Severn Trent has apologised to some of its customers, saying they may have discoloured water. The water company has issued guidance if this is something that is encountered.
According to their website, discolouration of water can range from being a straw-like yellow to brown or black. Reasons for this can include disturbed sediment made up of naturally occurring metals and minerals, corrosion of pipes or plumbing issues.
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Severn Trent sent a message to some Nottinghamshire customers, which Nottinghamshire Live has seen, which said: "It may not look nice but it's usually nothing to worry about. Your water should gradually clear throughout the day as you use your water."
When water is discoloured, Severn Trent says the hot water tap, dishwashers, washing machines or anything else that uses hot water should not be used. Most discolouration can be quickly cleared by running the cold water tap nearest the internal stop-cock on a thin flow, about the width of a pencil, for 20 minutes. If this doesn't work, turn the tap off, wait 20 minutes and try again.
Severn Trent says although the water is discoloured, it should be fine to use to water any indoor or garden plants, so it's worth collecting this in a washing up bowl or bucket while you run the tap so it’s not wasted. If a water meter is used in the household, Severn Trent can credit the bill with an amount to compensate for the water used to flush the system.
The water company says if the discolouration doesn't clear after running the tap for several minutes, check with neighbours to see if their water is also discoloured. If neighbours' water is also discoloured, it's likely that it has been caused by a burst pipe or planned repairs to the network in the area.
