Current Water Service Issues

Wednesday, October 23, 2024: An emergency water repair was performed at the Hilton Water System’s main supply line today, Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Properties in the City may experience low pressure or brown water. If so, please run your faucets for 5-10 minutes until it flows clear.

What To Do If Brown Water is Spotted

It can be alarming to see brown water coming out of the faucets of your house, but it’s likely to happen at some point due to water pressure fluctuations for a variety of reasons—construction, a broken water main, fire hydrant maintenance, etc. The good news is that most of the time there is no reason to worry and it's typically an easy fix.

The first thing is to know whether there is a current issue, such as a water main repair or planned hydrant flush, that may be impacting your neighborhood's water. The City will do its best to alert residents of widespread water interruptions or the possibility of brown water in advance, or as quickly as possible once we are made aware of the situation. The brown you are seeing is most likely due to stirred-up sediments from pressure fluctuations that can make water appear cloudy or dingy.

So, what should you do if you see brown water? Run your cold water for 5-10 minutes from your bathtub or utility sink. This prevents hot water from being trapped in a facility that has an aerator, which can stay for a longer period of time. After 5-10 minutes, you should see your water run clear and safe to use. If after 10 minutes you are still seeing brown water, please report this to the City via Facebook messenger or Information@ferndalemi.gov.

If at any point a boil water advisory is in effect for any area of Ferndale, affected residents will be made aware immediately via Facebook, Twitter, the City website, and a personally delivered notice to your door.