If it’s pink, don’t drink — at least that’s what officials told residents in an Iowa city this week.
Shelby residents were plagued by contaminated pink water in their homes as local officials warned that an issue with the city’s water pumps caused an excess of potassium permanganate to penetrate the system, turning the water bright pink and unsafe to consume.
The pink tint is just one of many issues residents are experiencing with their water, citing a metallic taste and other periods of discoloration due to high levels of hazardous elements.
“If it’s not pink, it’s brown,” Kara Robinson told KETV.
“The water tastes like iron — like you are drinking straight pennies,” Robinson added.
“That’s what it tastes like. It is horrible. Our kids don’t even like to use our ice because that’s what it tastes like.”
The pink water issue began overnight on Sept. 8, when two of the city’s four wells did not properly reset, according to city officials.
Officials initially told residents the water was “SAFE TO DRINK AND USE” before backtracking two days later, releasing a “DO NOT DRINK THE WATER” advisory due to high levels of manganese, a naturally occurring element that can increase the risk of health problems — particularly in infants — if consumed in abundance.
Infants exposed to too much manganese may experience learning or behavioral issues, officials warned.
Free bottled water was offered by the city, but Robinson says that is not enough as tensions grow between residents and city officials.
“I think there’s a lot of hurt feelings between the citizens and the city council, and we all feel like our voices are not being heard,” Robinson told the local outlet. “We are being run over.
“Nobody’s listening to what we are saying,” she continued.
City officials announced on Friday that Shelby’s drinking water had been cleared and is safe for consumption and all uses.
