Newberry Utilities Details Cloudy Water Reports
Over the past few weeks, the City of Newberry’s utility system has experienced cloudy water symptoms on two different occasions.
Newberry Utilities Director Scott Motsinger shared that cloudy water is not harmful and safe for consumption.
The first instance of cloudy water, Motsinger said, occurred on the weekend of June 5. One of the city’s large water customers has a private system with fire protection (hydrants), he said, and experienced a catastrophic failure on a hydrant, causing a leak that generated a water loss of over 300,000 gallons of water in an eight-hour period.
“When an event like this happens, water will reverse its normal flow directions to try and satisfy the increased need for pressure and volume due to the leak,” Motsinger said. “This then agitates the system and causes the cloudy water conditions.”
The cure for this, Motsinger said is to go across the city’s system and flow hydrants to try to clear the cloudy water.
Newberry Utilities crews responded on June 6 and flowed hydrants at various locations until June 7 to resolve the cloudy water, Motsinger said, and customers were encouraged to run water in their home or business for a few minutes to resolve any issues in their buildings.
The second event of cloudy water occurred on June 19 at 4 p.m. after Newberry Utilities experienced a near city-wide power outage that affected the water production plant. The power outage was on the Duke Energy transmission system that feeds the electric substation on the east side of the city. Newberry Utilities restored power to the plant through switching procedures at 4:32 p.m., with Duke Energy restoring power to the affected city substation at 5:18 p.m.
“This power outage affected internal systems at the plant, causing a significant pressure and flow increase leaving the plant,” said Brandon Riddle, water plant superintendent.
The increased pressure at the plant created another cloudy water condition as well as numerous leaks on water mains across the system. Crews began flowing water again from hydrants to try to clear the cloudy water on Saturday, June 20.
“Unfortunately, this takes some time to completely clear the condition,” Motsinger said. “Crews were still flowing hydrants on Monday. This procedure must be carefully performed because the flowing of hydrants themselves can create cloudy water conditions if the work is not coordinated.”
Newberry Utilities’ flushing procedure does not clear any cloudy water that may have entered the pipes in homes.
“The procedure to clear this cloudy water in your home is the same as we are performing on the city’s water system,” Motsinger said. “Turn on faucets that are the furthest from where water comes into the home and let them run until they are clear.”
This procedure usually takes just a few minutes, he said, and the cost for that water is negligible, typically five cents or less for the customer.
Motsinger emphasized Newberry Utilities does not take these events lightly.
“Cloudy water is not harmful; it is safe for consumption,” Motsinger said. “We strive for the best, highest quality, clear flowing water for you and your family or business.
Customers who continue to experience cloudy water are asked to call 803-321-1018 during business hours or 803-276-0311 after hours to report their issue.
Over the past few weeks, the City of Newberry’s utility system has experienced cloudy water symptoms on two different occasions.
Newberry Utilities Director Scott Motsinger shared that cloudy water is not harmful and safe for consumption.
The first instance of cloudy water, Motsinger said, occurred on the weekend of June 5. One of the city’s large water customers has a private system with fire protection (hydrants), he said, and experienced a catastrophic failure on a hydrant, causing a leak that generated a water loss of over 300,000 gallons of water in an eight-hour period.
“When an event like this happens, water will reverse its normal flow directions to try and satisfy the increased need for pressure and volume due to the leak,” Motsinger said. “This then agitates the system and causes the cloudy water conditions.”
The cure for this, Motsinger said is to go across the city’s system and flow hydrants to try to clear the cloudy water.
Newberry Utilities crews responded on June 6 and flowed hydrants at various locations until June 7 to resolve the cloudy water, Motsinger said, and customers were encouraged to run water in their home or business for a few minutes to resolve any issues in their buildings.
The second event of cloudy water occurred on June 19 at 4 p.m. after Newberry Utilities experienced a near city-wide power outage that affected the water production plant. The power outage was on the Duke Energy transmission system that feeds the electric substation on the east side of the city. Newberry Utilities restored power to the plant through switching procedures at 4:32 p.m., with Duke Energy restoring power to the affected city substation at 5:18 p.m.
“This power outage affected internal systems at the plant, causing a significant pressure and flow increase leaving the plant,” said Brandon Riddle, water plant superintendent.
The increased pressure at the plant created another cloudy water condition as well as numerous leaks on water mains across the system. Crews began flowing water again from hydrants to try to clear the cloudy water on Saturday, June 20.
“Unfortunately, this takes some time to completely clear the condition,” Motsinger said. “Crews were still flowing hydrants on Monday. This procedure must be carefully performed because the flowing of hydrants themselves can create cloudy water conditions if the work is not coordinated.”
Newberry Utilities’ flushing procedure does not clear any cloudy water that may have entered the pipes in homes.
“The procedure to clear this cloudy water in your home is the same as we are performing on the city’s water system,” Motsinger said. “Turn on faucets that are the furthest from where water comes into the home and let them run until they are clear.”
This procedure usually takes just a few minutes, he said, and the cost for that water is negligible, typically five cents or less for the customer.
Motsinger emphasized Newberry Utilities does not take these events lightly.
“Cloudy water is not harmful; it is safe for consumption,” Motsinger said. “We strive for the best, highest quality, clear flowing water for you and your family or business.
Customers who continue to experience cloudy water are asked to call 803-321-1018 during business hours or 803-276-0311 after hours to report their issue.
