Orange Coloured Limescale

[EcclesCake]

The limescale that appears in remote corners of my immaculate bathroom is a pale orange colour. What causes this discolouration?

I don't have a kettle but when I did I'm sure the limescale in that was chalky white, or was the whiteness a function of the boiling?

[heathfield]

From Wessex water..."Scale from hard water is usually white, but can become coloured by traces of other minerals or metals. Traces of copper from plumbing materials can turn it grey, green or blue while traces of rust from pipework can turn it orange, brown or black." I initially got orange staining after fitting a cast iron bath with its original taps, which had iron pipework connections.

[EcclesCake]

Iron was my first thought but I cannot think where iron would be in the system.

[The Builder]

In my area, a few people are reporting a pink stain which is caused by bacteria.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/pink-stain-keep-appearing-in-my-sink.htm

I don't know if this is of any help.

[EcclesCake]

That is interesting The Builder, we've had two years of upheaval so it could well be that.

Thank you.

[woofgang]

yup, I get a pinky/orange stain too. I thought it was a mould, but in a bathroom or loo bacteria makes sense too. I clean with an old toothbrush and thick limescale remover.