City of Midland officials have received increased reports of discolored water around town, and have identified seasonal conditions at the water’s source as the cause.
Though originally thought to be caused by the result of changing disinfection processes for the City’s distribution system, multiple photos and calls from residents have helped the Utilities Department identify that the yellow water is being caused by seasonally elevated levels of the naturally-occurring mineral manganese, which can be found in raw surface water provided to the City by the Colorado River Municipal Water District. Manganese is considered a secondary constituent by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, meaning it has no adverse health effects.
In surface water reservoirs, movement in water from rain and temperatures can cause manganese in the reservoir's sediments to dissolve into the water supply. When the manganese reacts with disinfectants at the water treatment plant, the minerals become even more visible in the water. Customers have mostly noticed this yellow water against white backgrounds like bathtubs, sinks, and toilets.
City of Midland has several sources for raw water and is currently monitoring and evaluating water quality to achieve the best operations under these conditions.
###Media Contact: Public Information Officer Sara Bustilloz