While touring a 1987 property, a prospective homebuyer discovered water running from the taps that appeared "extremely blue," though the color faded after the fixtures had been running for some time.
Beyond the strange appearance, the bigger question was whether corrosion had damaged the home's plumbing — a problem that could become costly for whoever buys the property.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit post, the shopper said the home can use either city water or a private well. The previous owner had died, the house had been vacant, and with city water shut off, the well was being used whenever water was needed.
The buyer said the issue showed up during both the walkthrough and the inspection. According to the post, "the water coming from the faucets is extremely blue," and "a few minor leaks around plumbing fittings" had residue with the same blue tint.
The fact that the discoloration went away made the situation harder to judge.
"If we let the water run for a while, it eventually becomes completely clear and looks normal," the buyer wrote. "From what I've been reading, I'm wondering if this could be caused by low/imbalanced pH in the well water causing corrosion of the copper plumbing."
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More background
Rather than guess at the cause, commenters told the buyer to confirm it with testing.
"First of all, it would be a good idea to get a test kit. That way you know for sure what you're dealing with," one commenter wrote.
The original poster said some testing had already been done, but not the kind that would answer the corrosion question.
"We did have the well tested, but the only results they sent were if it contained bacterial contaminants," they responded.
Another reply suggested building a worst-case plumbing scenario into the bid.
"Treat the cost of a full gut renovation as a factor in your offer on the house," they wrote.
Even if a buyer plans to switch from well water to city water, the visible leaks and residue still warrant attention.
Where can I learn more?
Blue tap water and signs of corrosion can raise bigger questions about what's coming through a home's pipes. For more context, these articles cover discolored water, home testing tools, and contamination found in neighborhood and private water supplies.
• In Texas, residents endured discolored tap water before tests found lead and arsenic.
• Scientists developed a new at-home device that can detect lead in tap water.
• Rural homeowners were stunned when private drinking wells came back contaminated with PFAS chemicals.
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