Water customers who live in an area of unincorporated Denton County near Roanoke have been concerned with their water quality since it began to run black from their taps following semi-regular service interruptions.
"It's horrifying," said Jeffery Blakey, describing his tap water.
Cell phone video and still pictures show black water coming from the Blakey family's kitchen faucet.
Their home sits at the western edge of the private Northwest Regional Airport.
The Blakeys spoke with NBCDFW Wednesday following the most recent water service interruption, concerned that when the water came back on it would be black again.
Fortunately, that was not the case Wednesday evening. The water from the tap ran clear.
The utility company that services the Blakeys' home, and all of the properties at the airport, is Monarch Utilities, which is owned by SouthWest Water Company.
Late Wednesday, the company president, Chuck Profilet, issued an explanation for the water:
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"Denton Creek Estates, a water system owned by Monarch Utilities, experienced a break in a water line today. This is not uncommon and can be caused by pressure, corrosion, extreme weather, trees or other external forces. As we worked to repair this leak, customers experienced brief water outages, and some may have seen sediment in their water. We sincerely apologize for these inconveniences and assure our customers that these are normal occurrences when a water line is repaired. Customers still seeing sediment in their water should let the water run until it is clear. Water is safe for consumption."
A company spokesperson could not confirm the specific source for the black water, or if a water main break was to blame for every instance the Blakeys and others said they have experienced black water – as many as five in the last year.
Jeffery Blakey is not ready to drink the water. His refrigerator full of bottled water is a testament to that concern.
Blakey is prepared to believe the company's explanation that a water main break caused the most recent service interruption. He is concerned, however, that he could not get that information for himself from either the utility company or his municipality.
"But at least inform us. I don't have a problem with that," Blakey said. "I'll make sure nothing in the house is on, and when you say the water is on I'll open up the spigots outside so that black crap can go all over the ground instead of in my house."
