Weatherford

City of Weatherford Insists Brown Water Safe to Drink

Residents of Weatherford say their water has been brown for weeks. While they say the city told them it can't be fixed, officials insist the water is safe to drink.

"I'm not drinking this water," said Weatherford resident Carole Vernon. "They assured us that it's OK to drink, but I'd like a third party to test it. I don't know if, I mean, that's not very appetizing."

The water flowing from Vernon's faucet looks clear, but a bathtub full of the water has a noticeable golden brown tint.

"When you get a concentrated [amount], like in a bathtub or a toilet, you can definitely see it," said Vernon.

The city said the problem started weeks ago, after heavy rains filled Lake Weatherford, which supplies the city's water.

"We are experiencing slight discoloration in a few areas of our distribution system," said Blake Rexroat, public relations manager for the city of Weatherford. "We attribute that to high levels of rainfall that we received in May and in June and so we are working to address that."

The city insists the water is safe to drink and use for other purposes.

"We exceed all federal and state regulations, so the water is completely, completely safe to drink," said Rexroat.

Others aren't so willing.

"We just don't drink water out of the faucet, and I cook with it somewhat, but it's really terrible to get in the bathtub," said Vernon.

The city warns residents the water may discolor laundry, but so far, there have not been any complaints.

Workers at the water treatment plant are trying to correct the problem, but the city said that could take a while longer.

The city of Weatherford sent the following messages to its residents about the water:

"The City of Weatherford Water Utilities Department is currently experiencing discoloration of water within the distribution system. The discoloration is a result of excessive run-off into Lake Weatherford from recent rainfalls. Please be advised the water is safe to use and consume and meets all federal and state standards for drinking water. Modifications have been made at the water treatment plant to reduce the discoloration and we will continue to monitor the issue over the next week. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this matter."

"Please be advised that there is a potential for slight discoloration of clothing when washing laundry, and which could also be made worse when using bleach or a bleach alternative. If you observe discoloration in your water, please use caution when washing laundry or delay washing laundry if possible until the discoloration improves."

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