Brown Water Problems Continue in Montgomery County

Last winter’s snow and ice is now a problem of the past, but the salt added to area roads/sidewalks to combat it may be causing the continuing problem of brown water in homes across Montgomery County, according to Jerry Irvine, spokesman for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC).

Irvine said that the large amounts of salt used to treat roads and sidewalks washed into creeks which feed into the Potomac River. ”The salt is just not being diluted by the river,” Irvine explained, causing an increased level of the mineral manganese in the water, resulting in the brown color.

“Manganese clings to older pipes,” Irvine explained, and the areas getting brown water in Montgomery County are located in older neighborhoods.

Irvine said that while brown water complaints spiked in March, the problem is continuing. “We have received 430 discolored water calls in June so far--so that is unusually high for this time of year.”

According to a Washington Post report, more than 3,000 people have complained to WSSC about brown tap water since March.

The water is “ascetically not pleasing,” Irvine said, “but safe to drink” since WSSC checks water quality many times a day. He advised that clothing should not be washed in the water.

WSSC is currently flushing lines on streets and the next step will be to flush entire neighborhoods.

“Eventually it will run its course,” Irvine said.

In the meantime, if you see discolored water, contact WSSC at at 301-206-4002 so they can open fire hydrants to flush the lines on your street.