(WSB photo: Myrtle Reservoir, where the work’s happening underground)

After multiple reports of yellow, or otherwise discolored, water in different areas of West Seattle in recent days – we heard from people as far north as Admiral and as far south as Gatewood – we contacted Seattle Public Utilities this morning to find out what’s going on. Here’s what we’ve heard back from spokesperson Andy Ryan:

We are working to clear up discolored drinking water that has been reported in several sections of West Seattle over the past few days.

The cause of the discoloration is believed to be sediment that was stirred up due to a temporary change in water-system configuration.

Although the water is temporarily discolored, it is safe to drink. The discoloration is expected to clear up gradually over the next few days.

The utility will provide updates if anything changes.

Elaborating on the “configuration,” Ryan explains it’s because of the earthquake-resistance retrofitting (most recently mentioned here) that started earlier this month at Myrtle Reservoir, which is temporarily out of service because of the work, so they’ve rerouted water through a part of the system that they don’t often use.

Otherwise, discolored water turns up here and there every so often, for various reasons – usually we get a few reports from one area, so we point people to this SPU page with information about dealing with it (and the utility’s customer-service hotline if the problem persists – 206-684-3000), and that’s the end of it.

Seattle Public Utilities has settled on a new home, in West Seattle, for its Drainage and Wastewater Operations team. Now the hitch – getting the site, the bus yard at 4500 West Marginal Way SW.

That’s the slide deck for this plan, which is the only item on the agenda for a meeting next Tuesday morning of the City Council’s Public Utilities and Neighborhoods Committee. It points out that this division – more than 100 vehicles and 100 staffers – currently operates from the city’s Charles Street yard on the south side of downtown, shared with other departments/agencies, with no room for expansion. The tipping point: Maintenance of the forthcoming First Hill Streetcar will be at Charles Street too.

The West Seattle site choice was made, SPU says, after evaluating sites including the Myers Way parcels on the southeast edge of West Seattle and the former South Transfer Station in South Park. It would require some cleanup and remodeling over the next three-plus years. Meeting documents say the city started trying to buy the site this past spring; the owner asked $16 million, $6 million over the appraised value. (While the documents also say the site wasn’t on the market, it has been in recent years.) So now there’s an attempt to lease it. If none of this can be worked out, the city might try to acquire it by eminent domain. So they’re asking for City Council authorization to, basically, do what it takes to get the site. This meeting’s the first step; it’s at 9:30 am next Tuesday, and will include public comment (as do most council meetings); you’ll also be able to watch live via Seattle Channel, online or cable channel 21.

SEPTEMBER 29TH UPDATE: Though it was shown on the Seattle Channel schedule as the appointed time arrived – suddenly it seems this meeting’s been canceled. The committee’s next scheduled meeting is October 13th. We’ll keep watching.