Sometimes life hands us the unexpected. No one knows this better than homeowners. There are all kinds of potentially odd happenings with your household appliances, some of which might leave you asking, “Why is my toilet water blue?”
You usually expect clear water in the toilet tank. But sometimes high copper levels, blue toilet tablets, or blue dye can lead to blue toilet water.
The blue color is usually harmless, but it can be a sign of more serious issues with your copper pipes.
Causes of Blue Water in the Toilet Bowl

The most common FAQ is about what causes the blue bowl water. Fortunately, there aren’t very many causes.
It should be fairly easy to determine the reason behind any blue stains.
Pipe Corrosion
If your house has copper pipes, they can be a major cause of blue tap water. Copper pipes are more commonly seen in older houses.
As time goes by, they can corrode. This leads to tainting of the water.
Copper corrodes when it encounters the chlorine in tap water along with oxygen. Oxidized copper has a blue color, rather than the reddish tint you usually associate with copper.
This issue shows that your piping system needs a major overhaul because it’s worn out. You should contact plumbers to get an assessment and estimate of the project cost.
High Copper Levels
Sometimes copper enters your water because there are high levels of this mineral in your town. This can have a major effect on your plumbing system.
When blue liquid often appears, one option is to talk to your neighbors. They’ll be able to tell you whether the same thing happens to them.
If they do, then there’s probably copper-rich soil around. You might be more likely to experience this if you use well water and a septic system.
The good news in this case is that there’s probably nothing wrong with your pipes themselves.
Blue Cleaning Tablets
Sometimes cleaning tablets are designed with blue dye. These tank tablets might cause the water level to turn partially blue.
The same goes for toilet tablets that you put under the rim of the toilet bowl. The toilet bowl cleaner will leak into the water and create a blue ring around the bowl.
Tablets aren’t necessarily the best choice for cleaning your toilet. They tend to do a good job, but also come with some disadvantages that we’ll discuss later.
What Are Blue Stains in the Toilet Bowl?

Sometimes blue stains will form in a ring around your toilet bowl. These are an indication that the pipes have become oxidized.
But the stains won’t affect your flush quality or your toilet water’s safety.
Usually, you’ll see a ring around the bottom of your toilet bowl, where the water level is. You might need to scrub the stains with a pumice stone or a harsh brush to remove them.
Some people try using chemical cleaners, but scrubbing is more effective.
If your plumbing is corroded, the blue ring will keep coming back.
Are There Dangers to Blue Toilet Water?

Blue toilet water itself isn’t dangerous, especially if it comes from cleaning products like Clorox. However, there can be dangers to high levels of copper in your plumbing.
If you’re exposed to high levels of copper in the water for long periods of time, you might experience vomiting, stomach cramps, and nausea. Usually there’s no harm in touching the water, as long as you don’t ingest it.
If you are very sensitive to copper, though, you might develop a rash.
The copper can cause problems in every part of your plumbing system, though. It can affect toilet parts like the flapper, tank, and flush valve.
Mineral buildups can lead to clogs in your rim ports. Most copper plumbing systems will also have outlived any warranties they originally had.
If your plumbing becomes corroded enough, it can break down and begin to leak. This in turn can lead to electrical issues.
Final Thoughts
Blue toilet water isn’t necessarily the end of the world. Oftentimes, it’s caused by cleaning products.
It might also be related to the copper in your soil.
But if you have copper pipes, the tinge might be a sign that they need replacing. You should call a plumber for an assessment as soon as possible.