MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A local man took to social media when he woke up to brown rusty water.
This isn’t the first time people living on Mud Island experienced the problem.
Shawn Danko took to Twitter after attempting to take a shower this morning.
“So I’m getting ready this morning to go to work and turn on the shower, and, oh no, it’s got brown rusty water coming out,” he said.
In his message on Twitter to Memphis Light Gas and Water, he told them to open the fire hydrant again to purge.
This isn’t the first time Danko woke up to Rusty brown water.
“About once a year, it happens and for what reason nobody seems to know although it just happens right around the same time in the spring,” he said.
Dawn Nielson moved there 12 years ago and comes across brown water like this from time to time.
“Brown water, yes we’ve seen it probably in my time here three times over 12 years, just generally means that the hydrants have to be purged,” she said.
MLGW said there are a number of things that could the problem but isn’t sure exactly why people are experiencing this.
They do recommend letting your water run until it clears and reporting it.
“I just don’t drink it, I don’t, I wait, I make a phone call, and I wait and usually it’s gone within a day,” Neilson said.
Although MLGW said the brown water does not pose a health threat, some worry about people who are new to the area.
“I’m guessing if they’ve never been in the area and seen this happen right away yes it’s a little disturbing it could cause for alarm,” said Danko.
MLGW says rusty water occurs from sediment in the pipes or rust from the inside walls of water mains.
To report a problem, call (901) 820-7878.
