On and off our water has been looking like there is a real slight oily substance in it. It doesn't taste bad (even for town water) and it doesn't smell bad at all. It just looks like a real slight amount of something is in it. You can once and a while see almost like a rainbow (you really have to stare in the cup to see it.)
Has anybody had this happen or heard of it happening? It is strange because it doesn't smell bad at all and our water is the best tasting town water around. It almost tastes like well water when comparing to other town's water. I forget to call the water company, when I see it is not during normal hours. I know they clean the water at night, sometimes late you will smell chlorine and have to run the water for a minute.
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Slight oil look to water
Started by dconklin, Apr 07 2012 01:50 PM
13 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 07 April 2012 - 04:33 PM
It could be a local leak. Oil pipelines too close to the water main? Or could be more serious.
Please get it checked out for your safety!
Complain to your city (after you've collected samples.)
Hopefully they'll fix it quickly so you can invest in counter-top water filters. I've had them for years,
and wouldn't be without them.
Please get it checked out for your safety!
Complain to your city (after you've collected samples.)
Hopefully they'll fix it quickly so you can invest in counter-top water filters. I've had them for years,
and wouldn't be without them.
#3
Posted 07 April 2012 - 04:42 PM
Every once in a while I notice that as well, and I finally figured out it wasn't my water but my dishes. It only takes miniscule amounts of dish soap to wash dishes but sometimes too much gets used and rinsing it all away takes more than we sometimes realize. A cup can be rinsed and you might not see bubbles in the water when you rinse it, but there might still be some soap residue in it. It's insidious stuff. 
I discovered this because I poured a couple glasses of water. One had a slight oily sheen, the other didn't. I emptied the oily one and washed it and rinsed it thoroughly and dried it well and poured more water into it and there was no oily sheen. Every time I notice this I wash and rinse the cup again (rinsing really, really well) and put more water in and the sheen is gone.
That's not to say it might not actually be in your water, but you might want to try a different cup or rinsing that one really well to see if it's the source.
I discovered this because I poured a couple glasses of water. One had a slight oily sheen, the other didn't. I emptied the oily one and washed it and rinsed it thoroughly and dried it well and poured more water into it and there was no oily sheen. Every time I notice this I wash and rinse the cup again (rinsing really, really well) and put more water in and the sheen is gone.That's not to say it might not actually be in your water, but you might want to try a different cup or rinsing that one really well to see if it's the source.
#4
Posted 07 April 2012 - 10:45 PM
I have not experienced seeing our tap water seems to have oil at it but I could relate on that chlorine thing.
I agree that you should report it cause it could be a leak and a test should be done on such water too. Although it does not taste bad or smell bad, better to ensure it was safe to use and consume.
I agree that you should report it cause it could be a leak and a test should be done on such water too. Although it does not taste bad or smell bad, better to ensure it was safe to use and consume.
#6
Posted 08 April 2012 - 04:47 PM
mariaandrea, on 07 April 2012 - 04:42 PM, said:
Every once in a while I notice that as well, and I finally figured out it wasn't my water but my dishes. It only takes miniscule amounts of dish soap to wash dishes but sometimes too much gets used and rinsing it all away takes more than we sometimes realize. A cup can be rinsed and you might not see bubbles in the water when you rinse it, but there might still be some soap residue in it. It's insidious stuff. I discovered this because I poured a couple glasses of water. One had a slight oily sheen, the other didn't. I emptied the oily one and washed it and rinsed it thoroughly and dried it well and poured more water into it and there was no oily sheen. Every time I notice this I wash and rinse the cup again (rinsing really, really well) and put more water in and the sheen is gone.
That's not to say it might not actually be in your water, but you might want to try a different cup or rinsing that one really well to see if it's the source.
I discovered this because I poured a couple glasses of water. One had a slight oily sheen, the other didn't. I emptied the oily one and washed it and rinsed it thoroughly and dried it well and poured more water into it and there was no oily sheen. Every time I notice this I wash and rinse the cup again (rinsing really, really well) and put more water in and the sheen is gone.That's not to say it might not actually be in your water, but you might want to try a different cup or rinsing that one really well to see if it's the source.
I should try that. I don't see it all the time so it is very possible. I will be experimenting later :) I do every once in a while see it in my coffee cup, but not often. It really doesn't taste any different. Hoping this is all it is.
#7
Posted 08 April 2012 - 04:53 PM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 07 April 2012 - 04:33 PM, said:
It could be a local leak. Oil pipelines too close to the water main? Or could be more serious.
Please get it checked out for your safety!
Complain to your city (after you've collected samples.)
Hopefully they'll fix it quickly so you can invest in counter-top water filters. I've had them for years,
and wouldn't be without them.
Please get it checked out for your safety!
Complain to your city (after you've collected samples.)
Hopefully they'll fix it quickly so you can invest in counter-top water filters. I've had them for years,
and wouldn't be without them.
It isn't all the time. Sometimes it will be after a chlorine shock too. My honey said that the night or 2 before, he smelt the chlorine in the water. One thing I read is that it could be iron bacteria which is not harmful, but they were talking about in well water.
