A fire at an apartment complex this morning on SE Division Street had Portland firefighters connecting to a number of hydrants to put out the blaze.  During this time, a large volume of water was drawn, increasing water flows in the surrounding pipelines.  A number of residents in the area found their drinking water discolored as a result.

The infrequent surge of water from a hydrant often will cause temporary water discoloration, or “dirty water.” The Portland Water Bureau reminds our customers that there is no health hazards associated with the discolored water.  Dirty water is caused by stirring up harmless natural sediments found in our Bull Run water that normally deposit in slow flow sections water mains.  Flushing a hydrant for routine maintenance or the use of a hydrant to fight a fire will stir up these tiny grains.

“If you encounter dirty water, we recommend that you run the cold water faucets in your home or business for about two to five minutes, or until the water clears,” said Tim Hall,  Public Information Manager.  “If you continue to experience problems with water quality, please contact the bureau’s Water Quality Line at (503) 823-7525.”

Lindsay Wochnick
Community Information & Involvement