This study focuses on the application of a new measurement method that quantifies the residual color of filtered water using a spectrocolorimeter after filtering the discolored substances. It was confirmed through the color and turbidity cross-test that the discolored substances cannot be measured effectively with the current legal color and turbidity test method. Therefore, the National Institute of Environmental Research's filter testing method, which involves filtering the sample through 0.45 μm filter and visually inspecting the color, was improved. A membrane filter colorimetry (MFC) method was established by measuring the color difference (ΔE*ab(65)) of the filtered filter using a spectrophotometer and expressing it as filter color unit (FCU). Using the MFC method, the FCU for reference materials such as iron and manganese, as well as field samples, was measured. The results showed a high correlation with turbidity, and the color difference patterns varied depending on the type of reference materials and field samples. This indicates that the MFC method is an effective new measurement method of discolored tap water.