FOLLOWUP: What caused last night’s brown water in Delridge and Admiral

| Utilities | West Seattle news

After a flurry of discolored-water reports started flowing in last night after 9 pm, we promised to follow up today with Seattle Public Utilities. The response is just in from spokesperson Ingrid Goodwin:

SPU crews conducted two hydrant flow tests last night in West Seattle: one in the vicinity of 48th Ave. SW and Waite St, and the other one on Delridge Way. The hydrant tests are a mandated requirement by the City of Seattle for new construction projects.

As you know, any time there is a disturbance in the water main, discolored water can happen. Last night’s hydrant tests caused discolored water for some customers in those areas where the tests took place. Since last night, SPU has received about 50 calls from customers in West Seattle related to discolored water.

SPU does not typically notify customers in advance about routine, day-to-day maintenance work that crews complete quickly and has a low impact or no impact on customers. However, we understand that many West Seattle residents are acutely aware of discolored water, have been experiencing persistent problems since last summer and want to be informed when SPU knows there might be a disturbance in the water system. SPU needs to do a better job communicating in advance to customers when we know there is planned, day-to-day work by SPU crews that can cause discolored water. We are working on developing and implementing a method to do so soon.

The unidirectional flushing that is scheduled to begin in a couple of weeks will not eliminate discolored water, but will help reduce the intensity and duration of discolored water when it does occur. SPU will be sending customers information explaining the work, an FAQ that will answer some questions and a map that shows the areas that will be flushed. Customers, who live in West Seattle neighborhoods where the flushing will start in April, should look for a mailing from SPU to arrive next week.

We had first word of the “unidirectional flushing” plan in this story last Thursday.

Bath water April 5, 2016 (3:34 pm)

…and Seaview…ugh.

Chas Redmond April 5, 2016 (4:39 pm)

“SPU does not typically notify customers in advance about routine, day-to-day maintenance work that crews complete quickly and has a low impact or no impact on customers. However, we understand that many West Seattle residents are acutely aware of discolored water, have been experiencing persistent problems since last summer and want to be informed when SPU knows there might be a disturbance in the water system.”

Sounds like SPU is tone deaf among other failings.

Joe Bags April 5, 2016 (4:58 pm)

Brilliant. Good work City of Seattle. Brown water for the last several years. Continued excellence in action.

LC2 April 5, 2016 (6:25 pm)

Water is clear and clean in Fauntleroy. Luck?

Sandy April 5, 2016 (6:41 pm)

What does it mean for it to be brown? Dirt? Manure? Why does testing a hydrant cause the discoloring?

WSB April 5, 2016 (7:00 pm)

Sandy – As reported in our story about the forthcoming flush of local pipes, the “sediment” is settled rust from the cast-iron pipes. A change in the usual flow – opening a hydrant for a test or a fire, taking a reservoir out of service as happened last year, etc. – stirs up the settled rust. SPU is hoping the planned flushing will get a lot of it out so that future unusual operations don’t have so much to stir up. – TR

clinker April 6, 2016 (8:21 am)

A few weeks ago the sediment was both rust and tiny rocks somewhere between “tiny pebble” and “sand” size, judging from the shower and faucet particle filters I had to clean out immediately afterwards.