"Are we the only ones with discolored water again?" That's what Norsjö resident Jessica Strömberg wrote in a social media post earlier this week. In the comments, several people responded to the question: "We often have discolored water," one person writes. "It's unfortunate that it happens so often," says another.
There are problems with discolored water several times a year, according to Jessica Strömberg.
– We may have to run water for several hours to get clear water. It's very problematic when you have small children or when it's late at night and no shops are open.
Norsjö municipality also commented on Jessica's post. The municipality wrote:
"Norsjö municipality has received several reports of discolored water in the municipality. This is due to a pipe overflow. The municipality is going to flush out the discolored water through our fire hydrants."
They are also sending a message to those with discolored water: "Run your faucet until the water is clear again."
Fredrik Salomonsson, GVA unit manager at Norsjö municipality, offers a clearer explanation of why the water is discolored.
– We have an old pipe system that is designed for a certain number of inhabitants. The flow in the pipes is too small, and when a lot of water is used, problems arise.
Millions are spent each year to replace old pipes, he says.
– This is to get rid of the old pipes from the 1950s and 60s. Old iron pipes are being replaced with plastic pipes.
The challenge of the job is that the pipes are underground, he says.
– It's hard to tell where the problem is. Our strategy is to replace the oldest iron pipes.
He encourages Norsjö residents to report faults if the water is brown.
– Then it's easier for me to include it in the statistics and address the problem. At the moment, more complaints are posted on Facebook than are reported.
The municipality helps flush out the dirty water, including through fire hydrants.
– We are as unhappy as everyone else that this is happening. Norsjö is not alone in facing this challenge.
On its website, the municipality also answers several questions regarding 'discolored water during construction work or water leaks'. Among the questions answered are
Can you drink the water?
"We do not recommend drinking discolored water. We recommend flushing with cold water at high pressure in the kitchen faucet, sometimes for up to 30 minutes or more. If the water is clear again, there is no problem.
Should you boil the water?
"The water does not contain elevated levels of bacteria, so boiling is not necessary. Particles released from the pipes that make the water cloudy will not disappear if you boil the water.
Can I run the water to get it clean?
"We recommend that homeowners flush the kitchen faucet with cold water under high pressure. Sometimes we also open flush points in the street to flush out the particles that are discoloring the water. It can take up to 30 minutes for the water to clear. If it's not clear after 30 minutes, wait a while and try again. The plumbing system is large and sometimes it takes time to clear everything. Run cold water in the faucet for a while. This usually clears the water."
Can you wash or shower?
"Discolored water can also discolor laundry, so we do not recommend washing clothes until the water is clear. There are no problems with showering or bathing."
Can animals drink the water?
"The advice not to drink the water applies to both humans and animals."