Refrigerator water dispenser biofunk

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Who knew this could happen? Spent the day chasing this monster down and fixing it. Here is the story:

Got new water pipes installed outside. Service was shut off briefly for the disconnect reconnect. As expected there was air in the system. I went to fill a glass with water from  the dispenser in my refrigerator door and in spurted and chugged as the air came out and then I noticed that mixed in with the water was some kind of bio nasty. Algae? Bacteria? Mold? I don't know but better find the source. Tried every tap in the house to see if it was from the new line. Nope - all clear. I also know that the new line was flushed very well before burying it. Must be the filter right? Disconnected the filter and the problem was still there. Must be the water lines in the fridge. A little internet sleuthing and I learned that some side by side Whirlpool fridges have a coil of about 100 feet of tubing attached to the rear wall of the refrigerator section so you get cold water from the dispenser. Unfortunately, this water line is after the filter. The filter that is designed to remove chlorine and other chemicals and contaminants. This allowed for something to grow in the long coil. Remove it and inspect it. Definitely the case. Bad design in my opinion. The replacement part is $60. Boo. Tried bleaching the tubing by siphoning bleach and water from one bucket to another. It almost worked but I could still see black spots where the junk had adhered to the tubing so aborted that mission. Off to Homie's for some tubing. $5 for 10 feet of  5/16 OD x 3/16 ID poly water line. Now I only have a couple of feet of tubing in the fridge but I'd rather not have all that coiled up tubing to grow stuff so all good. Changed the filter and back in business.

I share this in case you have a refrigerator with a water dispenser. I always changed the filter regularly and water was always running through the lines so I never thought about any kind of stagnation or bacteria issue. At least nobody has had intestinal issues from the water but damn that was gross. 

An inconvenient convenience I suppose. 

The  ice/water machines here leave a touch of grey scuzz behind.

Fridges are for keeping food cold.

I get my water from the tap.

Can't wait to show this to Lyn, she so wants an ice maker in her fridge, I've been saying for years there are these kinds of "issues".

My well water, despite a $4k treatment system, is so nasty I spoil myself & buy ice, $2 a bag, usually lasts a week or more, I only use ice for alcohol mixed drinks @ night on nights I don't drink beer (maybe 2 - 3 - 4 x a week).  Yes I drink every night ;)  A minor expense but really can tell the difference in the taste.

My well water is the best I've ever tasted.

I was just about to write that I would never get another one but I'm sure there are other designs that work better. And I do enjoy a crushed ice dispenser. Easy margs.

I've spent many many hours with my new Well and its various tanks, attachments and so forth.  

Plus the Olde Well and their interface together, and eventual independence,  but that's a boring tale.

I like Ice Cube trays in the Freezer with distilled water.  That makes really clean Ice cubes.

The Well here is a couple hundred feet deep and has lots of Iron.  There is a "Water Softener" based upon the Brine-Tank & Zeolite model,  which is archaic  but  OK.

Hüsky enjoys the Cool Well Water,  and also lieks drinking from puddles or such.  Eventually I'll install better filtration Gear.