Why is my water discolored?

Brown or rusty water usually comes from sediment in your water heater or corroded iron pipes. Yellow water may indicate chlorine or organic matter. Green or blue water suggests copper pipe corrosion. Cloudy or milky water is usually trapped air that clears quickly. If only hot water is discolored, the water heater is the likely source. If both hot and cold water are affected, the issue is in your supply lines.