Well Water Has Suddenly Gone Brown

[steve tym]

Everybody on a well should have a cartridge filter. Preferably, a 4" x 10", or better a 4" x 20".
Could be normal activity in the ground stirring stuff up.
Could be a bad tank, bad pump (possibly the starting switch), bad check valves allowing the water to run back to the well.
Could be a hole in the drop pipe.
Water filters that don't backwash properly can start to puke stuff back into the water.
I can walk you through trouble shooting some of this stuff.
Steve

 

[steve tym]

You have a galvanized tank with an air release?
Submersible pump?
That means there is a bleeder in the well.

 

[steve tym]

Yes, it could be excessive flow. Look for toilets leaking (running) or outside silcocks that have just thawed out and are running

 

[Torvy]

Brown water is better for you, kind of like brown eggs.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Brown water is local water, and local water is fresh...

Unless you live in Detroit.

 

[/pine]

If there is a check valve (or even the foot valve) the springs can rust...

 

[Egon]

Water test might explain what is happening!

 

[otlski]

Our well water does that after a natural seismic event or by nearby blasting. Clears up in two days usually.

 

[Travelover]

I’d guess excessive flow. Either because it has been rainy, or the well has drawn a lot of water.
Can you tell if your pump has, or is, running more.

I did just start using the sprinklers, but then again, I do that every year and this is the first time I've gotten brown water.

 

[Travelover]

Water test might explain what is happening!

What test are you thinking of specifically?