City Departments
Mike McGinn, Mayor
7/23/2012 10:10:00 AM
SPU Customer Service (206) 684-3000
Queen Anne, Magnolia and Interbay may see discolored water
Water may look unappealing, but still safe to drink
SEATTLE — Residents and businesses in upper Queen Anne and in some parts of Magnolia and Interbay may temporarily experience discolored water, beginning Thursday evening, July 26. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews have been performing maintenance on a major pipeline that supplies drinking water to those neighborhoods.
The pipeline has been out of service for the last six weeks and will be brought back online the evening of the 26th. When this occurs, discolored water, which is caused by iron rust particles loosened from the inside of the pipe during maintenance, may be noticeable at times until the system clears.
“We are doing everything possible to minimize the impact of discolored water on customers,” said Water Operations Acting Director Dave Muto. “The pipe has been cleaned and disinfected, it’s been sitting full of water to allow any remaining sediments to settle, and we are bringing it back in service at night when water usage is low.”
The city’s water continues to be safe to drink. If customers do get discolored water, it may look unappealing, so SPU recommends waiting until it clears before drinking it. The utility also recommends that customers with discolored water avoid using hot water and operating their dishwashers and washing machines until their water runs clear.
Customers, who experience discolored water, should run their cold tap water for 3 to 5 minutes. If the water isn’t clear, they should shut off the faucet and wait an hour before testing the water again. If the water still isn’t clear, customers are advised to call SPU’s Operations Control Center at (206) 386-1800.
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In addition to providing a reliable water supply to more than 1.45 million customers in the Seattle metropolitan area, SPU provides essential sewer, drainage, solid waste and engineering services that safeguard public health, maintain the City’s infrastructure and protect, conserve and enhance the region's environmental resources.