Water main breakage question

[tj]

The water at my apartment complex shut off some time yesterday. It came back on this morning, but the water has a brown taint to it. Yuck.

Anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Should I just let my faucets run until it cleans up? Do I need to somehow flush the water out of my hot water heater? What about the dishwasher?

...I don't think I'll be brushing my teeth with anything but bottled water until this cleans up.

[Peaches]

Eeew. I don't know what you're supposed to do, but I'd be letting all the water run for a while to flush everything out. If nothing else, it'd make me feel better.

[Sagitta]

oh. I actually wait a day or so after the main has been fixed before I feel comfortable showering or washing dishes, or drinking. I would feel okay using to water plants...wash the floors...

[samina]

The water at my apartment complex shut off some time yesterday. It came back on this morning, but the water has a brown taint to it. Yuck.

Anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Should I just let my faucets run until it cleans up? Do I need to somehow flush the water out of my hot water heater? What about the dishwasher?

...I don't think I'll be brushing my teeth with anything but bottled water until this cleans up.

yeah, let the water run and don't use it for food for a few days... maybe give your town a call -- they should be able to give them more specific guidance...

it's a bit alarming when you see water that shade coming out your faucet, isn't it! <g>

[Peaches]

yeah, let the water run and don't use it for food for a few days... maybe give your town a call -- they should be able to give them more specific guidance...

it's a bit alarming when you see water that shade coming out your faucet, isn't it! <g>
Reminds me of when we used to live in a 200+ year old house...rust water. Fun.

[samina]

Reminds me of when we used to live in a 200+ year old house...rust water. Fun.

yeah, me too. actually, they frequently did work on the well, and that always stirred things up...

anyway, i never drank or used that water for food... large farm, got-knows-what in that water... if i let it sit on the counter overnight, it would have a crust on it. *lol* minerals, i guess? anyway... i left it alone!

[LucyDiamond]

I would definately run the hot water until you emptied your hot water heater.

[Sagitta]

Reminds me of when we used to live in a 200+ year old house...rust water. Fun.ACtually happens when you have a well and if it runs low (mud from there...) ...and/or pump shuts off. When pump comes back on it kicks up some sediment from the water tank bottom. But...I know wht it is and how long it takes to get clean water...unlike a town water supply where who knows where the brown is coming from. Hence the couple days to let the entire system flush.

[tj]

Well, I'm home now, and the water looks clear again. But it definitely makes sense to play it safe, including running most of the hot water out of the hot water heater, running a load of dishes w/o any dishes, etc. Thanks for the advice, folks.