Weird black goop coming out of plumbing...

[sharkeeper]

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...

Graywater can enter the system if the fixtures inlet pipe is below the basin and there is a sudden drop in pressure that causes the water to siphon back into the supply. This is why modern sinks have the openings higher than the water can ever get.

Backflow preventers aren't normally used in single family dwellings except for the small garden hose varieties that people SHOULD be using when filling a swimming pool, for example.

In multiple unit complexes, they must be used. Make up systems in commercial establishments for boilers and cooling towers, for example must have functioning backflow preventers. I did an inspection once where I noticed the water in the toilet bowls behind a mess hall was pink. Turns out the supply for these heads came from a line that was tapped for the chilled water make up. The chilled water loop runs at 45 psig and is heavily treated with ROCO 4018. The backflow preventer was damaged and anytime the potable water dropped to <45 psig this allowed treated system water to enter the potable system! This is pretty scary since that water is used for a lot of things in the galley!

And yes, if a drain was tied into the supply, fresh water would flow freely down the drains due to the positive (supply) pressure. The example of piss in the shower (which is something people should refrain from IMO) is rather extreme since it's remote that that drainwater would cross over to fresh but it's not impossible.

Cheers!

 

[Ornery]

Are you sure it isn't deteriorating O-Ring seals?

 

[Iron Woode]

I want pics damn it.

 

[myusername]

Holy Crap! That is NASTY! Bump this in the morning for answers.

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I want pics damn it.

You can't just go over someone's house with a digital camera, demand pics for ATOT, and leave abruptly. These things take time!

Oh, pics now in original post!

Couple comments:

1. In a week, that cat dish would filled with a black goop that looked and felt black wet paint.
2. That picture of the goo on the spoon is not spooge.
3. That black goop on her hand (see index finger) is constantly coming out of the faucets.
4. That drain was cleaned with bleach and Kaboom a little over a week ago.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: 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

I am intrigued and would like t subscribe to your newsletter.

You may wish to tell your 'friend' to throw a priest in the hell-hole that is obvisoulsy in her basement.

 

[Shame]

One more update.

I asked her if it smelled. She said sometimes like rotten eggs. However, I didn't smell anything out of the ordinary when I went over.

I asked her if her neighbors had the same problems. She said asked two of her neighbors before I went over and they said no.

@djheater: It is a friend. I would have moved if unidentified goop like that was in my house.

 

[BespinReactorShaft]

Originally posted by: Shame
Stuff that looks like spooge from a glass left overnight on a teaspoon

:Q

 

[TechnoKid]

looks like sometype of algae to me. it turns black in the presence of light it appears. Do you know if the water piping is copper? plastic? galvanized?

 

[Twista]

omg, thats nasty man! *pukes up black stufF* lmfao

 

[TechnoKid]

the toilet pic is especially nasty.

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
looks like sometype of algae to me. it turns black in the presence of light it appears. Do you know if the water piping is copper? plastic? galvanized?

That I don't know. I was afraid to look under the sinks, and calling her up after 1 am in the morning to ask her what kind of pipes she has might be a bad idea.

 

that is fricken gross


btw, the spoon pic....are you messing with ATOT?
it'd be the perfect opportunity to spooge on a spoon and get everyone here to look at it without getting banned

 

[p0ntif]

thumbsup for the pics. That is foul. I hope she uses a PUR or Brita water filter! I would complain to the landlord with the pics you have.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: p0ntif
thumbsup for the pics. That is foul. I hope she uses a PUR or Brita water filter! I would complain to the landlord with the pics you have.

she better damn well be using freaking reverse osmosis plus a UV light on that stuff! brita or pur won't do shet to that water!

 

[Jeff7181]

I would hope it's "only" some gaskets breaking down.

 

[Sensai]

so she is showering and cleansing her face in that water not to mention dishes and clothes....she may not be drinking it, but i guess the cat did...and whatever that touches it!??!!?

yea...seriously have a professonal check the chemical balance of the water and piping.

 

[DrPizza]

call in the professionals.

The toilet looks like some sort of mold/fungus or something...
I wouldn't do anything that brought me into contact with that water.

 

[OutHouse]

wholy crap! you better post updates when that stuff is looked by the water dept or who ever finds out what it is and what caused it.

 

[Shame]

Algae, never thought of that...

 

[NuclearNed]

Ectoplasm?

 

[DrPizza]

If you have any paintings of Vigo Von Homburg Deutschendorf...
Take them someplace else.

 

[Atomicus]

she says sometimes it smells, and sometimes it doesnt? it sounds like algae to me... when algae blooms occur in lakes or ponds, people complain about sewage-like smells. thats just the algae dying - but only when the algae dies. i've never heard of black algae before tho. call the department of health and complain, call the landlord and complain, call a plumber and ask for professional opinion... or post an ATOT and get comments on the spooge on a spoon!

 

[woowoo]

It is alive!!!!!!

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
she says sometimes it smells, and sometimes it doesnt? it sounds like algae to me... when algae blooms occur in lakes or ponds, people complain about sewage-like smells. thats just the algae dying - but only when the algae dies. i've never heard of black algae before tho. call the department of health and complain, call the landlord and complain, call a plumber and ask for professional opinion... or post an ATOT and get comments on the spooge on a spoon!

I told her to take the water/goo/whatever down to the city water department. I'll post an update on the results when they become available.

RE: Black algae. That is why I thought it might be some kind of mold. Where from? Who the hell knows...