red water

[SallyB]

Can anyone tell me why, after rain, is my cat's drinking bowl tinged with red? Thank you in advance of any answers.

[stewey]

Obviously the bowl is outside; therefore, I would look around its location to see if anything redish ( bricks, rust, clay, etc.) is being splashed or drained off into the bowl.

[naughtyboy]

Or, do you live near the Nile?

[stewey]

I think one of the allegories on the banks of the Nile must have eaten her: she's not responding.

[carlton23]

Perhaps she/he has killed some creature and has had a drink to wash out the blood from her mouth and face. Heh,heh, heh. niiiiice pussy.

[SallyB]

Gosh sorry, had weekend away so will answer now. The bowl is stainless steel and not near any red bricks. I have now noticed that the stone birdbath in the middle of the garden on grass also has a red tinge. I had to scrub it to get it off. Do you think it is something in the air?

[Beauj]

Exact same with our cats drinking bowl, and it is earthenware and same with bird bath. My husband claims that it is 'sand' in the rain which causes it. Have you noticed, as I have with mine, sand on your window ledges and windows?? Could be in wind coming in from a desert and then gets into the rain.

[Beauj]

Just another thought! Could it be coming from all those Red Bull Drinkers out there flying around??

[Beauj]

SallyB, just came into my head today, - Do you by any chance live near an airport or flight-path to one? We do, infact, two of them!! We have often thought that part of the 'red' water was maybe the planes dumping their excess fuel from flights into Belfast International & City Airports - lets face it, the stuff must be out there somewhere?? Would be interesting to hear back if you do live near an airfield or such.

[SallyB]

Not sure about the red bull drinkers Beauj, and I haven't noticed that my cat has more energy...... But I do live about 10 miles from Bournemouth airport. I don't live directly in the flight path although they do come over above me from time to time. I did think it was dust on my windowsills and me not cleaning them often enough!

[denis567]

At my previous address we had the same problem. I always thought it was fall-out from Ferrybridge Power Station which was about 4 miles away

[kjn2]

As previously mentioned when the wind is blowing in from the Sahara which it does this time of year accompanied by rain, our window ledge and car is covered in red/orange sand /spots I am pretty sure this is what is happening in your case.

[gonzo00]

sorry beauj...aero fuel is kerosene and is not red in colour..and is never dumped on the way into belfast international or george best city airports..even in an emergency the aircraft would be told by air traffic control to eject excess fuel over the irish sea!

[tigerlelly]

Hi Sally,
I'm in nearby Poole and the water dish on my bird feeder is slowly turning pink and my watering cans have a red rim. However, the rubber at the bottom of the shower door is also starting to get a bit of a reddish tinge and the rubber around my washing machine also. Perhaps there is a lot of iron or rust in the water in general? Any boffin out there with the answer, please?

[bathtub]

The most likely explanation in many cases is red algae, but Saharan dust can indeed cause 'red' rain.