To the Water Bureau,
Until this evening, my water appeared as normal. Now, however, the color is brown and the taste is NOT normal. This is occurring for several of my neighbors as well. It is difficult to believe this brown color and bad taste is within acceptable parameters for Portland water quality, let alone state or federal standards.
What is being done to correct this problem and how soon will it be fixed?
Thanks.

John Gothro.

We are experiencing what looks like muddy water tonight too! I am in NE Portland - Alameda neighborhood .

I am in Alameda and also have muddy water, not normal at all!

We live in the Alameda neighborhood and have also experienced a cloudy and brownish discoloration of our tap water on 10.23 at around 7pm. Really....this is normal and okay? Might use a filter for awhile.....

I also live in Alameda and it's very brown and turbid.

We are too having brown water at 31st and klickitat. It's so brown we've hesitated to try it.

Way to go Water Bureau! I've been on hold since I posted my message because there is no indication -- online or on the emergency phone line -- that the bureau is aware that there is a problem in this neighborhood. That means I've been on hold for 40 minutes listening to some really bad music and being told frequently that my patience is appreciated. This is the best service Portland has to offer?

Ditto here. Alameda. 10/23. Started around 6:00pm. Brown muddy water. Can't see the bottom of shallow sink. NOT NORMAL. I was on hold for an hour and gave up. Figured the website would have updates, but no. Come on water bureau, what's the status?

Also in Alameda and still have brown water. It was worse earlier but as of 9pm still very cloudy and brown when you fill up a sink. The smell is heavy chlorine or other similar chemical. I don't expect it would be efficient to get back to us all individually, but updating your website would help for peace of mind as well as planning for showers, feeding kids, potable water, health concerns...etc.

I also live in Alameda at 26th and Regents Drive and also notice our water is brownish in color. I have been onhold to report this to the emergency line but I have been waiting a long time although the system says I am number 4 in queue. There are several other comments from the Northeast. How come there is no mention of this on the website besides a message that the water changes color this time of year. This water does not look normal at all.

Both my neighbor and we are experiencing discolored water. 33rd and Siskiyou.
Neighbor actually spoke to PWB - who said a fire hydrant was damaged and the water discoloration was from that - but if it was him (PWB) he would not drink the water, wash cloths etc. Should return to normal in 4 + hrs.

thanks bill for sharing this information!

My water is normal now. Thanks Bill!

Ditto on the NE neighborhood issue. We are a block from the damaged hydrant and definitely still seeing all water as brown. Will check it again in the morning. Annoying they didn't put out a warning/bulletin for this especially if we shouldn't drink it.

We are in SW Portland and yesterday the water was very brown. I was doing laundry and it actually stained three of my shirts. Can that be ok to drink?

Our water is presently showing a greenish color - is this normal? We drain and maintain our pool/spa 2 or 3 times a year and haven't noticed this before, but we just refilled the pool (Nov 10,2012) and noticed the water appears greenish in color. The water supply for the pool is the same as the main supply for the house so we tested by filling the bath tub. It too showed greenish color.

Should we be concerned?

Rich Bayless
bayless@hevanet.com

My housemate took a shower about 7am today, 3/1/2013. I just took a shower at about 8:30am. I then tried to pour a glass of water at my upstairs bathroom sink and it was very brown. I tried to run the cold water for a few minutes and it is still brown. I called the water quality hotline and left a v/m with my address, name and phone. I live in SW Portland in Multnomah Village.

Harriet,

The discolored water could be due to regular maintenance work where our crews flush a hydrant to remove harmless natural sediments that build up in pipelines. Our Water Quality staff will look into it.

And thank you for contacting the Water Quality phone line - we appreciate it!

• PWB Community Information and Involvement