Outside: irrigation water
Sprinklers spray the same spots day after day. If they draw from a shallow well, dissolved iron oxidizes when it hits air and leaves orange marks on stucco, white fences, sidewalks and pool coping. The village's drinking water is treated at the plant, so stains from sprinklers are a question about your irrigation source, not your tap.
Inside: reddish rings and shower curtains
Wellington's Maintain Water Quality page explains that a reddish color around drains or at the bottom of a shower curtain might be residual mineral deposits or Serratia marcescens, a common indoor bacteria that thrives in moist places. That is a cleaning and drying issue, not a sign of iron in the water. Regular cleaning and keeping surfaces dry is the village's advice.
Inside: true iron
On a private drinking well, iron can stain sinks, toilets, laundry and fixtures. In older homes, galvanized plumbing can also corrode; the village notes it can cause a rusty to dark brown color inside the water heater tank, and suggests running a hot tap then a cold tap to compare. If only hot water is discolored, the heater is the first suspect.
What fixes what
| Source | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Irrigation well | Iron treatment on the irrigation line, or rust-control products, chosen from a test |
| Drinking well | Oxidation and filtration as part of a well water system |
| Water heater or galvanized pipes | Plumbing repair or replacement |
| Shower curtain rings | Cleaning and drying |
EPA lists iron as a secondary contaminant, which concerns staining and taste rather than health.
Cleaning what is already stained
Existing rust marks on stucco, pavers and pool coping usually need a cleaner made for rust stains; test it on a small area first. Cleaning only buys time if the sprinklers keep spraying iron-rich water, so pair it with a fix at the source, or at least adjust sprinkler heads so they do not hit walls, fences and the pool deck.
Pools
Iron can also stain pool surfaces if a well is used to top up the pool. Pool chemistry is its own specialty, so ask your pool professional too.
Testing it
Jorge tests iron and pH at the tap and, if you want, at the irrigation supply. He tells you whether a stain is from water, from plumbing or from something else, before recommending any equipment. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.wellingtonfl.gov/273/Maintain-Water-Quality
https://www.wellingtonfl.gov/781/Water-Quality-Report
https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/secondary-drinking-water-standards-guidance-nuisance-chemicals
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist