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On the weekend before Memorial Day, it was like cola, and on Memorial Day weekend it was more like iced tea.
But she’s not describing taste: She means the color.
Bey, who lives on Kane Street, is among North Siders who have been living with water discolored by manganese for years. “You do not leave your washing machine. You watch it fill up before you put the clothes in,” she said. “You may have to drain it and start over.”
The North Side has received its water from three wells on French Island that Water Utility director Mark Johnson says have a higher concentration of manganese.Though not a health hazard, manganese in water turns the water brown and discolors laundry, he said.
The city took the French Island wells off line on June 8 except for emergencies in hopes the water on the North Side will be clear, Johnson said. He is contacting North Side residents to see if they are seeing improvement.
“We think this is a first step for positive change,” he said of the move, which was based on a recommendation from a consultant that the utility hired to study the problem. The study, done by Earth Tech Inc. of Stevens Point, Wis., for $27,950, showed the city’s 12 wells on the South Side have enough water to serve the North Side too, he said.
The Memorial Day weekend episode occurred when the Water Utility flushed its large water transmission mains that Sunday. Because one valve was omitted from the list of those to be closed, Johnson said manganese that had settled in the pipes came out into the large line and caused discoloration.
Andrea Richmond, who represents the far North Side on the council, said she has received about 20 calls about the water from residents this month. Memorial Day weekend was the worst, she said.
At Edwardo’s Pizza Wagon on Rose Street, owner Dick Edwards said he had to throw away six chef’s outfits including coats, aprons and hats after washing them in the discolored water. He figures the loss was about $300.
“We went through a period around Memorial Day weekend,” he recalled, “when the water looked like someone had dropped coffee grounds in it. The water in the sinks and toilets was black. This has been ongoing, but that was the worst I have seen.”
The drinking water they serve customers was not affected because the restaurant filters it, Edwards said.
Managers of some businesses, including the Super 8 on Rose Street and Gifted Hands on Caledonia Street, said they have not had issues. But others, including Brookstone Inn, said they’ve experienced the discolored water. “When it comes up, we explain (to guests),” said manager Jackie Larson. “It’s just embarrassing when someone turns their water on and it’s brown. But we haven’t had any problems for the past week.”
Joan Kent can be reached at (608) 791-8221 or jkent@lacrossetribune.com
At least you can get a price break
The La Crosse Water Utility has given a few discounts to residents who have evidence of increased water bills due to discolored water, said utility director Mark Johnson.
These have been given in extreme cases, when the residents have a sudden spike in a usually static bill, and say it was because they had to run the water due to manganese. People who believe they have such a claim may contact the office at (608) 789-7536.
