What is this green water in my Brita Filter?!!?

Question

(Los Angeles) Every now and then, the water in my brita water filter turns green at the bottom. I've cleaned the filter many times and changed the filter itself. Is my filter growing algae or something or is the filter not catching something coming out of my faucet?!!

This is the second time it's happened and I have not exceeded the lifespan of both filters. Is this green stuff going to cause me to get sick? I may have drank a cup or two without noticing.

Answer 1

I would guess that the green color is from copper pipes and probably not from algae unless the source is not filtering it out. Algae would only be there and green if it had a light source. It would not live without light and some food and so would be brown. Oxides of copper would be green, like an old penny, like the inside of old copper pipes which is the only material that most municipalities allow in the US for home water service. Always struck me as funny, here anyway, that the town can run PE pipe to your house, frequently from iron pipe, yet they require copper house lines with silver based soldier, no more lead (for good reason).

Answer 2

I would guess that it is algae growing on the filter. Its not going to hurt you. Change the filter, but before putting the new one in, clean the inside of the chamber that holds the filter good with a bleach solution.