Residents complain of discolored water
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

"When we finish cleaning and relining the lines, we should not have the problem anymore." - Barry Zagnit Mayor

SPOTSWOOD - Water discoloration continues to be a problem for residents in some areas of town.

Officials said several residents complained of brown tap water during the middle of March, believed to be the result of iron and other materials mixing with the water. The unsightly water is still safe to consume, officials said.

Councilwoman Marge Drozd told her colleagues March 19 that she was contacted by residents upset that their water was discolored yet again. Residents in different parts of town have for years complained of occasional brown water, and in 2001 the borough even reimbursed people for discolored clothing due to brown water in the washing machine.

Borough officials have sought to resolve the water problems over the years through a variety of improvements to the water system, and the town has made progress combating the problem.

Mayor Barry Zagnit said the recent problem came about because the water flow reversed in the lines as the result of the borough changing water plants. When the water flow changes directions, materials such as iron that build up on the water main walls get into the water and cause the discoloration.

The Clearwater Village and Willard Clark Circle areas experienced the worst discoloration problems because of their proximity to the plant.

Zagnit said the borough has been addressing the issue since 1997 in part by cleaning and relining the water mains, but due to financial constraints this work is being done on a slower than desired basis.

"When we finish cleaning and relining the lines, we should not have the problem anymore," Zagnit said.

Drozd asked Zagnit who residents should be told to call about the problem after hours.

Zagnit said anyone calling after normal working hours should try the police nonemergency dispatch. The department will forward the complaint to United Water, which operates the town's water system. The company will then usually go out to the hydrant and flush out the lines.

During regular working hours, residents with complaints should call the borough's utility clerk or the administration office, Zagnit said.

Zagnit noted that the state Department of Transportation requires that the water be tested thoroughly for safety, and the borough has met all standards. Residents can opt for further testing, but at their own expense.

"We will not ever, knowingly, give any bad water to our residents," he said.