Discolored Water Hits Slice Of Royal Oak Homes

ROYAL OAK, MI — If you live in Royal Oak’s Normandy Oaks neighborhood and wonder why your water is cloudy and/or rusty today, there’s a reason. According to Royal Oak officials, a new water main connection near Normandy Road and Kent was installed Tuesday morning.

“Water can appear cloudy and/or rusty whenever there is a large draw of water from the water main,” the city said in a Facebook post. “Naturally occurring mineral deposits that accumulate within the water main get stirred up and become suspended particles, thus producing the discoloration in the water.”

The good news? The discolored water is temporary, and isn’t harmful.(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Royal Oak Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The city advises that residents should run the cold water faucet closest to the meter for several minutes until the water runs clear. That faucet is usually located in the basement or at an outside hose bib.

Normandy Oaks is bounded by 14 Mile Road in the north, Normandy Road in the south, Crooks Road on the east and Delemere Boulevard on the west.

If the water does not clear after 20 minutes of flushing, contact the Department of Public Service at (248) 246-3300. Residents in the area should avoid running hot water or washing clothes while water is discolored, Royal Oak officials said.

Photo by Zach Den Adel via Flickr Commons