Tannins in Racine Water: What Households Should Know About This Coloration Issue

WSP Whole House Tannin Filter - Yellow Tea-Colored

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WSP Whole House Tannin Filter - Yellow Tea-Colored

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WSP Whole House Tannin Filter - Yellow Tea-Colored

WSP Whole House Tannin Filter - Yellow Tea-Colored

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If Your Household Has Multiple Residents or Seasonal Use, What You May Notice

In larger households or homes used seasonally in Racine, water coloration issues linked to tannins can appear more pronounced or intermittent. Because your water comes from surface sources managed by Racine Waterworks, organic materials such as decaying leaves can cause tea-colored stains that may build up over time. Seasonal properties might see changes linked to water source variations during different times of the year.

If Tea-Coloration from Tannins Is Left Untreated Over Several Years

When tannins remain unaddressed, the aesthetic effects may deepen. These include staining of sinks, tubs, or laundry, and persistent discoloration of water fixtures. However, tannins are not linked to health risks but can affect water appearance and may lead to additional cleaning needs.

How Many Samples Support Water Quality Figures from Racine Waterworks and What It Means

Racine Waterworks serves over 105,000 people with water sourced from surface supplies. The public system sample data reflects overall water quality, but it includes no specific monitoring for tannins. This means no federal testing has measured tannins in Racine's municipal water system. Therefore, individual homes may experience tannin presence differently depending on local factors.

What the Absence of Tannin Monitoring Means for Your Household and Federal Standards

No federal dataset or EPA record currently reports tannin concentrations for Racine’s public water. This absence neither confirms nor denies tannin presence. Furthermore, tannins are primarily an aesthetic concern and are not regulated under health-based federal water standards. Their impact relates to water color and taste rather than safety.

How to Use Public Water System Data to Understand Your Home’s Water Color Issues

The latest available EPA public water system data for Racine Waterworks shows two health-based violations unrelated to tannins and a low lead 90th percentile level measured in plumbing. However, no tannin data is present. Homeowners noticing tea-colored water should carefully observe whether coloration occurs consistently and consider separate water testing focusing specifically on tannins to identify their presence and severity.

Testing for Tannins Is the Key Step to Determine Your Water’s Condition

Since no public water system data addresses tannins, the only sure way to know your home's tannin condition is to request targeted laboratory analysis of your water sample. Testing quantifies tannin levels exactly, distinguishing whether the discoloration arises from tannins or other substances. Once confirmed, appropriate treatment solutions become clear.

One proven option for homes experiencing tannin-related discoloration is the Autotrol Yellow, Tea-Colored Tannin Water Filter. This system ships ready to configure and is designed to reduce tannin coloration effectively, improving water appearance and household satisfaction.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2025-06-30. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA SDWIS record for RACINE WATERWORKS (WI2520062), surface water supply, serving 105100 people: 2 health-based violations of 10 total; lead 90th percentile 0.0057 mg/L