Common Concerns

Despite being of a high standard, drinking water, including bottled water, may contain small amounts of substances such as naturally occurring minerals, fine particles, dissolved compounds and low levels of microbes.

At the same time, the water can still be suitable for human consumption and readily meet drinking water standards or guidelines, as is the case with our drinking water supply.

In line with experiences of water companies throughout the world, City West Water receives feedback from customers who require information or have concerns with regard to the quality of the water supply. Although the issues can often be addressed over the phone, we are pleased to further investigate water quality issues for our customers.

• My water tastes/smells strange. What should I do?

  Occasionally drinking water from the tap will have a chlorine-like or an earthy/musty taste or odour. 

  We keep chlorine dosing levels to a minimum to reduce its impact on the water's taste. However, fluctuations in chlorine levels can occur from time to time, largely due to changes in water demands and hence flow rates. 

  To reduce the chlorine taste in your drinking water, allow it to stand in an open container for a couple of hours.

  Earthy-musty taste/odours can occur in areas where water flows are slower due to reduced consumption.

  If you have an earthy/musty taste or odour please contact us on 1800 132 642 to investigate as the supply water main may need to be flushed to remove the taste/odour from the water.

  If your water has a bluish or greenish tinge, you may have blue-green water caused by corrosion of copper plumbing pipes. Please contact us on 1800 132 642 for more information.

• The water is leaving a pink stain on my sink/shower/basin. What should I do?

  Pink staining on water-using fixtures such as showers and sinks is usually caused by bacterial growth on damp surfaces in areas that are generally not well ventilated.

• Is it possible for water to stain my clothes when I wash them?

  If you think that your clothes may have been stained by water in your washing machine it may have been caused by the presence of sediments in water mains or rust from older, internal galvanised iron pipes. 

  Please contact us on 1800 132 642 so that we can investigate the cause. We may need to arrange for the local water main to be flushed. 

  If the staining is caused by rust from internal pipes, you can try to manage the problem by  flushing particular internal taps or seek advice from a plumber.

• The water is leaving a blue/brown stain on my sink. What should I do?

  Fittings such as sinks and shower bases can be stained blue or brown by water. This is generally a reflection of the type of internal plumbing material present (for example, galvanised iron or copper pipes).