Mildew or fertilizers?

Just starting out in the business after 15 years as a building engineer and one of my first jobs is the picture below. It is run off from the irrigation system, but what causes staining like this and any recommendations to remove it?

One thing to remember is if it’s organic sh is the ticket. Sometimes you just have to test an area to see what happens. If it starts changing color with sh you know it’s probably mildew or some other organic.

Most also post treat concrete with about a 3% solution when finished.

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The dye used to color mulch can make bad stains.

It looks like something was spilled.

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did it change colors after you put SH on it?

Sorry for the late update, but no the SH did nothing in fact everything I threw at it did absolutely nothing. Did the unthinkable and put a zero nozzle on it and it did nothing until it stated to chip the concrete

F9 Efflo
Looks like a mineral stain

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Is irrigation being fed from a pond ? I have seen stains in new subdivisions from newly dug mitigation ponds that provide irrigation, they are flocked to allow all metals & contamination to fall to bottom & if they are pumped to soon [to pressure test irrigation lines] you get staining of the same color , the concrete is usually fairly green as well & will absorb the material. The only success I’ve had is a chemical poultice, HF will help but seems not to last, sand blasting is another alternative but stain is probably set deep. have you tried muriatic acid ? diluted to 3% to start. please let me know if you find a solution

No pond and no on the acid but I guess I might have to try it. I have tried an acidic rust remover to no avail

Call Brandon at Prosoco. They have trial size bottles of all their products. That stain looks like money to me. If you can figure it out you can charge whatever you want.

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Have you tried hot water?

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fertilizer [nitrogen element] can cause black to bluish staining ?

I know this is old but I wanted to update it. So a heavy acid is the only thing working so far. Still not finished going to need another round

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