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City manager says discolored water safe; staff to refine flushing and tank refill procedures
Summary
City Manager Stuart told the Aiken City Council that recent brown/yellow water incidents are caused by naturally occurring iron and manganese stirred in cast‑iron pipes; staff are adjusting tank set points, flushing and monitoring systems and have engaged an outside consultant.
The Aiken City Manager addressed recent complaints about brown or yellow tap water during the Aug. 25 City Council meeting, saying the discoloration stems from naturally occurring iron and manganese in older cast‑iron distribution pipes.
City Manager Stuart told council that the system meets state and federal water quality standards and that the discoloration does not pose a public‑health risk. “The water does remain safe to use, does not pose a risk to public health, as it meets necessary safety requirements,” Stuart said.
Staff described operational steps taken to reduce discolored water, including adjusting water‑tank set points, changing refill schedules, targeted hydrant flushing and increased monitoring. The city also contracted a third‑party consultant (DCCM) to review response protocols; the consultant told staff the response aligned with accepted industry standards. Twice‑weekly drone photography and a repurposed traffic camera used during past hurricane debris work were mentioned as examples of the city’s use of technology for measurement and documentation.
Several residents pressed staff on leak and discoloration counts during public comment. Public works data presented at the meeting showed 135 reported leaks for the month ending July 31 and 1,290 year‑to‑date leak reports; managers clarified that not all entries are confirmed mainline breaks and said the published report wording would be revised to avoid confusion. The city manager said the system averaged about 28 confirmed leaks per month after accounting for report reclassification.
Council members directed staff to continue system monitoring and consider pipe replacement in sections where discoloration persists after unidirectional flushing. No emergency water restrictions or state advisories were announced at the meeting.
