Water authority reports drinking water discoloration in southern Beaufort County
Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority is reporting discolored water from taps south of the Broad River, specifically in Hardeeville and Bluffton.
The discoloration is caused by manganese, a mineral that is common in tap water and water mains. Changes in pressure or speed of water moving through pipes can dislodge the mineral, turning water brown.
Residents should not drink discolored water. Manganese causes a bitter taste, Jeff LaRue, spokesperson for BJWSA, said, and it can stain clothes, so La Rue suggests holding off on washing light colored clothes. High levels of manganese can cause some health complications; the Minnesota Department of Health said people exposed to high levels over a long period of time can experience memory and attention problems.
As the manganese continues to move throughout the system, new affected areas are still appearing. Hilton Head water authorities, which pipe in water from the BJWSA, have stopped accepting water from the BJWSA system.
According to La Rue, crews with the water authority are being sent out to affected areas to flush out the systems by opening fire hydrants. There is no reason to boil any discolored water, as it will not change the shade.
“We are playing discolored water Whack-a-Mole,” La Rue said.
The exact cause of the discolored water is still under investigation, La Rue said. The issue began at the water authority’s Purrysburg Water Treatment Plant, which recently underwent an expansion that doubled its capacity. As staff were testing of a new pump that maintains pressure in the system, the equipment turned on and off several times. The disturbance in pressure dislodged manganese deposits in the system, leading to the discolored water.
La Rue said BJWSA hopes to have the discolored water out of the system by this weekend.
Affected customers should report any discoloration on the BJWSA website.
