Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

This is why tap water in some Vancouver neighbourhoods looks ‘a bit brown’

Is it safe to drink?
vancouver-brown-tap-water
Vancouver residents in the the Grandview-Woodland and Champlain Heights neighbourhoods reported seeing a brown tint in their tap water.

Some Vancouver residents may notice their tap water running slightly brown. 

Two locals shared photos of the tinted water on social media.

The brown tap water was reported in the Grandview-Woodland and Champlain Heights neighbourhoods. 

A side-by-side comparison of the tap water to water sourced elsewhere shows the contrast in colour. 

Though the oddly coloured water may spark concerns, the City of Vancouver reassures that the tap water is still safe to drink. 

A spokesperson with the city tells V.I.A. that Vancouver "has a robust drinking water quality program that includes regularly sampling the water at various sample stations through out the City. All of our results meet the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines and show that the water is safe to drink."

The brown tint is an occasional occurrence, notes the spokesperson. "The discoloured water is generally caused by iron oxidation inside the water mains and occasionally this sediment can be dislodged causing the water to change colour."

If your tap water appears discoloured, run the cold water tap until the discoloured water clears and report it to the City of Vancouver through the Van311 app or by calling 311. 

"When drinking water inquiries are received our water quality team reviews each incident and works with the resident to ensure their drinking water is safe," says the spokesperson.