I see this once in a while, but I don't know about a leak. That I know of the gas and sewer lines are all far enough away from each other that it shouldn't be a leak. I am going to call the water company tomorrow and talk with them. Nobody in this block has oil, but we don't have oil lines under ground here. Most of us have natural gas, but the ones who have oil in town just have a tank that gets filled in their basement.
They were banging around equipment across the street a lot lately, I wonder if it disrupted anything that may be built up in the water pipes.
Shortpoet-GTD, on 08 April 2012 - 02:41 AM, said:
Has a monsanto ceo visited lately? 
(Oily &^$%*&)
(Oily &^$%*&)LOL
#8
Posted 08 April 2012 - 09:53 PM
dconklin, on 08 April 2012 - 04:47 PM, said:
I should try that. I don't see it all the time so it is very possible. I will be experimenting later :) I do every once in a while see it in my coffee cup, but not often. It really doesn't taste any different. Hoping this is all it is.
Seeing it in coffee is normal. That's just the oil from the beans. I get dark roasted beans, which are oily, and grind them myself and make French press coffee and there's usually a slight sheen to the coffee.
Hope you figure it out and it's harmless and normal whatever it is!
#9
Posted 08 April 2012 - 10:19 PM
mariaandrea, on 08 April 2012 - 09:53 PM, said:
Seeing it in coffee is normal. That's just the oil from the beans. I get dark roasted beans, which are oily, and grind them myself and make French press coffee and there's usually a slight sheen to the coffee.
Hope you figure it out and it's harmless and normal whatever it is!
Hope you figure it out and it's harmless and normal whatever it is!
Thank you! I am hoping so too. Have you ever heard of iron bacteria? It was one of the things I found while Googling the possible reasons. Supposedly it is harmless and can produce a slight rainbow film. The government says it is safe to humans, but that just sounds like it wouldn't be!!
I shall see what they say at the water company. I haven't seen it all day today. It is weird and I hope it is simple!
#11
Posted 09 April 2012 - 05:52 PM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 09 April 2012 - 04:01 AM, said:
Easy fix. Just get a counter-top water filter. They're inexpensive-$30-50 depending on style.
I had thought about getting a water filter, I had one years ago when I lived in a different town with crappy water. I never used to need one here as our water always tasted quite good. It still tastes and smells good, it just has that slight look to it.
#12
Posted 10 April 2012 - 04:03 AM
dconklin, on 09 April 2012 - 05:52 PM, said:
I had thought about getting a water filter, I had one years ago when I lived in a different town with crappy water. I never used to need one here as our water always tasted quite good. It still tastes and smells good, it just has that slight look to it.
(Back to the non-trust issue of corporations-and cities are corporations too for that matter.)
#13
Posted 11 April 2012 - 03:28 AM
A bit off topic to the "oil sheen in water" but regarding water filters; they help in removing pharmaceuticals
from our water.
http://extension.usu...pharmaceuticals
From an older article-
http://www.cbsnews.c...62-3920454.html
"Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink,
according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained
from state water officials.
More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present
in any amount.
The federal government does have health guidelines for others, but 49 of these contaminants have been found in
one place or another at levels above those guidelines, polluting the tap water for 53.6 million Americans.
The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001."
http://www.ewg.org/t...CFUKQ7Qodz18hoQ
(An fyi post albeit off topic.)
from our water.
http://extension.usu...pharmaceuticals
From an older article-
http://www.cbsnews.c...62-3920454.html
"Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink,
according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained
from state water officials.
More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present
in any amount.
The federal government does have health guidelines for others, but 49 of these contaminants have been found in
one place or another at levels above those guidelines, polluting the tap water for 53.6 million Americans.
The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001."
http://www.ewg.org/t...CFUKQ7Qodz18hoQ
(An fyi post albeit off topic.)
#14
Posted 12 April 2012 - 06:19 PM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 11 April 2012 - 03:28 AM, said:
A bit off topic to the "oil sheen in water" but regarding water filters; they help in removing pharmaceuticals
from our water.
http://extension.usu...pharmaceuticals
From an older article-
http://www.cbsnews.c...62-3920454.html
"Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink,
according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained
from state water officials.
More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present
in any amount.
The federal government does have health guidelines for others, but 49 of these contaminants have been found in
one place or another at levels above those guidelines, polluting the tap water for 53.6 million Americans.
The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001."
http://www.ewg.org/t...CFUKQ7Qodz18hoQ
(An fyi post albeit off topic.)
from our water.
http://extension.usu...pharmaceuticals
From an older article-
http://www.cbsnews.c...62-3920454.html
"Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink,
according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained
from state water officials.
More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present
in any amount.
The federal government does have health guidelines for others, but 49 of these contaminants have been found in
one place or another at levels above those guidelines, polluting the tap water for 53.6 million Americans.
The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001."
http://www.ewg.org/t...CFUKQ7Qodz18hoQ
(An fyi post albeit off topic.)
I wouldn't really call it off topic, we have had companies around here that have gotten in trouble for polluting the river with their "accidental leaks into the river." This may very well be on topic.
But either way, it is useful information :)
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