Why Is My Water Cloudy and Dirty?

"You Ask, Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to all your questions—big, small and in-between—about the town we live and work in. 

Whether it’s something you’ve always wondered about, some information you just can’t put your hands on or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it.

Send your queries to judy.davids@patch.com or leave them in the comments section below, and I will do my best to dig up an answer for you. You also can call me at 248-231-4667.

We've had a couple of questions from readers asking "Why is my water coming out brown?"

To answer that question, Patch reached out to Royal Oak City Engineer Matt Callahan.

"Brown" water is caused when there is a sudden pressure surge in the water mains. The pressure change typically occurs when water is turned back on after construction of a new water main or after a water main break or some other disturbance. 

It's that added force that stirs up a fine layer of harmless sediment on the bottom of water mains, Callahan said.

If you notice your water is brown, go to a basement faucet (or the lowest faucet) in your house and run the water until it comes out clear and then go to the other faucets in your home and run each until the dirty water is eliminated, Callahan said. 

"If there was ever a situation where residents needed to boil water, we would get that information out," Callahan said. "But if residents are ever concerned, they can always call the Engineering Department at 248-246-3260."

One more note, if residents doing laundry notice clothing is discolored by "brown" water, they can call the Department of Public Service at 248-246-3300. The DPS has laundry treatment packets that will remove stains caused by sediments.