The Forsyth County Water & Sewer Department has received reports of discolored water. The county wants to assure residents that all tests show their water is safe, despite some discoloration due to increased mineral content. The Water & Sewer Department is conducting continual testing to assess the water quality. All tests have shown the water is safe for all uses, including drinking, bathing and cooking, and there is no need to boil the water.

“The discoloration in the water is being caused by natural minerals,” Director of Water & Sewer Tim Perkins said. “While it appears to already be clearing up in a majority of the water system, customers may continue to see some discoloration for several days.”

The discoloration can be attributed to two factors. The first is the minerals iron and manganese, which are naturally occurring substances found in water, air, soil and food. Small amounts of manganese are nutritionally essential and are a common ingredient in multivitamins.

The second is two large water main breaks that occurred last week – one in the northern part of the county and one in the southern part of the county. Water main breaks stir up minerals in the lines and can cause water discoloration.

Forsyth County Water & Sewer will continue to monitor water quality closely to ensure a safe water supply is available for customers. In the unlikely event the water supply does not meet all water quality standards, Forsyth County would notify customers through such means as emergency notification calls and the Forsyth County website at forsythco.com.