uk Home & property emergencies brown tap water • rusty coloured water • discoloured tap water • orange water from tap • black particles in water • unusual smell from tap water • strange taste in tap water • water smells like chemicals • water smells like sewage • sudden change in water quality • tap water looks dirty • cloudy water from tap • sediment in tap water • water after mains work • is my tap water safe • should i drink this water • water supply incident • private water supply concern • shared building water issue

What to do if…
your tap water suddenly turns brown or smells unusual and you’re not sure it’s safe

Short answer

Stop using the tap water for drinking, brushing teeth, or food right now, and contact your water supplier to ask if there’s an incident or specific advice for your area.

Do not do these things

Don’t assume “it’s probably fine” and drink it just because you’re thirsty.
Don’t boil it unless you are specifically told to (boiling does not make chemical contamination safe).
Don’t run hot taps, fill the kettle, or use the dishwasher/washing machine “to test it” (you may pull discoloured water into the hot-water system and appliances).
Don’t use the water for baby formula, brushing teeth, or rinsing dentures until you’ve been told it’s safe.
Don’t ignore a strong sewage/petrol/chemical smell — treat that as a “stop and check” situation.

What to do now

Switch to a safe alternative immediately. Use bottled water (or water you already know is safe) for drinking, cooking, baby formula, brushing teeth, rinsing food, and making ice. Prioritise babies, older adults, and anyone immunocompromised.
Do a quick “cold vs hot” check (30 seconds). Pour one glass from a cold tap you normally drink from. If only hot water is discoloured/smelly while cold is normal, avoid using hot water and report that detail — it may point to a hot-water system issue rather than the mains supply.
Check whether it’s just you or the area. Ask a neighbour in the same building/street if their water is also discoloured or smells odd. This helps narrow down whether it’s internal plumbing or a local supply issue.
Contact your water supplier (first-line). Use the emergency/enquiries number on your water bill or the supplier’s website. Tell them:
- your address/postcode, when it started, and whether it’s brown/orange/black or a strong smell/taste
- whether neighbours are affected
- whether it’s cold only, hot only, or both Ask what is safe to do right now (e.g., do-not-drink, ok for toilets, whether they want you to run a cold tap briefly, whether they will sample, and whether bottled water is being provided in your area).
If you have a private water supply, contact your local council’s Environmental Health / Private Water Supplies team. Tell them it’s a sudden change in colour/odour and you’re unsure if it’s safe, and ask what to do immediately and how sampling/testing works.
Limit use while you wait for advice. If you must use water (e.g., flushing toilets), use cold where possible and avoid filling hot-water systems. If there’s a strong chemical/petrol/sewage smell, keep use to a minimum until you’ve spoken to the supplier/council.
Capture simple evidence for clarity (30 seconds). Take a photo/video of the water in a clear glass (and a second glass after 1–2 minutes). Note the time it started. This helps if the issue comes and goes.

What can wait

You don’t need to decide today whether it’s your internal pipes or the wider network — the supplier/council can guide you.
You don’t need to buy filters or testing kits in a panic.
You don’t need to drain your boiler/hot-water cylinder unless a professional specifically tells you to.

Important reassurance

Sudden brown water or odd tastes/smells can happen after maintenance, changes in flow, or disturbance of sediment — but you don’t have to guess. Pausing drinking/cooking use and getting the supplier’s advice is the safest, simplest first move.

Scope note

These are first steps to keep you safe and get the right organisation involved. If the supplier/council confirms a specific issue (for example, a local incident or a do-not-drink/boil notice), follow their instructions exactly.

Important note

This is general information, not professional or emergency services advice. If you feel unwell after using the water, seek medical advice and tell them you may have been exposed to contaminated water. If you suspect serious chemical contamination (e.g., strong fuel/solvent smell), stop using it for drinking/food and follow the supplier/council’s urgent guidance.

Additional Resources

Support us

What to do if…your tap water suddenly turns brown or smells unusual and you’re not sure it’s safe