Weird black goop coming out of plumbing...

[Shame]

A friend of mine has some strange plumbing problems. There's this weird black goop that comes out of the faucets, grows in the toilet, and even clogs up the drain in the shower. She lives in an apartment building which is about five years old. This stuff even magically appears in the cats dish. Any clue WTF it is? She thinks it's mold. Is this possible?

Pic update! 12:51 am

I found this on the shower handle

The bathroom drain

The cats bowl that was clean yesterday

black stuff on her hand that came out of the faucet

More weird black stuff in toilet

Stuff on inside of washing machine

Stuff that looks like spooge from a glass left overnight on a teaspoon

Her house

Update 03-01-05!

According to my buddy, the landlord's lackey thinks it maybe algae and brought a hot water heater to her apartment today. Supposed to be installed this week. Anyone ever hear of algae growing in a hot water heater? And no, I am not posting pics of a hot water heater ... use your imagination!

 

[UbiSunt]

Ever seen the Amityville Horror? Run away!

 

[AnyMal]

Well if she's in an apartment shouldn't she call the office and report it. Whatever it is, it is probably unsafe.

 

[gsaldivar]

Nassssty!

I'd move unless the landlord fixed that sh!t...

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Well if she's in an apartment shouldn't she call the office and report it. Whatever it is, it is probably unsafe.

Unfortunately, she doesn't have the most responsive landlord in the world.

@flxnimprtmscl: Good thing she doesn't drink the water, eh?

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: Shame

Originally posted by: AnyMal
Well if she's in an apartment shouldn't she call the office and report it. Whatever it is, it is probably unsafe.

Unfortunately, she doesn't have the most responsive landlord in the world.

@flxnimprtmscl: Good thing she doesn't drink the water, eh?

Have her write a letter so it is in writing. If the landlord doesn't respond, send a copy to the health department. That usually gets lazy landlords moving quite quickly!

techfuzz

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: UbiSunt
Ever seen the Amityville Horror? Run away!

 

[aplefka]

Who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!

 

[MX2]

Pics?

 

[Kilgor]

Sounds like her plumbing is backing up.

 

[sharkeeper]

Does your potable water originate from a municipality or subterranean cistern?

If the later, you should have some tests run to see if the water is polymicrobial. An irradiating apparatus will need to be fitted if the test is positive.

If the former the water needs to be tested for chlorine (OTO). ORP should be tested especially if cl levels are low!

Finally, if this is an apartment complex there could be a malfunctioning backflow preventer and/or a neighboring tenant could be participating in some rather unsanitary practices. In any case DO NOT DRINK THE WATER!

Cheers!

 

[thomsbrain]

i would just contact the health department directly. that's nasty.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: UbiSunt
Ever seen the Amityville Horror? Run away!

Damn...I'm too slow these days.

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Does your potable water originate from a municipality or subterranean cistern?

If the later, you should have some tests run to see if the water is polymicrobial. An irradiating apparatus will need to be fitted if the test is positive.

If the former the water needs to be tested for chlorine (OTO). ORP should be tested especially if cl levels are low!

Finally, if this is an apartment complex there could be a malfunctioning backflow preventer and/or a neighboring tenant could be participating in some rather unsanitary practices. In any case DO NOT DRINK THE WATER!

Cheers!

It is city water. Same water I have, and I don't have any "Amityville Goop" coming out of my faucets.

I'll try to get some pics.

She's been running the water through a Brita water filter, but I agree with you, I wouldn't drink a drop of it.

Additional information:

1. The water doesn't to smell.
2. The water doesn't appear especially nasty. But if you take the aerator off any faucet, you can see the goop.
3. She is on the bottom floor. Two (2) story building. Four (4) units on each side.

 

[sharkeeper]

Those water filters usually have a polisher (poly mesh) and GAC contactor (remove odors, solvents, colour, etc.). These will not remove microbes! Of course municipal water should never have microbes! If there is a cross connection in the building, and someone pees in the shower, for example; the result could be rather gross.

