Have you ever turned on your bathtub, and the water is yellow?  It looks gross.  Your first thought is your water is rusty, but is it?  Could it be tannin in the water?  Tannins are not typical in our area, but there are specific pockets where tannins have been found.

What are tannins?

Tannins are found in mucky, muddy, mossy soil from vegetation decay breakdown.  Tannins are natural and organic.  They give a tea-like, faint yellow color when they are in the water.  Tannins will even cause an unpleasant aftertaste when drinking water.  They will occasionally leave yellow staining on fabrics, fixtures, and laundry.  When smelled, tannins have a musty, earthy odor.  When filling a bathtub, the bathwater will have a yellow tint and look dirty.

How do I know if I have tannin in my water?

A quick at-home test is to fill a glass of water and let it sit overnight.  If the color settles to the bottom, the discoloration is likely from iron or manganese in the water.  On the other hand, if the color intensity remains the same, it is likely tannin in your home’s water.  If you feel you have tannins, the most reliable way to confirm tannins is to have an independent testing lab test your water.

Are tannins harmful to humans?

No, tannins are only an aesthetic concern.

How do I remove tannins from my water?

When a home’s water has tannin, it is recommended to use anion resin inside your water softener.  The anion resin is used in conjunction with a water softener using cation resin.   Since the anion resin is sensitive to hardness, softening the water with a water softener is best.  The combination system will use water softener salt and citric acid as its regenerant to soften the water and remove tannins.

If you feel you have tannin in your water, contact or call us to set up a water test.  We’re happy to help.