Don’t do laundry if water discolored | Daily Tidings

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Ashland residents can expect some water discoloration in the next few days. The discoloration is harmless, city officials say, but if you are experiencing discolored water, avoid doing any laundry. It could stain clothes. It’s caused by routine maintenance on the water distribution system which includes flushing at various fire hydrants around town to allow a greater than normal volume of water to flow through the network of underground pipes. The discoloration is mostly seen in large amounts of water against white backgrounds such as in a tub or toilet. Officials recommend running the water for a few minutes to clear up any discoloration. If that doesn’t work, call Public Works Water Division at 541-488-5353. Mineral deposits and compounds used in the water treatment process tend to settle in the distribution system over time. This is normal and occurs in all water distribution systems. Without this maintenance, the deposits and compounds will compromise water quality. This type of maintenance is performed in the rainy season, so the volume of reserved water is not compromised. The flushing of these minerals ultimately improves the water quality, according to the city.