Your local health department can test the water free of charge and submit documentation to the property manager for required corrective action.

Cheers!

 

[DrPizza]

follow up with letter to owner/manager...

in the letter include, "I've verbally brought this problem to your attention, but the situation has not been remedied. Friends/acquaintances have told me that this may be a health issue."

at the bottom of the letter, include

CC: Health Department

That should result in an expedited solution to the problem. I can't think of very few reasons for something like that. I'd think there's be enough water flow such that "things" don't have enough time to grow in the water lines themselves... it's gotta be coming from somewhere.

One possibility is if someone has something connected to the water supply that's at a higher pressure than the supplied water - it could force things into the supply lines.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Pics?

 

[p0ntif]

This thread is utterly useless with out PICS!

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
If there is a cross connection in the building, and someone pees in the shower, for example; the result could be rather gross.


The DWV system attatched to the pressure side?
Please explain how this could happen.

:Q

 

[sharkeeper]

DWV doesn't have to be connected to supply to invoke a cross connection. Out of date plumbing fixtures, lack of traps, etc. can add up to problems. This is why backflow preventers are mandatory.

Of course gross plumbing mistakes happen all the time. I recall once where a coffee maker required a supply of domestic hot water. The installer felt the pipe and tapped it without checking what he was actually tapping into. Many complaints were logged about how bad the coffee was. Turns out the hot water was the closed loop boiler system water that was treated with corrosion inhibitors!

Does the black stuff feel slimy?

Cheers!

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
DWV doesn't have to be connected to supply to invoke a cross connection. Out of date plumbing fixtures, lack of traps, etc. can add up to problems. This is why backflow preventers are mandatory.

Of course gross plumbing mistakes happen all the time. I recall once where a coffee maker required a supply of domestic hot water. The installer felt the pipe and tapped it without checking what he was actually tapping into. Many complaints were logged about how bad the coffee was. Turns out the hot water was the closed loop boiler system water that was treated with corrosion inhibitors!

Does the black stuff feel slimy?

Cheers!

Slimy, yes. I'll post pics later.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
DWV doesn't have to be connected to supply to invoke a cross connection. Out of date plumbing fixtures, lack of traps, etc. can add up to problems. This is why backflow preventers are mandatory.

Of course gross plumbing mistakes happen all the time. I recall once where a coffee maker required a supply of domestic hot water. The installer felt the pipe and tapped it without checking what he was actually tapping into. Many complaints were logged about how bad the coffee was. Turns out the hot water was the closed loop boiler system water that was treated with corrosion inhibitors!

Does the black stuff feel slimy?

Cheers!

What I meant was if the supply was connected to the drains, the drains would immediately be filled with fresh water, since it is pressurized.

You do understand this, right?

Backflow preventers are to prvent supply side (pressure) water from flowing back from an open spigot, like an irrigation system or a garden hose, back int the system. NOT to keep waste water out.


Your example of the closed loop being tapped into is a better analogy...

 

[arcas]

You might consider also posting in the plumbing forum at a site like doityourself.com.

That said, I don't think it's sewage backup. If it were, you'd know immediately just by the smell. Sounds more like algae or maybe even a deteriorating washer/gasket somewhere in the plumbing. Try unscrewing the aerator from one of the faucets and see if the washer inside is decaying. Also, what sort of heating does the apartment have?

 

[Colt45]

pics required

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: arcas
You might consider also posting in the plumbing forum at a site like doityourself.com.

That said, I don't think it's sewage backup. If it were, you'd know immediately just by the smell. Sounds more like algae or maybe even a deteriorating washer/gasket somewhere in the plumbing. Try unscrewing the aerator from one of the faucets and see if the washer inside is decaying. Also, what sort of heating does the apartment have?

The black goop is all over the house. Take off an aerator and there is more black goop. The apartment is electric all the way.