Match the stain to the source
| Where | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Stucco, fences, driveways near sprinklers | Irrigation well |
| Pool deck, screen enclosure | Sprinkler overspray from a well |
| Toilets, sinks, laundry | Drinking well or old plumbing |
| Short burst of brown tap water | Main flushing or repairs nearby |
Why irrigation wells stain
Groundwater from a shallow well hasn't been treated. When it hits a wall and dries, dissolved iron oxidizes and leaves orange marks. The Florida Department of Health notes that iron bacteria aren't known to cause disease but can cause stains, tastes and odors. Every watering adds a little more, which is why stains build up over months.
The stain itself tells you something: orange-brown usually points to iron, while a white crust is usually mineral scale. Jorge tests for iron and pH so the treatment matches what's actually in the water.
Brown water from the tap
Pompano Beach's FAQ says brown or yellow water can follow distribution work and main flushing nearby. Run the cold tap until it clears. If brown water shows up only on the hot side, look at the water heater.
Treatment options
- Irrigation well: iron filtration or oxidation sized to the pump's flow.
- Drinking well: a well water system configured from a full test; iron often comes with sulfur.
- Old plumbing: a plumber's look; Pompano Beach Utilities' online service-line map shows the recorded materials at your address.
Prevention around the yard
- Aim sprinkler heads away from walls, seawalls, docks and cars.
- Follow the Lighthouse Point schedule: twice weekly, between midnight and 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Even addresses water Thursday and Sunday; odd addresses Wednesday and Saturday.
- Retest the well if new staining appears.
Cleaning existing stains is a separate job; treatment prevents new ones.
Indoor stains
Rust-colored rings in toilets or sinks on city water are uncommon. If you see them, check whether the home ever used a private well, whether a fixture sits unused for long stretches, and the age of the water heater and galvanized plumbing, if any. Pompano Beach Utilities' service-line map shows the recorded material of your service line by address.
Test the right water
Jorge tests at the irrigation line if that's where stains come from, checking iron, pH and hardness. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.lighthousepointfl.gov/174/Public-Works
https://www.floridahealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/well-water-facts-odor-staining.pdf
https://www.pompanobeachfl.gov/residents/utilities/water
https://www.pompanobeachfl.gov/residents/utilities/water/lead-and-copper-rule-revisions-lcrr
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist