Residents complain about discolored water
Alternative content
Dirty Water
Some Attleboro residents say the water department has failed to respond to their complaints about dirty tap water.My Town Common: Attleboro News and Community Information
ATTLEBORO, Mass.—Residents of one Attleboro neighborhood say the water department has failed to respond to their complaints about dirty tap water.
Spencer Tremblay said his water has been bad for about three weeks. He said his children have been using bottled water when they brush their teeth and that the family can’t run the dishwasher.
Neighbors have also complained about their tap water being brown.
“We have three small children in the house, and it’s a little scary not knowing what’s in your water,“ Tremblay said.
The Attleboro Water Department said the discoloration is from rust or manganese and that it’s a consequence of construction projects.
The city is working on water lines to improve the water flow in South Attleboro.
The Tremblays said they have been trying to get in touch with someone at the water department for weeks, but they said the phone either rings unanswered or someone hangs up on them.
The head of the water department said the Tremblays have been calling the wrong number. She said the department notified residents about the water quality through the newspaper last week.
She also said the water is safe to drink. The department is not recommending bottled water and it will not provide rebates on water bills.
The water department is flushing hydrants and it said homeowners should let the water run for a while before using it. The department said residents should be pleased with improvements in the water system.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
The head of the water department said the Tremblays have been calling the wrong number. She said the department notified residents about the water quality through the newspaper last week.
Not everyone gets the newspaper.
Mr. Crandall, it would be useful to provide the “correct” contact information.
http://www.cityofattleboro.us/water/
508-222-0019
none—don’t believe everything you see on wikipedia—the information can be changed by the reader, and the sources of that information aren’t checked for accuracy.
With that being said, even water can be bad for you—depending on the amount. The amount of manganese in the water is far below the toxic levels—it is measured in parts per million.
The issue is dirty water, and while nobody likes it, it is filterable, and if filtered, is OK to use. So, either filter it or buy bottled.
Manganese is safe…a quicky from Wikipedia:
Manganese compounds are less toxic than those of other widespread metals such as nickel and copper.[42] However, exposure to manganese dusts and fumes should not exceed the ceiling value of 5 mg/m3[43] even for short periods because of its toxicity level. Manganese poses a particular risk for children due to its propensity to bind to CH-7 receptors. Manganese poisoning has been linked to impaired motor skills and cognitive disorders.[44]
The permanganate exhibits a higher toxicity than the manganese(II) compounds. Several fatal intoxications have occurred, although the fatal dose is around 10 g. The strong oxidative effect leads to necrosis of the mucous membrane. For example, the esophagus is affected if the permanganate is swallowed. Only a limited amount is absorbed by the intestines but this small amount shows the severe effects on the kidneys and on the liver.[45][46]
Advertisement