Orange & Rust Stains From Water in Highland Beach

Where the rust comes from

What the town does about corrosion

Very pure RO water can be aggressive to metal pipes. The Town of Highland Beach adds acid and liquid lime to adjust pH and add back hardness and alkalinity, and uses phosphate as a corrosion inhibitor. The town says this reduces the water's corrosivity. That helps, but it cannot undo decades of wear in building plumbing.

Irrigation in Highland Beach

The town bills a separate irrigation class of water customers and follows the South Florida Water Management District's year-round watering rule. If your property irrigates with town water, rust staining from sprinklers is unlikely. If a building or home uses a private irrigation well, iron in that water is a common cause of orange stains on walls and walkways. Know your source before treating it.

Fixes that match the cause

• Water heater: flush or replace; a plumber can tell you which.
• Old pipe: repiping or replacing the worst sections.
• Irrigation well: iron treatment sized from the well's test.
• Sediment at fixtures: a whole-home sediment stage where a house has its own line.

Treating water that is not causing the stain wastes money, so the first step is always to confirm the source with a test and a look at the plumbing.

Pools, pavers and balconies

Not every orange mark is from water. Metal railings, furniture and fasteners corrode in salt air and can bleed rust onto concrete and pavers. If staining appears where nothing gets wet from sprinklers or taps, the source may be metal, not water. Jorge will tell you if the water is not the problem.

Test the affected tap

Jorge tests iron, pH and chlorine at the tap where you see staining and checks the heater and visible pipe. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. See also home water testing in Highland Beach.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist