Chatsworth’s Brownish Water Safe, DWP Says

If you live in Chatsworth and the water coming out of your faucets was kind of brown Saturday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power assures you that there was no reason to worry--it was a little sediment that was stirred up because of fluctuating pressure levels.

Elizabeth Wimmer, DWP spokeswoman, said the department began receiving complaints at about 9 a.m. from people reporting “dirty water.”

“We told them it was safe to drink, and should clear up by evening,” Wimmer said.

The problem, Wimmer said, was caused by Saturday’s warm weather, which caused water usage to increase. The problem was compounded because the department’s primary water main in the area has been out of service to make way for new 54-inch mains that are being installed, Wimmer said.

Water, as a result, had to be pumped in from other areas and when pressure fluctuated, sediment in the pipes was stirred up, Wimmer said.

“It’s safe to drink; the problem is purely aesthetic,” she added.

Wimmer said that on “high-usage” days in the next couple of weeks, water could be dirty until the new pipes are in place.

To keep sediment levels down, the DWP is advising residents to do chores, such as watering lawns and washing cars, during the early morning or late evening.