The city of Midland has cautioned residents experiencing smell or color issues with their water that it could be a result of manganese in public drinking water. Consequently, work is being done to address the matter.
An August 15 Facebook post stated that while manganese is an essential nutrient for human health in small amounts, its appearance and odor in public drinking water can raise concerns.
Health officials, however, do not believe that drinking discolored water poses a health risk. According to the post, water is tested on a daily basis through various parts of the city.
According to the post, the city is continuously adjusting the treatment method in response to ongoing changes in the water supply.
In the meantime, there are several steps Midlanders can take if they find their water to be discolored. First and foremost, residents should turn on a cold water tap and let the water run for a few minutes. It is recommended to use a bathtub tap since there is no screen to trap any sediment.
Residents should use a light-colored cup to catch some water. If the water isn’t clear after half an hour, they should turn off the tap and try again later.
If the water remains unclear after two or three hours, residents are advised to submit a SeeClickFix request at https://www.midlandtexas.gov/1193/Report-an-IssueSeeClickFix.