Griffin residents have noticed a yellowish-brown tint in their tap water recently, raising concerns about water safety. City officials assure the community that the discolored water poses no health risks and they are taking action to resolve the issue.

“One of our plants got an elevated level of manganese,” explained Angie Golden, a representative from the city’s water department. “When that happens, it causes the water to turn a yellowish-brown color. We have fixed that problem and we’re currently flushing the hydrants in the city to get that water cleared out.”

She added, “It’s not dangerous or toxic—you can drink it and bathe in it.”

Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in surface waters. Under normal circumstances, it presents no treatment challenges for water facilities. The EPA has set a Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level for manganese in drinking water as a recommendation to address aesthetic issues, as the mineral can cause discoloration, imbue a metallic taste when consumed, and stain plumbing and laundry. However, manganese can also pose potential health risks when consumed at higher levels over a prolonged period.

Though recent cooling temperatures and wind gusts have caused the manganese levels in the Still Branch Reservoir to spike unexpectedly, Golden said the unexpected influx of manganese is “still below the maximum level … but above the level we want to be,” adding it’s “just enough to make the water turn that color.” She also stated that the mineral “got stirred up by high winds and other outstanding factors which brought it up to a level that we could not keep up with.”

Manganese is sometimes taken as a supplement to support bone health, aid metabolism, and help with the formation of connective tissue and blood-clotting factors. Golden, however, wants the city to know: “We do not add manganese; we treat for it. It’s naturally occurring, and we treat it to keep it at low levels in the water—we just weren’t able to keep up with the levels that were coming through the line.” She elaborated on the source of the issue, confirming that the manganese came from water in a settling pond at the treatment plant.

Golden said, “We shut down the Still Branch plant long enough to get the manganese under control. We’ve got two plants, and each of them back each other up. If we shut down one plant, we still have water going out to all the citizens.”

Via statement, the City of Griffin’s Director of Water and Wastewater Brandon Lewis stated, “As of this morning, we have shut down our Still Branch treatment plant and increased production from our Harry Simmons treatment plant.” The Harry Simmons Water Treatment Plant, which sources water from the Flint River, is currently unaffected by elevated manganese levels. Lewis says the city will “maintain this mode of operation until we can ensure that the manganese levels from Still Branch are within a normal range.”

Residents may notice city workers flushing hydrants throughout Griffin and surrounding areas. “These will be flowing to purge the discolored water from our system while fresh water is pumped into it,” Lewis stated. “I expect the discolored water to be purged within the next 24 hours.”

In his statement, Lewis said: “I apologize for the inconvenience that anyone has experienced due to this issue. I want to assure you that this water does not harm your health. It is safe to consume.”

Residents with additional questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out directly to blewis@cityofgriffin.com.

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