Municipal Airport
      • Parking
      • Rail
      • Roads
      • Transit
      • Parallel Transit
      • Pedestrian Crossovers
      • School Travel Safety
    • Utilities
    • Wastewater and Stormwater
      Toggle Section Wastewater and Stormwater Menu
      • Fats, Oils and Grease
      • Sanitary Service Ownership
      • Sewer Subsidy Programs
      • Draining Your Pool or Hot Tub
    • Wildlife
    • Senior's Resources

Contact Us

Subscribe to page updates

Stratford logo

  • Accessibility
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us
  • Employment
  • Website Feedback
  • Privacy Statement

© 2019 The Corporation of the City of Stratford, P.O. Box 818, Stratford, Ontario, N5A 6W1, 519-271-0250

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our LinkedIn Page
By GHD Digital
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.