Here's one for the SIGForum brain trust. I'll bet somebody here has the expertise to explain this.

Tap water in my home causes red streaks or stains in the sinks, shower and toilet bowl. I thought this was a rust or mineral stain, or something like that. I just noticed that when some bleach comes in contact with the red stain, it disappears almost instantly. I don't think rust, iron oxide, would do that. Now I'm wondering if the red streak is bacterial or otherwise organic.

Any ideas??

I have seen red algae stain porclain.

Do not use bleach. (it can react with rust and may make a stain even more permanent from etching due to chemical change)

Use Bar Keeper's Friend.

It contains Oxalic acid and that removes rust stains, and many other things that lead to staining, either chemical or organic.

Are you on well water? Does it smell?

If so, likely iron bacteria. A good shock (bleach treatment) usually will take care of it.

I co- (mostly ghost)-wrote this article (and dozens more) on iron bacteria in my previous job:

https://waterandhealth.org/saf...-iron-bacteria-well/

Not well water, city water. No smell. I'll get some Barkeeper's Friend, but I suspect iron oxide isn't present. Also, the stain isn't reddish brown, its kind of bright red.

If you keep CLR cleaner around it should work.

Iron staining can be removed with bleach, you can also pour a little bleach into iron laden water and it will make the iron drop out of solution. So it could be that. And you can have it in your water at a level that does stain but you won’t taste it .

Or it could be like the pink mold I get here in CenTex. And bleach kills it too and makes it go away.

You could take a sample and have it tested and then you’ll know for sure and how to deal with it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
I have seen red algae stain porclain.

Do not use bleach. (it can react with rust and may make a stain even more permanent from etching due to chemical change)

Use Bar Keeper's Friend.

It contains Oxalic acid and that removes rust stains, and many other things that lead to staining, either chemical or organic.

Bar Keeper's Friend is a great product, but we've only used it in the kitchen, thanks for the tip.

quote:

Not well water, city water. No smell.

Are your neighbors experiencing the same thing? Call the city. Tell them you want the line flushed at the street. They should go to a hydrant nearest you home and run it for 10-15 mins.

City water huh? Definitely call your utility's customer service line. I'd also ask your neighbors to see if they are having any problems/similar issues.

Possibly high alkalinity.
You can get a pool check strip and verify

Old galvanized plumbing pipes will rust and leave red stains on your fixture. They’ll also eventually leak. In my area we recommend to repipe the house in PEX if the plumbing supply lines are galvanized.

blood.....